BioTech North is a triple-helix biotechnology cluster involving 38 enterprises and R&D organisations located around the northern Norwegian city of Tromsø. The cluster aims to become ‘[t]he leading centre for research and commercialisation of marine bioactive compounds from the Arctic’ (Biotech North, nd.). It also seeks to improve professional competence in the region, improve the economic conditions for biotechnology and increase the attractiveness of the region for companies and institutions.
A co-operative approach to value creation
Local actors were motivated to start BioTech North as a means of inspiring increased value creation in the industry. They concluded that although the past 40 years had delivered some solid outcomes, there was still substantial untapped potential with respect to value creation. This is problematic because without the creation of high value products, marine industry contributions to the bioeconomy may be hampered by their lack of financial viability. The cluster gives members access to infrastructure such as laboratories, testing and production facilities through which to develop new ideas and, most importantly, bring them to fruition. The BioTech North cluster is funded by Norwegian Innovation Clusters, which is an initiative supported by the Norwegian Government.
A need to balance the “green” and the “growth”
The establishment of the BioTech North cluster is timely from a policy perspective. The Norwegian Government is attempting to move the country from an oil-based economy to a bioeconomy and has developed several policies designed to support activities like BioTech North, which include the “National Strategy for Biotechnology: For the future of value creation, health and the environment.” This strategy is designed to drive Norwegian biotechnology activities over the period 2011–2020. There is also a strategy more specifically focused on biomarine activities: “Marine bioprospecting – a source of new and sustainable wealth growth”. This strategy seeks to ‘stimulate research and business development in strategic areas with high potential of wealth growth, and where Norway has a good opportunity to assert itself in an international competition’ (Norwegian Ministries of Fisheries and Costal Affairs, Education and Research, Trade and Industry and Foreign Affairs 2009, p. 9). Government commitment to the industry is encouraging. Continued work to ensure economic and environmental goals go hand-in-hand will be important in ensuring a genuinely green approach to growth.
Spotlight on: Biotechnology in the context of green growth
Biotechnology encompasses all technology that uses plant and animal cells and microorganisms to create new or improve existing products. Marine bioprospecting is a biotechnology activity that systematically explores marine organisms to discover new compounds, components or genes that might be used in a range of applications, for example, medicines and biofuels. Biotechnology and marine bioprospecting have relevance to green growth for several reasons. First, scientific enquiry can be used to generate new uses from what was previously considered waste. This reduces waste and the need for new raw materials, making an important contribution to the circular economy. Second, cultivation of new marine organisms for biofuels helps to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. While the technology for this work already exists, the financial viability of production is contingent on finding higher value uses that can occur alongside biofuel production. Third, biotechnology and marine bioprospecting present an opportunity for new discoveries that can contribute to a more environmentally friendly future.
Regional dimension
Tromsø has been branded “The hot spot for cold biotech” (BioTech North, Tromsø Kommune & Mabit 2012) and is internationally recognised as an important site of world-class biotechnology research. This positioning is designed to attract investment from industry. It also has important implications for population growth and demography. In 2014, the portion of Tromsø’s population aged 25–64 years with a tertiary level education (52.8%) was significantly higher than the European average (29.3%, Grunfelder, Rispling & Norlén 2016). In addition, according to Nordregio's Regional Potential Index, the regional potential of the Troms region as a whole increased more than any other Nordic region. Although it is difficult to gauge the direct impact of biotechnology activities on this performance, it is worth noting that both “labour force potential” and “economic potential” made a strong contribution.
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