There is room in the world for two or three Global Maritime Knowledge Hubs. Norway can be one of them, according to BI professor Torger Reve.
KNOWLEDGE @ BI: In search of a Global Maritime Knowledge Hub
The world is at the nexus of some major challenges. There is a climate crisis facing us due to global warming. There is a resource crisis facing us due to a rapidly growing world population, and this crisis includes the lack of food and clean water.
Currently, there is also a global economic crisis, and many countries are in recession with record high unemployment. We all loose in this game, but the poor are always the ones that suffer the most. How can we meet these global challenges without at the same time destroying our environment?
There are two answers to this:
- We have to develop new knowledge and new technology
- We have to develop the resources of our oceans. 70% of the world’s natural resources are ocean resources, and we have merely started to develop these resources.
Norway is a highly favorable position both when it comes to natural resources and when it comes to industrial knowledge which is necessary to help solve the world crises.
In addition, Norway has the financial resources needed to invest heavily in knowledge development.
Invest in competitive advantage
A small high cost economy like Norway has to specialize in a few areas where there is a competence advantage. The maritime and offshore sector and the energy industries are the key industrial areas for Norway, and these industries also need to be the key areas for research and innovation.
Supercluster of industrial and knowledge actors
In order to analyze Norway as an attractive industrial and knowledge location, the global knowledge hub model was introduced. A global knowledge hub is a supercluster of industrial and knowledge actors, driven by research and innovation, and fueled by competent risk capital and investors.
Research and innovation, taking place at Public Research Organizations, form the core of a global knowledge hub, but it also requires world class Research and Development Infrastructure.
The concept of a global knowledge hub is illustrated using Boston and its position in biotech and life sciences as an example.
Norway has a similar position in the maritime and offshore industries. In order to make the Global Maritime Knowledge Hub in Norway sustainable, we need to make sure that the two core elements remain strong and vibrant.
First and foremost, we need a human resource pool of top quality research talent at the Public Research Organizations.
Secondly, we need to have world class Research and Development Infrastructure to attract the best talent and the global industrial customers.
Investing in a new Ocean Space Center located in Trondheim is the critical element in a specialized research and development infrastructure needed to succeed in research and innovation in the maritime and offshore fields.
The Norwegian maritime industry stands behind the Maritime Global Hub Initiative where maritime companies and organizations intend to fund 20 new maritime professorships, and stronger R&D networks are being formed.
A new long-term maritime research program, Maritime 21, is under development, and new international research cooperation is being formed.
What remains to be done is to develop, fund and implement a new Ocean Space Center for the future knowledge frontiers in Ocean Space Technology. Investing in Research and Development Infrastructure at this scale requires close cooperation with the maritime and energy industries, as well as strong participation by the Norwegian government when it comes to funding and implementation.
Norway has a leading international role to play when it comes to ocean resource governance, especially in the high north. Such an international position also requires Norway to take the leading role in Ocean Space Technology
Reference:
Conclusions and recommandations in Torger Reve: Norway – a global maritime knowledge hub. Research Report 05 / 2009. BI Norwegian School of Management.
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Text: Professor Torger Reve, BI Norwegian School of Management.
