Val schools and Mære agricultural school have over the years developed test facilities that can be used for R&D activities, and together have a large portfolio of players who use the schools as a test and demonstration arena. The themes for the research and entrepreneurial activity are often linked to politically prioritized initiatives in climate, circular economy, bioeconomy, precision agriculture and blue-green links
Mære and Val collaborated in 2021 on an EU application, as a Norwegian partner, where Living's lab would act as an important demonstrator in connection with the development of new climate-friendly solutions in a circular bioeconomy strategy. Based on this application, we established a project supported by the government to further develop the collaboration.
The goal of the project was to develop the collaboration between Mære landbruksskole and Val schools and their work to identify and concretize blue-green synergies within the sustainable use of bioresources. As part of this, we have worked on the development of a living laboratory for testing and demonstration, networking and competence development.
Trøndelag County Municipality has supported Mære and Skjetlein high school in establishing and developing an innovation lab, a place where founders and researchers can test and demonstrate their solutions together with industry. This work will also be useful in the blue-green thinking Mære has in collaboration with Val.
How can Living Labs contribute to research and development
In the Innherred and Namdal regions, there are important R&D institutions that want to participate in the development of a blue-green test and demonstration arena. Living Labs will be of great importance for Trøndelag and Norway to play a role in promoting new technology and new solutions that are in demand. Together with Mære and Val, these will be involved in developing Trøndelag as an important arena where solutions are found and new industries are developed that will be important both regionally, nationally and internationally.
Opportunities for Trøndelag and the rest of the country
In order to develop sustainable jobs in Trøndelag within bio-industry, it is important to establish binding arenas that create interaction between blue and green industry. Through such arenas, resources are needed to develop projects where the industry sees opportunities and that there is an instrument apparatus that participates and brings forward good ideas for solutions that the industry uses.
Through the work with a Blue-green living lab, Mære and Val have identified specific collaborative projects based on our arenas and our networks. The work on further development of the test and demonstration arena at Mære og Val will be a good support for business and the R&D environment in the work to find the good sustainable solutions both regionally and centrally. Some of the strengths of Mære and Val are that these are arenas with productions that take place almost the same as ordinary business life. This means that the arenas will be good test arenas close to those who will use the new solutions. With Val and Mære as an arena with a good partnership all around, concrete blue-green innovations can see the light of day more quickly. With such a demonstration arena, we will be able to facilitate research and development in the future.
Briefly about Living Labs
- Living Labs is a way of leading innovation processes.
- A Living Lab can be understood as a user-centred ecosystem for open innovation, and is often limited to a specific area, city or region.
- The innovations are developed by engaging various stakeholders, including public and private actors, academia and citizens. It is a prerequisite that the approach is open and inclusive.
- Living Lab is also used by researchers in several different fields to study different technologies and practices in an everyday and real environment.
