Intro
Within the last couple of years marine research has received a great deal of attention at the European level. It has been stressed that "European marine research is highly fragmented" , and that "an integrated strategy on marine research (.) is vital to secure effective and sustainable development of Europe's marine resources". The European vision points to the "European Research Area", in order to reach this, it is stressed that marine research at the regional level is a priority issue. Strengthening marine research at the regional level requires attraction of postgraduates, promotion of regional research centres of excellence, facilitation of access to research structures and securing of financial resources. Also the Nordic Council points to, that regional cooperation raises the level of competences, and that this is especially true in narrow research areas.

When discussing new frontiers in marine science, Marine Biotechnology is manifest. Marine Biotech is currently in the process of taking its position as a major source for truly new developments within areas such as marine natural products derived drugs and agrochemicals. In addition production of fine chemicals is being actively and successfully pursued. Concomitant with this development, which is a global trend spearheaded by USA and Japan, the possibilities of securing new knowledge and technology within new areas such as nanotechnology and material sciences at present represent high priority research globally.

Background
Marine biotechnology initiatives exist within small, but excellent, groups at national
universities and marine institutes throughout Europe. A coordination of these efforts will
strengthen all involved partners position. A quick glance at the scientists participating in
the ScanBalt marine Biotech network confirms the fragmentation of Marine research as
described by the EU papers. They are employed at an extraordinary varied group of
organisations. Finding each other and coordinating thus becomes a complicated task.
Building a regional marine biotech network is crucial in order to improve research
educational and mobility opportunities.
Marine Biotech does not have a Nordic or Baltic platform for communication and
interaction. At the ScanBalt Forum II in Gdansk in May 2003, such a platform was
suggested. ScanBalt is a biotechnology focused network of networks, funded by the
Nordic Industrial Fund for a period of 2 1/2 years. This network will pick up the momentum
from May 2003.

Motive
The January 2004 workshop will allow these key actors within marine biotech to get a regional overview of both general condition and of numbers of post graduate students. Such an overview is imperative in order to work for increased student mobility. Furthermore a network will allow for mapping of competences, knowledge transfer, collaboration, implementation of common research training courses and increased mobility for both researchers and research students; adding width and quality to Marine Biotech. The NorFa funding scheme may provide the financial foundation in order to realise a Nordic Baltic Sea Marine Biotech Network. This NorFa application looks to set up the foundation for such a network. A well prepared planning meeting with a minimum of one representative from each Nordic and Baltic Sea country will be a vital measure to gain momentum and achieve the following:

Presentation and Network set-up: formulation of scope and focus areas of future collaboration
SWOT- discussion: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the involved Marine Biotech research centres
Post graduate student training and mobility
Interest and need analysis
Future funding possibilities

Incentives and potential impact
Marine Biotech is a narrow field with a large number of sub-specialisations. Marine biotech is here understood in the widest sense. Presently no Nordic-Baltic network exists among marine biotech scientists. This is despite the obvious need for colleagues and alternative study sites when researching in a narrow field on the new frontiers in Marine Science. As often happens local scientists develop scattered international networks and is less familiar with their own backyard.

The quality of marine biotech science in the Nordic Baltic Sea area corresponds to the international level. There are differences in the quality and especially the quantity between different fields of marine biotechnology . Basic research is strong applied science; transfer into practice needs more attention (and money). A cluster formation by networking between research institutes and industry and between groups from several countries will potentiate the efficacy of marine biotechnology.

Basic research on marine biology is done in all of the participating countries. Marine Biotech has a strong position in Norway, with several different focused clusters of research. True marine Biotech is also found in Sweden and North Germany. On the other hand resources for marine biotechnology are very high in countries like Russia or the Baltic States.

The success of marine biotechnology depends highly upon the intensive interdisciplinary cooperation between marine biologists and microbiologists, natural product chemists, biotechnologists, process engineers, zoologists, aquaculture specialists, pharmacists and so on. An increased involvement of the industry for commercialisation is essential.

Nordic benefit
A successful Marine Biotech initiative will support the Nordic vision of further integration both between the Nordic countries themselves and between the Nordic countries and the neighbouring Baltic Sea states. A Marine Biotech network will support the priority of scientific excellence and can enhance quality development of the education area. Since most actors in Marine Biotech are university or research institute based such a network will intensify these actors cooperation. It is the ambition of the network to involve commercial actors and thus strengthen public private cooperation. A Marine Biotech network will support the Nordic Council vision of developing Nordic arenas for knowledge exchange and scientific networks.


"European Strategy on Marine Research Infrastructure" Academy of Finland

"European Strategy on Marine Research Infrastructure" Academy of Finland
"Integrating marine Science in Europe" European Science Foundation Marine Board Position Paper 5
Aquaculture and nutrition being highly developed; drugs, enzymes, cosmetics, auxiliary materials and other are medium developed and "highlights" only in single groups.

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