The power-using industry in Nordland exported 12 billion in 2013. It is a very important industry for wealth creation and employment in Nordland.

Process Cluster Helgeland initiative

11 September, 2014 7:08 Del Del Del

Increased research and development within companies and trade in Helgeland, and highlighting the research that is taking place.

These are the key elements of a project which has been launched by the Helgeland Regional Council in order to enhance emphasis on research and development in industry in the region. Alcoa in Mosjøen took the initiative to devise the project, and they have received a wholly positive response to this from the process industry at Mo Industripark.

In the longer term, the objective may be to establish a Helgeland process cluster.

Odd Eriksen is the project manager. An application for funding to establish a cluster of this kind was submitted to the county council via Helgeland Regional Council. The application is currently being processed by Nordland County Council.

Eriksen says that in the longer term, this may lead to larger process companies acting as a resource base for research and development (R&D) for smaller companies.

There are lots of small companies in Nordland. They spend their days dealing with operational tasks, and there is very little scope or capital for R&D work.

“There has been a wholly positive response to the initiative from both Mosjøen and Mo i Rana.

I think this is great, and it gladdens my old industrial heart to be able to work with people on this, and with research and development,” says Odd Eriksen.

He points out that individual companies have carried out a lot of R&D work.

“Their job is to find out how they can make their findings robust over time, allowing them to achieve the best possible effect.

The power-using industry in Nordland exported 12 billion in 2013. It is a very important industry for wealth creation and employment in Nordland.

The power-using industry in Nordland exported 12 billion in 2013. It is a very important industry for wealth creation and employment in Nordland.

R&D work cannot be carried out alongside normal operations. Companies need someone who can make it their primary focus. We hope to allow them to do this as part of their participation in Process Cluster Helgeland.

It seems as though the industry is ready for R&D now, and keen to work with it. We have good people who have a lot to contribute in Helgeland, even from a national perspective,” concludes project manager Odd Eriksen.

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