The Center and Projects in Our Surrounding World
There’s a lot happening at the intersection of seafood, food, and research. Here you’ll find links to other centers, projects, and initiatives in our field.
Formas-funded Center for Sustainability and Competitiveness in the Food System
In 2020, Blå mat was one of four centers to receive funding through Formas’ call for proposals for centers for sustainability and competitiveness in the food system. In 2024, Blå and two other centers had their funding extended. In addition, five new centers were established. Here are our seven sister centers.
- PAN Sweden – Plant-Based Proteins for Health and Well-Being
- SustAinimal – A knowledge center focused on the future role of food-producing animals
- AgroDrive – Center for Fossil-Free Energy in Agriculture and Food
- FORCE – A Center for Food Security and Competitiveness
- Knowledge Center for Food Preparedness
- PLATE – Swedish Research Center for Resilient Meals
- PLENTY – a center for symbiotic and circular food supply
Skagerrak Test Arena
The Testarena Skagerrak project is intended to serve as a meeting place for researchers, companies, and government agencies that want to develop and test aquaculture, new technologies, and business models within the blue bioeconomy. Participants in the project include the Municipality of Strömstad, the Municipality of Hvaler in Norway, the Tjärnö Marine Laboratory at the University of Gothenburg, and Innovatum Science Park. The project will run from early 2026 to late 2028 and is funded by Interreg Sweden-Norway with just over 2 million euros.
News about Testarena Skagerrak on the Strömstad Municipality website
KORALL – Fishing, Aquaculture, and Tourism Working Together for Vibrant Coasts
The Korall research project aims to find regenerative solutions to these challenges by creating new ways of living that are economically sustainable while also making a significant contribution to vulnerable coastal environments. This is achieved through a combination of restoration measures for algae and oysters, and the development of sustainable business models linked to food, experiences, and nature-based tourism. The project is coordinated by the University of Gothenburg, and other participants include the Municipality of Strömstad, the Västra Götaland County Administrative Board, Ostrea Aquaculture, the shrimp fishing boat Dagny, and Restaurant Kläpphagen Koster. The Swedish Research Council Formas is providing 21.3 million kronor in funding for the period 2026–2030.
National Oyster Program for Hatching and Cultivation Techniques
The project aims to establish a national hatchery and rearing program, in which researchers, the private sector, and public entities collaborate to build a sustainable infrastructure for the future of blue oyster production. By increasing the production of oyster spat—which can be combined with new restoration techniques—the project will also pave the way for the restoration of habitats at oyster beds that have largely disappeared. The project is funded by Formas with approximately 30 million kronor; participants include the University of Gothenburg, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, SLU, the Västra Götaland County Administrative Board, the Municipality of Strömstad, Ostrea Aquaculture, and Klövedal Marin Innovation and Service.
GU.se: Million-krona investment to boost Swedish oyster farming
The Seafood Portal
The Seafood Portal provides the industry with a tool to easily answer questions from customers, government agencies, and investors, as well as to evaluate the goals of the Food Strategy related to seafood. The project is being carried out by Rise in collaboration with the Swedish National Federation of the Fishing Industry during the period 2025–2027 and is funded by Formas with nearly 4 million kronor.