Panel impressed at midway evaluation
- The competence of the research team is high and many of the senior scientists are among the world leading actors in their fields. We were impressed by many aspects of this project. The work programme is very relevant and timely.
This is a quote from the panel that evaluated Centre for Research-based Innovation in Sustainable fish capture and Processing technology, CRISP, as it has reached the midway point as a Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI) funded by The Research Council of Norway.
Good and fruitful
- The work on developing new instruments, tools and methods has been highly successful and there is true evidence that the Centre’s activities are driven in good and fruitful collaboration between the research organizations and private industry. The project has already produced at least ten new innovations and products, and more innovations and products are in the pipeline. It is obvious that many of these innovations and new products will have a long-term industrial impact and will be utilized by the international research community as well as by the fishing industry, the panel writes.
Meeting interviews and self evaluations
The panel that evaluated CRISP consisted of professor Alison McKay, University of Leeds, UK (generalist - panel leader), Dr. Mattias Lundberg, Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, Sweden (generalist), Dr. Stephen Walsh, Scientist Emeritus, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland, and Dr. Petri Suuronen, FAO, Rome, Italy (scientific expert).
On 26 March 2015 the evaluation team met with the Director, project leaders, PhD students, post-docs, representatives of the host institution IMR, and representatives of the industrial and public partners of CRISP. The midway evaluation is based on these interviews as well as on the extensive written reports and self-assessments supplied beforehand.
Areas of improvement
However, it was not all praise in the evaluation report. The panel also provided several suggestions for improvement.
- To maximise the impact of the Centre’s work, it is essential that it raises its international profile and becomes an international asset, was one of the suggestions. In this context it is important that the Centre’s researchers prioritise to publish their work in high ranking journals.
To establish an International Scientific Advisory Board and taking in more PhD and Master students were other suggestion from the evaluation panel.
Final decision from The Research Council of Norway on which of the SFI centres will receive continued funding, is expected this fall.