Tromsø University

The University of Tromsø is the northernmost university in the world. 9000 students and 2500 staff study and work here. Teaching is research-based. The University’s  six faculties offer a broad range of study programmes with an emphasis on Northern issues. The academic community in Tromsø is highly international. More than 20% of the academic staff and 10% of the student body at the University of Tromsø are from abroad.

One of the main ambitions of the University is to be at the frontline of international research in marine biotechnology.

Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics

Focus areas: aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, climate, life in the arctic, marine bioprospecting, fish health, marine alimentary products, business and macro economics, resources and environment, markets and management of marine resources

Department of Arctic and Marine Biology

Research Groups: Arctic animal physiology, Arctic marine system ecology, Freshwater ecology, Fish biology and population genetics, Marine plankton group, Molecular Environments, Northern populations and ecosystems

Norwegian College of Fishery Science

Research and education within marine biotechnology cover key elements of aqua medicine

(fish health), seafood science and bioprospecting.

• Research on the immunity against viruses and bacteria in fish and invertebrates
• Development of new vaccine concepts and use of immune stimulators to improve vaccine efficacy and animal welfare
• Seafood science – quality and beneficial  effects of marine food resources
• Utilisation of unused resources in high-value products for fish feed and seafood industries
• Marine bioprospecting  –  isolation and characterisation of modes of action of  bioactive molecules from marine organisms 
• Metagenomics: the exploration of the microbial gene pool in marine environments in the search for new bioactive molecules