Analysys Mason supporting Nordic Testbed Network roll-out

Analysys Mason is currently helping tech-focused bioeconomy researchers across Nordic countries coordinate their efforts for more streamlined and optimised results. The goal: “to co-create solutions which support digital transformation in the Nordic bioeconomy” by 2023.

A pillar of sustainability: bioeconomy is the use of renewable bio resources from land and water – crops, forests, fish, micro-organisms, etc. – to produce food, materials and energy. At the forefront of the field, Nordic countries are looking to digitalise these practices – in controlled environments known as testbeds. 

Nordic Forest Research and Nordic Agri Research are at the cutting edge of these efforts – where they note an urgent need to coordinate the currently fragmented experiments. Partly funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers and Nordic governments, these organisations have conceptualised the ‘Nordic Testbed Network’ – tapping Analysys Mason for implementation. 

“High-performing testbeds require extensive resources, and testbeds are specialised on specific topics. By creating a Nordic network of testbeds, we facilitate the exchange of knowledge and technology transfer in the Nordic region,” reads the Nordic Testbed Network webpage.

“In this way, more people have easier access, and possibility to contribute, to the development of testbeds that suits them, no matter where in the Nordic region they are located. This is resource optimisation in practice.” 

Building a testbed network

Analysys Mason’s Nordics practice set about forming the network. The first step was to build a knowledge base – achieved through interviews and desk research about the current Nordic testbed landscape. Digitalisation and commercialisation of bioeconomy solutions where central themes here. 

Next, the consulting firm formed a network of tech-focused bioeconomy testbeds – with focus areas ranging from autonomous forestry machines to data-driven decision support for farmers. A common thread was the use of advanced tech such as internet of things and data analytics. The people behind these projects were brought together for an online workshop, where they could discuss their work and ambitions. 

Two common objectives were formalised, as explained in an Analysys Mason statement. The long-term goal – for 2023 – is “to co-create solutions which support digital transformation in the Nordic bioeconomy.” In the immediate term, the goal for 2020 was to “to increase knowledge sharing between Nordic testbeds active in the intersection between digitalisation and bioeconomy.” 

Work began immediately on both goals, featuring: a digital forum for testbed presentations and collaboration planning; best practice policy reports from learnings on digitalisation and bioeconomy; and a webinar to discuss the user-friendliness of current testbed solutions. Also in the mix was a talk on AI, and a constant knowledge stream to the organisers on policy implications of their solutions.

And the project is on track so far: 11 active tech-based testbeds form The Nordic Testbed Network – supplemented by members from academia, business and government. The next stop is 2023, where the network hopes to be co-developing concrete solutions that can be used to digitalise bioeconomy across Nordic countries.