Aqua Nor 2021
Face to face – at last! The industry’s biggest trade show has a new, hybrid format
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ike so many events this year, the Aqua Nor trade show in Trondheim this year nearly didn’t happen – and when it did it was in a different format, adap�ng to the condi�ons of the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, the rules changed again even during the week of the event, with Trondheim municipality manda�ng the use of face masks indoors on the last day. Despite all that it has been hailed a success, with a great turnout for the physical exhibi�on and a new digital pla�orm that brought Trondheim to the people who were not able to be there in person. Kris�an Digre, General Manager of the Nor-Fishing Founda�on, which manages Aqua Nor, said: “The number of �ckets that have been sold is a record. Exhibitors at the physical exhibi�on say it has been a huge success and there have been more contracts signed than ever!” This year’s show ran in a hybrid format, with a physical exhibi�on once again in Trondheim’s Spektrum centre, and a live streaming channel broadcas�ng events and presenta�ons to a remote audience. The online show, using the Expobo digital pla�orm, also hosted digital “stands” and included a facility for virtual mee�ngs during the exhibi�on. The hybrid format has also extended the life of the event, allowing digital a�endees to catch up with recorded presenta�ons and webinars. The pla�orm – which will be live for 12 months – can also be used for online follow-up mee�ngs with exhibitors and visitors. The winner of the award for best physical stand, as chosen by the Aqua Nor commi�ee, was fish handling and delicing specialist Op�mar. The judges described the stand as “a real eye-catcher, with superb design”. It also had its own private mee�ng room and a dedicated barista. Shortlisted for the award were Salt Ship Design and S�m. Monitoring and biomass measurement business OptoScale AS was judged to have the best digital stand, bea�ng a shortlist of Laboly�c AS, Atlan�c Canada, Benchmark and MSD Animal Health. Digre said that the organisers may be running some more live streams or webinars through the rest of the year, using the Aqua Nor pla�orm, adding: “It will be a hybrid exhibi�on for the years to come. It is more valuable for exhibitors and visitors – both formats are here to stay!” Lars Gellein Halvorsen, Project Manager at aquaculture technology group
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Alvestad Marin, said: “It was great to see so many people with similar interests coming together and a real sign of op�mism... it was good to see people face to face again.” Aquaculture technology company Ace Aquatec was represented at the show in person by its Norway-based team, including Preben Imset Matre, Regional Manager, Northern Europe. He said: “Aqua Nor is something we’ve all been looking forward to ... we’ve been able to meet people we’ve not seen in a long �me, but also had the opportunity to see people we’ve only had online rela�onships with. In-person events give and take a lot of energy that you forget when in lockdown, but there’s a real appeal to interac�ng, se�ng up base and sharing what Ace Aquatec has been up to. “Collec�vely as an industry, I’m hoping this marks the first of many more in-person events to come.” For many companies based outside Norway, however, Aqua Nor 2021 was an all-digital affair. Marc Wilson, Group Marke�ng Manager at technology and aquaculture services group Gael Force, said: “While it was no match for exhibi�ng physically and mee�ng up in person, it was useful to remain involved in Aqua Nor from afar. The digital
It was great to see so many people “ with similar interests coming together ”
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13/09/2021 16:50:17
