The winning startup was announced on Tuesday, December 2nd at the 16th annual Arctic Futures Symposium at EFTA House.

An initiative of the International Polar Foundation and financed by the Trân family, the Laurence Trân Arctic Futures Award was established in 2022 to help a fledgling startup or young entrepreneur based in the Arctic* move their business to the next level.

The winner receives an award of 7,500 Euros and the chance to come to Brussels to present their startup to an international audience at the annual Arctic Futures Symposium in Brussels. They can also count on the network of the International Polar Foundation, the Arctic Futures Symposium partners, and their vast network of contacts.

A focus on restoring marine ecosystems

This year’s winning startup was founded by recent graduates of UiT - The Arctic University of Norway studying aquaculture. The aim of this unique startup is to help restore Arctic marine ecosystems being harmed by an invasive species - the sea urchin - by harvesting them en masse to create a nutrient-rich fish meal supplement.

Removing sea urchins from the seabeds around northern Norway will not only create a highly in-demand product for the aquaculture industry, it will also help restore natural kelp forests, which are one of the world's largest and most important carbon sinks on Earth and serve as a marine habitat for marine life in coastal regions along Norway.

Given sea urchins are a replenishable natural resource, Marine Spark X also creates good local jobs in the circular economy in the High North.

“We are honoured to be chosen as the winner of the Fourth Laurence Trân Arctic Futures Award,” stated Johan Armstrong Støve, CEO of Marine Spark X. “Receiving recognition for our efforts truly motivates the team to keep pushing forward and developing.”

“We started the company to create change, to be a key contributor in restoring the kelp forest,” stated Gustav Vestile, Chief Strategy Officer of Marine Spark X. ”It is amazing that our business case allows us to turn profit while saving the environment.”

An inspiring story

Marine Spark X was chosen as the winner by a committee of experts with years of experience working with startups in the North American and European Arctic.

“It’s inspiring to see the wonderful and creative initiatives young people in the Arctic are creating,” said Alain Hubert, Founder and President of the International Polar Foundation, life-long entrepreneur, and the initiator of the zero-emission Princess Elisabeth Antarctica research station. “We’re glad to help these young entrepreneurs achieve their goals and expand their business.”

“Marine Spark X is an exciting company in the High North,” remarked Mads Qvist Frederiksen, Executive Director of the Arctic Economic Council and member of the award jury. “They are turning an ocean problem, sea urchins, into fish feed. This is biotechnology that solves several challenges in the Arctic region and a sustainable business model. Their innovation comes with university support and has the potential to create jobs and income for smaller coastal communities. I can’t wait to follow Marine Spark X on their journey!”

Marine Spark X and its founders have taken part in several support and innovation programs at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and recently participated in Arctic Ignite, hosted by Norinnova, UiT’s innovation and technology transfer partner.

“Marine Spark X is a dream scenario for us – students educated by us in Northern Norway who choose to stay in the region and start an innovative, sustainable business for the Arctic environment,” remarked UiT Rector Dag Rune Olsen.

“We would like to give a special thanks to UiT for enabling us to create innovation through our academic work, and to our many local, national and international partners, we would not have been here today without all of you,” stated Gustav Vestile.  “Finally, we want to thank the Laurence Trân family for their trust and recognition!”

The award was presented on December 2nd at EFTA House in Brussels on the first day of the 16th annual Arctic Futures Symposium by IPF Managing Director Nicolas Van Hoecke, IPF Board Member Piet Steel, Director of the Arctic Economic Council Mads Frederiksen, and Secretary-General of the Arctic Mayor’s Forum Patti Bruns.

Honourable mentions

Among the applicants, the selection committee also chose to recognise two startups with honourable mentions. These companies include:

1st honourable mention: 
Air Vitalize from Fairbanks, Alaska, which invented a low-power filterless industrial electrostatic precipitation (ESP) device to create outdoor "clean air pockets" to combat the high air pollution in Fairbanks, Alaska.

2nd honourable mention:
Willit from Oulu, Finland, which created a digital exchange platform and application to allow those who hunt, fish, and forage in northern Finland to easily sell their country food to restaurants, markets or individuals locally.

Photo: UiT - The Arctic University of Norway