Page 26 - Rižnar, Igor, and Klemen Kavčič (ed.). 2017. Connecting Higher Education Institutions with Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 26
Aleksander Janeš, Roberto Biloslavo, and Armand Faganel
the health benefits of eating fish are recognised by experts and public
alike (Schlag and Ystgaard 2013).
Europe represents the largest fish market in the world. Over the past
decades, consumption has increased to 13.2 million tonnes. There are
many reasons that have led to an increase in fish demand, and there is a
general opinion that most of them will persist in the future. First, pop-
ulation size has increased. Second, the price of fish has reduced over-
all, making the product more attractive to consumers. Third, real in-
comes have been increased, causing greater demand for fish. Finally,
consumers have become more health-conscious, causing a positive shift
in demand as fish consumption is known to have important health ben-
efits.
Therefore, these contingency factors offer considerable possibilities
for the eu aquaculture sector to grow. Aquaculture is defined as the cul-
tivation of marine and aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crus-
taceans and water plants. Reported data suggests that in the eu 28, the
total number of companies with aquaculture as their main activity is be-
tween 14,000 and 15,000, and production reached 1,108 million tonnes
and €3,365 billion of revenue in 2012 according to Eurostat. Compared
to 2011, the production value and weight increased by 3.4 and 3.8,
respectively. The profitability of the eu aquaculture sector was positive
in 2012 and the Gross Value Added of the sector increased by 4 (g va
≈ €1.5 billion in 2011). The e u aquaculture sector gave direct employ-
ment to more than 80,000 people in Europe, with an annual average
wage of around €22,100. Women accounted for 24 of these jobs (Sci-
entific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries 2014, 17–8).
In 2010, the research project Know Us started within the eu’s Italy-
Slovenia cross-border programme with one of the aims being to de-
velop and test methodologies, instruments and procedures for creat-
ing strategic-cognitive maps of small and medium sized enterprises
(sme s).
The methodology that was developed within the project originates
from a pre-existing model based on the review of knowledge compe-
tencies (Competitive Knowledge Audit), developed by the University
Ca‘ Foscari of Venice, in cooperation with companies from Veneto and
Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy (Bagnoli 2012; see www.know-us.eu). The
Slovenian project partners designed strategic-cognitive maps for 30
Slovenian companies in the sectors of tourism, construction, logistics,
food and agriculture, and the wood industry. The strategic-cognitive
24
the health benefits of eating fish are recognised by experts and public
alike (Schlag and Ystgaard 2013).
Europe represents the largest fish market in the world. Over the past
decades, consumption has increased to 13.2 million tonnes. There are
many reasons that have led to an increase in fish demand, and there is a
general opinion that most of them will persist in the future. First, pop-
ulation size has increased. Second, the price of fish has reduced over-
all, making the product more attractive to consumers. Third, real in-
comes have been increased, causing greater demand for fish. Finally,
consumers have become more health-conscious, causing a positive shift
in demand as fish consumption is known to have important health ben-
efits.
Therefore, these contingency factors offer considerable possibilities
for the eu aquaculture sector to grow. Aquaculture is defined as the cul-
tivation of marine and aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crus-
taceans and water plants. Reported data suggests that in the eu 28, the
total number of companies with aquaculture as their main activity is be-
tween 14,000 and 15,000, and production reached 1,108 million tonnes
and €3,365 billion of revenue in 2012 according to Eurostat. Compared
to 2011, the production value and weight increased by 3.4 and 3.8,
respectively. The profitability of the eu aquaculture sector was positive
in 2012 and the Gross Value Added of the sector increased by 4 (g va
≈ €1.5 billion in 2011). The e u aquaculture sector gave direct employ-
ment to more than 80,000 people in Europe, with an annual average
wage of around €22,100. Women accounted for 24 of these jobs (Sci-
entific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries 2014, 17–8).
In 2010, the research project Know Us started within the eu’s Italy-
Slovenia cross-border programme with one of the aims being to de-
velop and test methodologies, instruments and procedures for creat-
ing strategic-cognitive maps of small and medium sized enterprises
(sme s).
The methodology that was developed within the project originates
from a pre-existing model based on the review of knowledge compe-
tencies (Competitive Knowledge Audit), developed by the University
Ca‘ Foscari of Venice, in cooperation with companies from Veneto and
Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy (Bagnoli 2012; see www.know-us.eu). The
Slovenian project partners designed strategic-cognitive maps for 30
Slovenian companies in the sectors of tourism, construction, logistics,
food and agriculture, and the wood industry. The strategic-cognitive
24
