Gildeskål Forskningsstasjon

Name

Gildeskål Forskningsstasjon

Legal name

Gildeskål Forskningsstasjon AS

Website

https://gifas.no

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Research Services

NAICS

Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Aquaculture (1125), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquaculture Health, Biosecurity & Veterinary Services (AFAEAAAK), Sustainable & Alternative-Protein Aquafeed (Insect, Algae, Single-Cell, Byproduct-Based) (AFADADAM)

Keywords

• Aquaculture research services
• Salmon farming trials
• Fish feed research
• Commercial salmon production
• Aquaculture technology development

Headquarters

HQ city

Inndyr

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Research and Development Projects: Core revenue from conducting research projects for aquaculture companies, feed manufacturers, and academic institutions. Projects cover biological and technological issues at both small-scale and full commercial scale. Revenue from small-scale experiments grew from 2 million NOK in 2006 to 18 million NOK in 2019.
2. Commercial Fish Production: Commercial salmon production through 6 licenses with total MTB 780 tonnes (commercial license) plus 780 tonnes (teaching license) plus 780 tonnes (display license). Production capacity of 7000 tonnes HOG (gutted) salmon per year from large-scale operations.
3. Educational and Display Services: Teaching license leased to Nordland County Municipality for Meløy Videregående skole. Display license enables salmon viewing operations at Salmon Center Bodø and Salmon Center Gildeskål, with guided boat tours to facilities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GIFAS conducts commissioned aquaculture research projects at both small-scale (96–128 research cages) and full commercial scale for salmon farming companies, fish feed manufacturers, and academic institutions. It also operates commercial salmon production (7,000 tonnes HOG/year capacity) under six aquaculture licenses and runs public-facing Salmon Center visitor facilities in Bodø and Gildeskål. Its R&D division is self-financing through project revenues rather than public grants.

Product overview

Gildeskål Forskningsstasjon (GIFAS) is a privately-owned aquaculture research station offering a comprehensive portfolio of research services and commercial production. The core offerings include three specialized R&D divisions: Småskala FoU (small-scale research with 96 dedicated research cages at Langholmen), Storskala FoU (large-scale commercial-size testing), and Teknisk FoU (technology development including lice prevention systems). Supporting services include commercial salmon production (7000 tonnes/year capacity), Salmon Center visitor facilities in Bodø and Gildeskål, and specialized products like the patented CFC tube system for lice control and slangespreder hose spreader. The company operates without government funding, relying on research project income from industrial clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Småskala FoU (Small-Scale R&D) Dedicated small-scale research service at Langholmen with 96 research cages (5x5m) plus a planned 128 cages, executing commissioned trials on feed ingredients, feeding regimes, lumpfish as lice-eaters, freshwater treatments, lice fences, and new delousing methods for aquaculture clients.
• Storskala FoU (Large-Scale R&D) Research performed in commercial-sized cages and facilities to document industry results before commercial implementation, covering similar topics as small-scale R&D but under full commercial conditions.
• Teknisk FoU (Technical R&D) Technology development from concept to construction and practical testing, developing lice-proof cage concepts, sea lice reduction solutions, fish transport cage concepts, and exposed-waters cage concepts.
• Produksjon (Commercial Salmon Production) Commercial salmon farming through 6 aquaculture licenses (4 production/biomass + R&D/teaching/display) with 7,000 tonnes HOG (gutted) annual capacity across 5 sites in Gildeskål and 2 sites in Bodø municipalities.
• Forsknings- og Utviklingskonsesjoner (R&D Licenses) Two R&D licenses totaling 1,300 tonnes MTB (maximum permitted biomass) forming the historical foundation of the company and supporting its multifaceted research operations.
• Salmon Center Bodø Visitor and demonstration center for salmon farming with aquarium, boat tours, and educational programs for the public, schools, and tourists.
• Salmon Center Gildeskål Visitor center offering indoor aquarium viewing plus boat tours to sea facilities to observe daily salmon farming operations, part of GIFAS's public outreach and education initiatives.
• CFC Tube System (PWC) Flexible tube with propeller lowered into the cage center to pump fresh, oxygenated water to salmon, solving the problem of lice skirts blocking natural water flow. Runs on land power or generator with very low energy consumption.
• Slangespreder (Hose Spreader) Patented inflatable hose spreader device that keeps feed hoses straight from feed raft to cage, reducing clogging and wear. Simple, effective, and easy to mount.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced diesel consumption by 35% in 2020, saving 151,000 liters
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marine HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine Harvest is mentioned as Gifas's largest customer after planned expansion. Commissioned research trials for feed and production optimization. Represents major revenue stream for the research station.
• CargillcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCargill produced insect-based salmon feed for Gifas trial - first salmon raised on insect protein to market size in Europe. Part of Aquafly European research project.
• EnovaminorOthersGovernment enterprise working for Norway's transition to low-emission society. Provides investment support for climate-friendly measures. Supported Gifas's land power connection project.
• SwecominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consulting firm with focus on sustainable buildings, efficient infrastructure, and access to power and clean water. Provided consulting for land power connection project.
• Akvaplan-Niva AScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed lumpfish (rognkjeks) welfare handbook and field forms for sea and fry stages, with updated versions released annually.
• Aqua Kompetanse AScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed lumpfish (rognkjeks) welfare handbook and field forms with Gifas.
• Val FoUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed lumpfish (rognkjeks) welfare handbook and field forms with Gifas.
• Universitetet i BergencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed lumpfish (rognkjeks) welfare handbook and field forms with Gifas.
• Sletta VerftcoreTechnology or IntegrationBoat builder delivered Idefix and Botanix (identical 10.4x4.7m aluminum work boats). Previously delivered Obelix (2011) and Lillefix (2017). Founded 1946, specialized in aquaculture vessels for 12 years.
• NorlensecoreTechnology or IntegrationLofoten-based company producing and distributing Gifas's patented hose spreader. Described as solid product with good market potential.
• Nord UniversitetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity providing aquaculture graduates who work at Gifas. Employees have bachelor's degrees from Nord University or UiT.
• UiT Norges arktiske universitetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity providing aquaculture graduates who work at Gifas. Employees have bachelor's degrees from Nord University or UiT.
• Meløy Videregående skole avd. InndyrminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVocational school with aquaculture program leases Gifas's teaching license. Close collaboration includes facilitating students at facilities with vessels, equipment and instruction.
• Sundsfjord Smolt ASminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal collaboration partner in Gildeskål aquaculture environment. Part of 100+ workplace ecosystem.
• Salten N950 (Fiskekroken)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalmon slaughterhouse in local collaboration network. Part of integrated value chain in Gildeskål.
• Salten Aqua-gruppencoreOthersParent company group including Salten Aqua AS with administrative responsibilities. Salten Aqua handles internal personal data for employees and other functions across the group. ~130 employees in group.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Akva Group ASA: Largest global supplier of aquaculture equipment and technology, including cage, feeding and lice-control systems. Comparable as a broader incumbent developing competing technologies to GIFAS's CFC tube and hose spreader inventions.
• BioMar AS: Major global aquaculture feed manufacturer with internal R&D that commissions small- and large-scale feed trials. Comparable as both a customer and a competing in-house research budget for trial services like those GIFAS provides.
• Skretting AS: Global aquaculture feed manufacturer and Nutreco subsidiary that conducts feed research and partners with trials labs. Comparable as a feed-industry counterpart that both competes for R&D mandates and sources trials from facilities like GIFAS.
• SINTEF Ocean AS: Large Norwegian applied-research unit focused on marine and aquaculture technologies. Overlaps with GIFAS on technical R&D around cage design, lice control, and fish welfare for salmon and aquaculture industry clients.
• Nofima AS: Norway's leading food, fish and aquaculture research institute with a broader mandate across species and food topics. Comparable as a scaled aquaculture R&D incumbent competing for the same commissioned-trial and innovation budgets.
• Cargill Aqua Nutrition (EWOS): Global aquafeed player that partnered with GIFAS on first-of-its-kind insect-protein salmon trials. Comparable both as a feed-industry customer and a competing in-house R&D organisation.

Emerging players

• Aqua Kompetanse AS: Smaller Norwegian aquaculture consultancy and research services firm that co-developed the lumpfish welfare handbook with GIFAS. Comparable as a regional aquaculture services peer with overlapping technical R&D expertise.

Direct peers

• Akvaplan-Niva AS: Tromsø-based aquaculture and marine research institute that co-developed the lumpfish welfare handbook with GIFAS. Directly comparable as a northern-Norway aquaculture research provider serving industrial salmon clients.
• VESO Vikan: Norwegian contract research organisation performing fish-health and vaccine challenge trials in controlled aquaculture facilities. Directly comparable as a B2B aquaculture research services provider.

Others

• NCE Aquaculture (Norwegian Center of Expertise): Cluster organisation co-organising industry forums with GIFAS in Nordland. Connected as a regional aquaculture innovation cluster rather than a direct commercial peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gifasgildeskaal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gildesk%C3%A5l-forskningsstasjon

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gildeskål Forskningsstasjon