Dialogue between researchers and businesses should strengthen innovation
November 25, 2025|Written by Tôrtia Reimer-Johansen
A “dating app” between researchers and entrepreneurs was among the suggestions when local business owners and researchers in Sisimiut discussed how collaboration can be strengthened.
How can collaboration between research, industry, and local communities strengthen innovation in Greenland – using Sisimiut’s strong entrepreneurial spirit as a starting point?
That was the theme of the panel debate at the Taseralik Cultural Centre, taking place on the opening day of Greenland Science Week in Sisimiut on 7 November.
Innovation of the past and present
Naasunnguaq Beck Kristensen, CEO of Arctic Circle Business, spoke about innovation then and now.
“Innovation was an important part of life in the old days, when kayaks, goggles, and sled dogs were developed as tools to survive. Today, innovation in Greenland means finding solutions to problems that suddenly arise – for example, in smaller towns,” says Naasunnguaq Beck Kristensen during the debate.
The evening at Taseralik was precisely an attempt to understand and challenge Greenland’s innovation culture together with researchers, educators, business owners, and representatives from the local community.
“Researchers want to know more, and I hope they will become interested in what I’m doing” – Ulloriaq Kreutzmann
A panel with six perspectives
The six participants on stage were:
• Ulloriaq Kreutzmann, owner of Milak Production • Palli Fleischer Lyberth, owner of Sisimiut Fresh Farm • Naasunnguaq Beck Kristensen, CEO of Arctic Circle Business • Gorm Vold, consultant at Nalik Ventures in Nuuk • Thomas Ingeman-Nielsen, Head of Studies and Associate Professor at DTU Sustain • Peter Munkebo Hussmann, Operations Manager at DTU Skylab
The panel debate was moderated by Steffen Ringsø Nielsen, PhD student at DTU Sustain.
We need to break the habit of throwing things away
Ulloriaq Kreutzmann talked about his company, Milak Production, which produces dog food based on Greenlandic raw materials such as seal, fish, and lamb.
But despite the local products, he faces challenges when trying to get them into stores.
“In Greenland, it has become a habit to throw leftovers away. It’s a habit, and it’s difficult to break. There is a lot of food waste, also from public institutions, and we as a society have become passive observers,” he says.
He hopes that researchers will take a greater interest in conditions in Greenland:
“Researchers want to know more, and I hope they will become interested in what I’m doing. For me, it’s important to take the next step with my business. Their suggestions are very interesting,” he concludes.
“When researchers study innovation, I believe they should be in closer contact with businesses” – Naasunnguaq Beck Kristensen
A bridge between research and business
Both the panel participants and the audience – local and international researchers – listened to one another.
Moderator Steffen Ringsø Nielsen concluded the evening with the following:
“The conclusion of the evening is that there is a lack of communication between the research world, small businesses and entrepreneurs, and advisory organizations. One idea could be a kind of ‘dating app’ between researchers and entrepreneurs, making it easier to find one another and collaborate,” he suggests.
“One idea could be a kind of ‘dating app’ between researchers and entrepreneurs, making it easier to find one another and collaborate”
-Steffen Ringsø Nielsen
Naasunnguaq Beck Kristensen also believes there should be more contact between businesses and researchers.
“When researchers study innovation, I believe they should be in closer contact with businesses. On one hand, it is an economic advantage for the business sector, and on the other hand, the company may need innovation to be able to develop,” she concludes.