Nærings og handelsdepartementet (The Trade and Industry Department) (NHD) is leading an inter-departemental steering committee for the project Knowledge Acquisition - Growth in the North. Geographically, this knowledge acquisition covers the three northernmost counties (Nordland, Troms and Finnmark), with particular focus on coastal areas. The starting point for the definition is the updated management plan for the Barents Sea - Lofoten. MTI wishes to enter into an agreement in the form of a survey and analysis of expertise, research and innovation in the defined geographic area. For a more detailed description of the study refer to Appendix 1.