A long career with the sea. Andreas Bach, operations manager at Lighthouse, is new to C2B2’s board. He has had a long career with the sea in focus. – I am a trained sea captain and have worked as a commander on dredging barges, among other things, he says.
THE BOARD. A former sea captain with a background at RISE … in September, Andreas Bach, operations manager at the organization Lighthouse, took a seat on C2B2’s board.
– What C2B2 is working on around marine technology crossed with research is home ground for me, he says.
With his background in the merchant navy, the sea is also a kind of home ground. Andreas Bach worked for many years as a midshipman, sailor and mate. He was also commander of dredging barges for a period.
But eventually he moved on to the Swedish Maritime Administration where he became business area manager.
A desire to work with development then took him on to RISE.
There he had a part-time job that he combined with working for the Swedish Marine Technology Forum network, an organization that works to strengthen the Swedish marine technology industry. Among other things, by bringing new technology – niched for its segment – to the market.
Switched to Lighthouse
This summer, after several years as head of unit for Maritime System Innovation at RISE, Andreas Bach got a new job as operations manager at Lighthouse.
The sea and the maritime seem to be something of a common denominator for most of what you have been doing?
– That’s right, I have been sailing since I was a kid and love those environments. I have also dived a lot.
Although, he says, the last summer has not exactly been characterized by a love of the sea.
– Not even a swim, actually.
Why?
– You could say I traded the sailboat for a tractor.
Earlier this year he and his wife moved to a horse farm in northern Skåne. So now life is more about things like which fields should lie fallow than about nautical charts.
But even if the horses and the beautiful Skåne countryside is nice, the interest in the sea is deep-rooted and when he was asked to take a seat on C2B2’s board, there was not much to think about.
Comeback in C2B2
He is familiar with the program from before. For a short period, Andreas Bach was involved as the leader of C2B2’s workpackage 2, focusing on data-driven innovation and new technology. After a while, however, he had to quit.
– The unit I worked in at RISE grew and my job there became more demanding, I simply didn’t have the time.
Now, as a new member of the board, he sees a number of potentials that he wants to help develop.
– I can contribute with aspects of shipping and marine technology, linked to research and innovation. But it is not enough to do research, what we come up with must be put into practice and used if we are to achieve the climate goals.
Andreas Bach can support this with his network of contacts to companies in that world.
He says that C2B2 is highly interesting, both for himself and for the society. The questions about how we should manage our ocean basins are crucial for the future.
– Can we solve the challenges? Yes, I am convinced of that.
But, he says, for the transition to work, it is not enough to create a lot of new smart technology. Things like regulations and business models also need to be reviewed.
– Take fuels, for example. As long as fossil fuels are significantly cheaper than renewables, those who invest in renewables will end up in a bad position commercially. It will be tougher to compete.
Within C2B2’s LivingLabs there are a number of stakeholders with different motivations. How can they be made to keep pace?
– By understanding each other’s activities and finding synergies in it. We need to co-create benefits where there is an upside for the participating organizations. Not entirely simple perhaps, but I am convinced that it can be done. I also believe in starting small. If you get started and do something, it usually grows to something bigger.
Facts: Andreas Bach
Age: 50 years old.
Occupation: Operations manager at the organization Lighthouse. Trained sea captain and has a master’s degree in maritime safety and environmental administration from the World Maritime University.
Lives in: Ljungbyhed.
Family: Wife and two children.
Interests: Sailing and horses.
Lives in: Rögle.
Drives: VW Passat.