In 1977, five Nordic Veterinary Associations joined forces to establish the NKVet (The Nordic Committee for Veterinary Scientific Cooperation). The organization served as a vital bridge between veterinary professionals and organizations in order to promote cooperation and knowledge sharing.
At NKVet, they strove to facilitate greater collaboration between veterinarians and researchers in the Nordic region by organizing meetings that covered topics related to veterinary sciences. Their conferences were accessible to people from a variety of backgrounds, including scientists, vets, decision-makers, and other stakeholders. They believed the events helped bridge the gap between research and practice and moved everyone towards more comprehensive solutions for animal health issues in the region.
In 1995, the official language of all symposia and proceedings became English to facilitate communication between participants from outside the Nordic region, including those in the Baltic countries. Every symposium was open for anyone to attend, and they published their proceedings for everyone’s access. This allowed experts from various international nations to be invited and engage with these events.
The NKVet Board was an altruistic group of nine individuals, with one originator from Iceland and two members each from other Nordic countries. Their national veterinary associations elected veterinary professionals nominated by their universities or institutes to the board. These volunteers received only travel expenses to attend the bi-annual meetings that coincide with symposia.