A new inter-European collaboration will accelerate the international venture of several Trondheim companies.

The Croatian cluster DIH Innovamare and the Norwegian Ocean Autonomy Cluster (OAC), are behind the new network cooperation Croatia - Norway Marine Technology Innovation-network (MATIN).

- Trøndelag has long been on the list of the most innovative regions in Europe, and the maritime technology environment in Trondheim has a unique position that gives us a lot of international attention. Several companies in our network hold the key to many of our major global challenges, explains Frode Halvorsen, cluster leader in the Ocean Autonomy Cluster.

The EEA-funded collaborative project will look at three specific areas: Maritime transport, environmental monitoring, and mapping of bottom conditions in the sea.

- Crew shortages, traffic congestion, climate emissions, and seabed damage from anchoring are challenges that can be solved with autonomous and smart systems. Halvorsen explains that technology can make data collection and operations at sea more efficient and scalable.

Croatia has a strong international role as a European innovation district with good test facilities on the Adriatic Sea, and close cooperation with major key players in industry and business development. More companies will now have the opportunity to travel to Croatia to establish new partnerships and collaborations.

One of these companies is Zeabuz from Trondheim. The technology company, which originates from the research environment at NTNU, has received a great deal of international attention for the launch of the world's first autonomous passenger ferry in Stockholm. Now, the company is also supplying autonomous systems to two industrial groups Yinson GreenTech's new buildings in Singapore, while constantly establishing new customer relationships.

- Zeabuz is a leading supplier of maritime autonomy solutions but simultaneously completely depends on close cooperation with technology suppliers with whom we have to integrate our systems. A cluster collaboration like MATIN is a very good way to combine technical collaboration and commercial processes, says Erik Dyrkoren, CEO of Zeabuz.