What can Germany and Norway learn from each other in the rapidly evolving field of maritime autonomy?
That was the key question at the “Autonomous Maritime Systems” seminar held in Trondheim on May 13, co-hosted by Ocean Autonomy Cluster and the German-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce. The event brought together industry leaders, researchers and policymakers from both countries to explore synergies in digitalization, sustainability, and dual-use innovation.
The program featured presentations from a wide range of contributors, including Governing Mayor of Trondheim Kristian Dahlberg Hauge, First Secretary Christian Siepmann from the German Embassy, and Regina Hermsdorf from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Cluster Manager Frode Halvorsen introduced the Ocean Autonomy Cluster, while Katrin Caldwell of VDMA offered insights into digital trends shaping Germany’s marine industries.
Roald Gulbrandsen from NHO discussed how Norwegian industry is adapting to geopolitical and technological shifts, and Ketil Aagesen of Siemens Energy shared examples of German companies succeeding in Norway. NTNU’s Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett also highlighted maritime autonomy research and infrastructure.
Ten German companies presented their technology and aspirations for collaboration, including Addix, Anschütz, AP Sensing, In-innovative navigation, JEOL, Kaiko Systems, Konzept Informationssysteme, PEM Motion, TASW and Tesvolt Ocean. Their 3-minute pitches gave a snapshot of innovative tools and services across software, automation, and smart maritime systems.
In the afternoon, participants gathered for moderated roundtable discussions to reflect on the day’s presentations and exchange ideas from their own operational contexts.
Among the many topics discussed were the challenges of aligning different autonomous systems and the need for common standards across the industry.
The conversations also touched on cybersecurity and physical threats, including how to protect against potential drone attacks and how to manage transitions between control centers using different standards and technologies.
Several contributors raised concerns about data and computing limitations, emphasizing that autonomy must function reliably even when processing power and connectivity are constrained—something many research environments don’t account for.
Others highlighted the role of automation in addressing workforce shortages, particularly in port logistics. Automating loading and unloading can enhance safety and compensate for the lack of available crane operators, especially in smaller ports.
There was also strong interest in revitalizing inland and coastal transport through small autonomous vessels. These could offer more frequent departures, reduce traffic congestion, and provide more sustainable alternatives in urban transport.
One example from Fredrikstad showed how ferry use increased from 250,000 to 3 million annual passengers when the ferry became free while the bridge was temporarily closed—highlighting a long-term shift in transport behavior.
The roundtable discussions clearly reflected a shared ambition to strengthen cooperation between Germany and Norway.
With both countries at the forefront of maritime innovation, the event underscored the potential for joint progress in building greener, safer, and more autonomous maritime systems.