Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth, and Minister of Research and Higher Education Oddmund Hoel will visit Trondheim on Tuesday April 30'th.

The agenda is to launch the new strategy for increased investment in research and development in the business community. Here they meet representatives from research and business, and get to try out autonomous vessels in the harbor basin.

Minister of Research and Higher Education, Oddmund Hoel

The Government has set an ambitious goal of Norway using three percent of GDP on research and development (R&D) by 2030. The goal is for two of the three percent to come from the private sector. Although R&D investments in the private sector have increased in the last decade, Norway is still far from this goal. Norway is also below the OECD average and behind our Nordic neighbors.

Now the government is presenting its strategy for how Norway can get the private sector to increase its R&D investments. The launch will take place at Maritime Robotics in Trondheim, which is a leading supplier of advanced autonomous technology for maritime operations.

Presentation of Autonomous Vessels in the Harbor Basin

Maritime Robotics will showcase its technology, which has been delivered to nearly 200 vessels worldwide. Here, the ministers will have the opportunity to see and operate technology that is currently being used to secure maritime areas in Ukraine, reduce climate emissions associated with krill fishing in the Arctic, and provide researchers with a better understanding of the oceans in a new and environmentally friendly way.

There will also be a demonstration of one of Kongsberg Maritime's test vessels, Ocean Space Lab, which is used for research and development of new navigation systems.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Cecilie Myrseth

Student exhibition, coffee and cake

Finally, there will be mingling, coffee and cake in the Maritime Robotics premises. Here, students from the Department of Design at NTNU will showcase their work on underwater and surface drones that they have done in collaboration with Maritime Robotics.

The press is welcome and there will be an opportunity to interview the ministers and representatives from business and research institutions.

Contact person for questions and registration: Communications Advisor in the Ministry of Education and Research, Johanne Severinsen 91114868 or email: [fjernet ugyldig e-postadresse]

Contact person for the Minister of Trade and Industry, David Tvetene: Senior Communications Advisor in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, [fjernet ugyldig e-postadresse], 47272679

Additional notes:

• The event will take place on April 26, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM.
• The event will be held at Maritime Robotics, Brattørkaia 11, Trondheim, Norway.
• The event is open to the public, but registration is required.
• The press is welcome and there will be an opportunity to interview the ministers and representatives from business and research institutions.

I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.