Les saken på norsk: Ocean Access vant årets etablererstipend

Ocean Access was one of three emerging companies in Trøndelag to receive the Entrepreneurial Grant from the Adolf Øien Foundation.

The Entrepreneurial Grant is awarded to Trondheim-based startup companies and innovation projects in their early stages. The winners are selected by the board of the Adolf Øien Foundation, in consultation with an independent expert jury, after tough competition with around thirty applicants.

The grant was presented during the region's largest business event, Manifestation 2024, organized by the Trondheim Region Business Association.

Andreas Mauritzen and Fredrik Lilleøkdal from Ocean Access received the grant from Gry Haug Binde, CEO of the Adolf Øien Foundation.

"The Entrepreneurial Grant is about much more than just money. Equally important is the recognition that comes with it," she says.

Photo: Maren Terese Forsbakk/Lykt

Monitoring is the common denominator

"These are entrepreneurs and companies that have taken significant risks and are in the phase often referred to as the 'Valley of Death'. I believe that those of us around them have one important task: to cheer them on! Remember, these are the top 3 out of 30 exceptionally talented people and companies who applied, representing some of the best minds and talents in this region," says Binde.

Gry Haug Binde,  Adolf Øiens Fond. Photo: Maren Terese Forsbakk/Lykt

"Monitoring is the common denominator for this year's winners. Ocean Access is not the first to offer remote monitoring at sea, but with their submersible buoy, they have developed a solution that works in harmony with the elements," says Gry Haug Binde.

Exciting technology companies In addition to Ocean Access, two other exciting technology companies also received this year’s Entrepreneurial Grant.

In-Motion Technologies has developed a tool for the early and precise detection of symptoms of cerebral palsy in newborns. Aimses has developed a smart sensor that can monitor the health of electric machines in everything from wind farms to cars and airplanes – detecting faults before they occur.

Ocean Access is a member of both the Ocean Autonomy Cluster and FI Ocean Space Incubator.

Winners of the Adolf Øien Entrepreneurial Grant 2024. Photo: Maren Terese Forsbakk/Lykt

Adolf Øien’s Entrepreneurial Grant

The Adolf Øien Foundation for Business Development provides capital through the Entrepreneurial Grant for entrepreneurs and innovative projects in Trondheim and the surrounding area.

The Entrepreneurial Grant was established in 2009, and through our donations, we aim to support entrepreneurial ventures and innovative projects that have the potential to become tomorrow's growth companies. The requirement for recipients is that the business must be founded by individuals who have completed a master’s degree in economics and/or technology – primarily from NTNU – and that the business concept has the potential to create a ripple effect in the Trondheim region. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are prioritized in the allocations from the Adolf Øien Foundation for Business Development and will be considered in the application review process.