--- title: News --- [![Dark\_yellow-fill\_POS\_powbyFI](https://oceanautonomy.no/hs-fs/hubfs/Dark_yellow-fill_POS_powbyFI.png?width=350&height=49&name=Dark_yellow-fill_POS_powbyFI.png)](https://oceanautonomy.no?hsLang=en-us) - [NEWS](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/news?hsLang=en-us) - ABOUT - [CLUSTER AND TEAM](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/clusterandteam?hsLang=en-us) - [MEMBERSHIP](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/membership?hsLang=en-us) - [MEMBERS](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/members?hsLang=en-us) - PROJECTS - [Dark Drones](https://oceanautonomy.no/dark-drones?hsLang=en-us) - [FI Ocean Space Incubator](https://fi-nor.no/en/oceanspaceincubator/) - [Frostabåten](https://oceanautonomy.no/frostab%C3%A5ten?hsLang=en-us) - [Maritimt studentsenter Nyhavna](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/maritimt-studentsenter-nyhavna?hsLang=en-us) - [MIDAS - Mennesket i framtidens havromsoperasjoner](https://oceanautonomy.no/nb/project_midas?hsLang=en-us) - [MIDAS Academy](https://midas-academy.no/) - [ROC - 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ABOUT - [CLUSTER AND TEAM](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/clusterandteam?hsLang=en-us) - [MEMBERSHIP](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/membership?hsLang=en-us) - [MEMBERS](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/members?hsLang=en-us) - PROJECTS - [Dark Drones](https://oceanautonomy.no/dark-drones?hsLang=en-us) - [FI Ocean Space Incubator](https://fi-nor.no/en/oceanspaceincubator/) - [Frostabåten](https://oceanautonomy.no/frostab%C3%A5ten?hsLang=en-us) - [Maritimt studentsenter Nyhavna](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/maritimt-studentsenter-nyhavna?hsLang=en-us) - [MIDAS - Mennesket i framtidens havromsoperasjoner](https://oceanautonomy.no/nb/project_midas?hsLang=en-us) - [MIDAS Academy](https://midas-academy.no/) - [ROC - Remote Operation Centres for next-generation maritime autonomy](https://oceanautonomy.no/project_roc-remote-operation-centres-for-next-generation-maritime-autonomy?hsLang=en-us) - [Strategisk forum Nyhavna](https://oceanautonomy.no/no-no/project-strategisk-forum-nyhavna?hsLang=en-us) - [Testination](https://testination.io/) - [XLRTR - Accelerate Dual-Use Technology for Multi-domain Operations](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/xlrtr?hsLang=en-us) - Completed projects - [AGATI - Adriatic Green Autonomous Transport Initiative](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_agati?hsLang=en-us) - [DIGIFJORD](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_digifjord?hsLang=en-us) - [FAST - Flexible Autonomous Smart Transport](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_fast?hsLang=en-us) - [FLEX FERRY](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_flexferry?hsLang=en-us) - [MATIN - The Croatia – Norway Marine Technology Innovation network](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_matin?hsLang=en-us) [Get in touch](https://26558673.hs-sites-eu1.com/contactus?hsLang=en-us) - [English - United States](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews) - [Norwegian](https://oceanautonomy.no/no/nyhetstest) # News ### Browse by: Everything Uncategorized NTNU Maritime Robotics MIDAS Autonomus NORDSEC Autonomous Blueye Robotics Eelume Nyhavna Drones Trondheim News Zeabuz New member Shore Control Lab Defence Testination innovation Frostabåten SINTEF SentiSystems USV Clarify Njord Ocean Access Autonomy Croatia Dual use Navigation OceanTech sensor AUV Candela Skarv Technologies Ukraine Water Linked subsea AI Course Safety TMA BlueTech Clean Sea Solutions Events Forsvarskonferansen Fremtidens Industri Hydrofoil Kongsberg Njord Challenge Squarehead Tocaro Blue XLRTR oceanaccess security AQUA Ocean Biodrone ESA Innovamare Innovasjon Norge MIDAS Academy NATO ROC ROV Radar San Diego Acoustic Arendalsuka Automation Breach VR Design Drone Enforce Tac FFI Fjord1 Fugro GNSS Inventas Maritimt Forum NORBIT Nordic USV Nyhavna Utvikling Ocean Space Incubator Students Trondheim Havn VR demo robot AUR-Lab After Sea Agati Andreas Mauritzen Anschütz Boreal CGO Automasjon Computas Dark Drones Design for manufacturing Digital Innovation Hub Digital Norway Drowning ESA BIC Electric Equinor FI Ocean Space incubator Ferry Fredrik Lilleøkdal Frode Halvorsen Frosta Germany Gjallarhorn Halogen Havet Industrial design Kace Kadabra Kongsberg Discovery Lavik-Oppedal Link Nordic Marinor NTNU Maritime Guardian NORTEK NUCC Navier USN Norbit Oceans Norse Navigation Otter Pamela Remote Operation Center Telia Tore O. 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Today, 25...** [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/five-years-of-shore-control-lab-from-a-blank-slate-to-a-thriving-research-environment) ## [Arild lost his job as a fisherman - now he's mapping the fjord with underwater ROVs](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/arild-lost-his-job-as-a-fisherman-now-hes-mapping-the-fjord-with-underwater-rovs) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Oct 30, 2026, 10:08:30 AM Text by Oda Ryggen [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/arild-lost-his-job-as-a-fisherman-now-hes-mapping-the-fjord-with-underwater-rovs) ## [Eelume, Maritime Robotics and Blueye demonstrate marine robotics at Equinor’s new test centre](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/equinor-opens-kårstø-marine-robotics-centre) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Oct 30, 2026, 8:35:05 AM **Equinor has opened the Kårstø Marine Robotics Centre (KNARR), a new facility dedicated to the...** [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/equinor-opens-kårstø-marine-robotics-centre) ## [HFC Forum 2026: Human Factors in Maritime Operations](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/hfc-forum-2026-human-factors-in-maritime-operations) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Oct 29, 2026, 8:35:24 AM By Knut Tore Aurdal/ÅKP [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/hfc-forum-2026-human-factors-in-maritime-operations) ## [Akvaplan-niva brings Arctic ocean research expertise to Ocean Autonomy Cluster](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/akvaplan-niva-brings-arctic-ocean-research-expertise-to-ocean-autonomy-cluster) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Oct 27, 2026, 1:04:43 PM **Akvaplan-niva brings extensive expertise in ocean monitoring, autonomous vehicles, sensor...** [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/akvaplan-niva-brings-arctic-ocean-research-expertise-to-ocean-autonomy-cluster) ## [Clarify among Norway’s fastest-growing technology companies](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/clarify-among-norways-fastest-growing-technology-companies) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Oct 22, 2026, 11:25:10 PM Ocean Autonomy Cluster member Clarify has been named one of Norway’s 50 fastest-growing technology... [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/clarify-among-norways-fastest-growing-technology-companies) ## [Building the control systems behind next-generation ocean technology](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/automation-expertise-for-safer-and-smarter-ocean-operations) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Oct 22, 2026, 8:45:59 AM Trondheim-based CGO Automasjon is bringing hands-on expertise in industrial automation, control... [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/automation-expertise-for-safer-and-smarter-ocean-operations) ## [Some of the world’s most ambitious student technology organisations are part of NORDSEC and Ocean Autonomy Cluster](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/some-of-the-worlds-most-ambitious-student-technology-organisations-are-part-of-nordsec-and-ocean-autonomy-cluster) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Oct 19, 2026, 12:21:59 AM **Eight NTNU student organisations working with satellites, rockets, drones, jet engines and...** [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/some-of-the-worlds-most-ambitious-student-technology-organisations-are-part-of-nordsec-and-ocean-autonomy-cluster) ## On the same subject ### [Breach VR: Reality is cross-platform](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/breach-vr-reality-is-cross-platform) [Aida Refvik Angell](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/aida-refvik-angell) [VR](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/tag/vr), [Breach VR](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/tag/breach-vr) ### [The Ocean Space Incubator in Trøndelag: Will strengthen Norway’s position in ocean space technology](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/the-ocean-space-incubator-will-strengthen-norways-position-in-ocean-space-technology) [Birgit Thorsen](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/birgit-thorsen) [Uncategorized](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/tag/uncategorized) ### [Autonomimiljøet i Midt-Norge får støtte til millionprosjekt](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/autonomimiljoet-i-midt-norge-far-stotte-til-millionprosjekt) [malin](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/malin) [Uncategorized](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/tag/uncategorized) - - [1](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews) - [2](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/page/2) - [3](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/page/3) - [4](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/page/4) - [5](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/page/5) - ##### About Ocean Autonomy Cluster Ocean Autonomy Cluster is awarded The ECEI BRONZE Label “Striving for Cluster Excellence” [![Bronze label](https://oceanautonomy.no/hs-fs/hubfs/Bronze%20label.png?width=180&height=70&name=Bronze%20label.png)](https://www.cluster-analysis.org/benchmarked-clusters)   ##### Links - [NEWS](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/news) - ABOUT - PROJECTS - [NEWS](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/news) ##### Contact us [Frode@fi-nor.no](mailto:Frode@fi-nor.no) +47 918 45 969 Skippergata 14 - 7040 Trondheim-NORWAY [Subscribe for newsletter](https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1drRpuCknT9Gj2pUOE-9pVgft8sx) ![Dark\_yellow-fill\_POS (3)](https://oceanautonomy.no/hs-fs/hubfs/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png?width=322&height=45&name=Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png) [![FI\_logo\_stor](https://oceanautonomy.no/hs-fs/hubfs/FI_logo_stor.png?width=41&height=41&name=FI_logo_stor.png)](https://fi-nor.no/) ![FI - redigert logo](https://oceanautonomy.no/hs-fs/hubfs/FI%20-%20redigert%20logo.png?width=174&height=58&name=FI%20-%20redigert%20logo.png)    ©2026 Copyright . All rights reserved. [Privacy policy](https://oceanautonomy.no/privacy-policy?hsLang=en-us) - - - ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster member Norse Navigation has won Fremtidens Verdiskaper 2026, securing both the main prize and the audience award. The Trondheim-based company received a total of NOK 1.4 million for its technology designed to make maritime navigation more resilient to GPS jamming and spoofing. Norse Navigation develops navigation systems for vessels designed to maintain reliable positioning when satellite navigation signals are disrupted or manipulated. The technology addresses a growing challenge for maritime operations, including autonomous and remotely operated vessels. “This is incredibly exciting. The awards give us a lot of energy and even more momentum for our plans. Perhaps the best part is the opportunity we have had to showcase what we are doing,” says Henrik Foss, founder and CEO of Norse Navigation. Established in Trondheim in November 2025, the company has in less than a year moved from an idea to a production-ready design, developed three product variants and carried out extensive technical testing. Winners of Fremtidens Verdiskaper 2026. Photo: Nicholas Lund/Videomakeriet AS Preparing for production Norse Navigation is now working towards type approval and building a new 150-square-metre production facility in Trondheim. “We are currently in the middle of a major certification process, while at the same time building a new production facility so that we can build up our inventory. But we will also take some time to celebrate. So the prize money will go towards both champagne and the new inventory,” Foss says. The jury highlighted the company’s maritime expertise, execution capabilities and international potential. “With a large international market, a clear need for safer satellite navigation and ambitions to build a broader product portfolio, Norse Navigation has significant potential to develop new, export-oriented technology industry from Central Norway,” said Vegard Helland, chair of the jury and Executive Vice President for Corporate Banking at SpareBank 1 SMN. A total of 75 companies applied for Fremtidens Verdiskaper 2026. The competition is organised by SpareBank 1 SMN in cooperation with NTNU, Startup TRD, PIR, ProtoMore and T:Lab. Source: Shifter, 6 November 2026.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "06/11/2026", "datePublished" : "06/11/2026", "headline" : "Norse Navigation wins NOK 1.4 million for safer maritime navigation", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/481877.webp", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/norse-navigation-wins-nok-1.4-million-for-safer-maritime-navigation", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "With new motor technology, a highly serviceable design and components that can largely be 3D printed, Trondheim-based technology company IVIA aims to address some of the challenges associated with today’s thrusters for ROVs and autonomous underwater vehicles. The company is a spin-off from Kadabra, a hands-on innovation and growth partner for ambitious B2B companies, and is now preparing to put its first prototypes through systematic testing. IVIA was founded by Oddbjørn Rødsten and Martin Ringdalen. Through their work at Kadabra, they have been involved in a number of projects involving ROVs, AUVs and other maritime technologies. Along the way, they identified a recurring challenge: thrusters are critical components, but can also be a source of operational problems and downtime. “We have worked with many ROV and AUV projects and seen that the thruster is one of the components where achieving reliable performance over time can be challenging. That can lead to both downtime and lost production. At the same time, Martin had spent many years working on alternative concepts for how an electric motor can be built. We saw an opportunity to use this to address some of these challenges,” says Oddbjørn Rødsten. That became the starting point for IVIA. Photo: IVIA The company is developing a new type of rim thruster based on a proprietary motor technology and production concept. The motor is positioned around the periphery of the propeller, while IVIA has also developed its own solutions for the bearings and overall mechanical architecture. “The motor technology is primarily what makes our solution different. We have also developed our own bearing solution to meet requirements for reliability, serviceability and precision,” says Martin Ringdalen, CTO of IVIA and the inventor behind the company’s core technology. The ambition is not simply to produce another version of an existing thruster. IVIA believes its technology can improve efficiency and power density while making the unit easier to maintain and repair. More precise control is another important part of the concept. “We have designed a product that should be extremely easy to service and maintain. We are also working with more precise control of speed and thrust, and associated power consumption. Based on the design work and the prototypes, we believe we have solved many of the challenges we set out to address. Now we need to collect the data to demonstrate it,” says Rødsten. Photo: IVIA Designed for easy maintenance Serviceability has been a priority from the beginning. The mechanical architecture is designed to make the thruster quick to disassemble when components need to be inspected or replaced. “The entire thruster can essentially be disassembled by removing a single screw. From there, you can take it apart. When equipment is expected to operate underwater over extended periods, we believe straightforward servicing and maintenance are important,” says Ringdalen. IVIA has chosen thrusters as the first market for the technology, but the underlying motor concept is not limited to this particular application. According to the company, the technology can be scaled in both size and geometry, potentially opening opportunities for other types of electric motors in the future. For now, however, the company intends to maintain a narrow focus. “We are close to the maritime technology community and know both the companies and the applications. That is why we have chosen thrusters as our entry market. First, we need to demonstrate that the product performs as intended. From there, we can build further,” says Rødsten. Photo: IVIA From injection molding to 3D printing Another aspect of the technology has become increasingly important during development. Large parts of the current prototype can be manufactured using 3D printing. That was not originally the intention. The Kadabra team has extensive experience with plastics and injection molding, and the components were initially designed with cost-effective industrial production in mind. But the same design principles also proved well suited to additive manufacturing. For IVIA, this has dramatically shortened the development cycle. “We can print functional components in-house overnight and test a new version the next day. A design change does not require us to manufacture new tooling. That allows us to work extremely quickly at this stage,” says Ringdalen. The company is using materials developed to withstand marine environments, including saltwater. Large parts of the housing and structural components in the prototypes are already 3D printed, and IVIA is exploring whether additive manufacturing can be used for additional components. Oddbjørn Rødsten and Martin Ringdalen. Photo: IVIA In the longer term, this could have implications beyond rapid prototyping. “It also opens up opportunities for distributed production. You need surprisingly few resources to manufacture many of these components locally. From a supply-chain perspective, that can be extremely valuable,” says Ringdalen. For IVIA, this ties into the broader ambition of building competence and production capacity for critical maritime technology close to the market. “We want to build both expertise and manufacturing capacity for this type of critical equipment locally. We believe that can become an important competitive advantage,” says Rødsten. Photo: IVIA A spin-off from Kadabra IVIA has its origins in Kadabra, where both Rødsten and Ringdalen are co-founders. Kadabra is a Trondheim-based innovation and growth partner that helps companies turn ideas and opportunities into new products, services, and scalable businesses. The company is also a member of Ocean Autonomy Cluster and works with several companies in the maritime technology community. At the same time, the company has wanted to explore business models beyond traditional consultancy. One idea has been to use the expertise within Kadabra to take a more active role in developing technologies, products and new companies. IVIA became the first internal initiative to develop into a separate company. “We realised that we already had much of the competence needed both to develop the product and to build the company. Martin has more than 20 years of experience in product development, while I have around 25 years of experience in business development and building companies. That gave us a strong foundation to get started,” says Rødsten. IVIA is now gradually separating from Kadabra as an independent company. Rødsten is moving into IVIA full-time as CEO, while Ringdalen will serve as CTO, initially dividing his time between the two companies. Photo: IVIA Moving from prototypes to testing in water The next phase will be crucial. IVIA is preparing to begin systematic testing of the technology, first under controlled conditions and subsequently in water. “Based on the design and the prototypes, we believe we have solved many of the things we wanted to solve. Now the task is to document that. We will start with bench testing under controlled conditions, before moving into the water and testing together with relevant industry partners,” says Rødsten. The company is already in dialogue with several maritime technology companies and is looking for pilot partners that can help test and validate the technology in real-world applications. Potential markets include ROV operations in aquaculture, inspection of subsea installations, seabed mapping, offshore energy and the growing use of autonomous systems for maritime operations. This is also where IVIA’s new membership in Ocean Autonomy Cluster comes into play. For the company, joining the cluster is primarily about getting closer to the companies developing the vehicles and systems where its technology could eventually be used. “We already know and work with several companies in this environment. Through Ocean Autonomy Cluster, we want to gain even better insight into the projects that are underway, identify relevant pilot partners and see where our technology could fit. That is one of the main reasons why we are joining the cluster now,” says Rødsten. Photo: IVIA", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "05/11/2026", "datePublished" : "05/11/2026", "headline" : "A new thruster technology is taking shape in Trondheim", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Ivia%20%288%29.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/ivia-develops-new-thruster-technology-for-underwater-vehicles", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Five years ago, NTNU Shore Control Lab was little more than an idea and an empty room. Today, 25 people are affiliated with the lab, which has been involved in 42 research projects and has become an important arena for research, education and collaboration within autonomous and remotely operated maritime systems. The fifth anniversary was celebrated at Nyhavna in Trondheim, where Head of Shore Control Lab and professor in interaction design Ole Andreas Alsos looked back at a journey that started with funding of close to NOK 1.8 million to establish the laboratory. Since then, Shore Control Lab has developed into a multidisciplinary environment comprising researchers, PhD candidates, research assistants and students. According to Ole Andreas Alsos, students have played a particularly important role in building both the physical laboratory and the research environment around it. Over its first five years, the lab has participated in 42 research projects, welcomed more than 200 visits from universities, companies and other organisations, and contributed to around 150 scientific publications. The research has also resulted in ten ideas reported to NTNU Technology Transfer and a patent related to a maritime head-up display. Ole Andreas Alsos, Head of Shore Control Lab and professor in interaction design. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Collaboration has been key The development has taken place in close interaction with industry and the wider maritime technology ecosystem in Trondheim. “The collaboration with Fremtidens Industri and Ocean Autonomy Cluster has been absolutely central to our success. This collaboration has been incredibly important,” says Ole Andreas Alsos. One important example is MIDAS, Human in Future Maritime Operations. The project brings together several NTNU departments, SINTEF and industry clusters, including Ocean Autonomy Cluster, with the aim of strengthening innovation and the development of autonomous ocean technologies. Human-centred design, business development and closer collaboration between research and industry are key parts of the project. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Shore Control Lab has served as an important arena for MIDAS activities, bringing researchers, students and maritime companies together to explore how humans and technology will interact in future maritime operations. The lab also works closely with Testination, the testing and innovation ecosystem established by Fremtidens Industri. Together with Ocean Autonomy Cluster, MIDAS and Shore Control Lab, Testination is involved in developing Remote Operation Centers as an important area for future autonomous maritime operations. Senior Researcher Erik Aleksander Veitch. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri The collaboration connects research and education at Shore Control Lab with opportunities for companies to test and demonstrate new technology in relevant environments. Testination provides access to test areas, infrastructure, expertise and industry partners for companies developing and scaling new technology. For Ocean Autonomy Cluster, the Shore Control Lab represents an important link between research, education and companies developing new maritime technology. The lab provides an arena where concepts for remote operation and autonomy can be explored together with students, researchers and industry partners. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri From a blank slate Senior Researcher Erik Aleksander Veitch took the anniversary audience back to June 2020, when the laboratory was still an empty space. “The Shore Control Lab was a blank slate. With help from students and assistants, we started planning. We got feedback from countless stakeholders, construction began, and the vision started to take form,” said Veitch. He described the moment when the plans became a working research environment: “Then something magic happened. The lights turned on. Students filled the lab with life and impactful research collaborations happened.” Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Built together with students The strong involvement of students was also highlighted by Sara Brinch, Dean of NTNU's Faculty of Architecture and Design. She pointed to the opportunities the lab has given students and PhD candidates to take an active role in its development. “What characterises Shore Control Lab is the opportunity you have given students and PhD candidates to participate, and sometimes even take the lead in its further development. I believe that is quite unique, both within NTNU and in a much broader context,” says Sara Brinch. Brinch described the laboratory as the result of a genuine joint effort and said she had been impressed by how the environment has grown during its first five years. Sara Brinch, Dean of NTNU's Faculty of Architecture and Design. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri For Alsos, the anniversary was also an opportunity to recognise the many people who have contributed along the way. He highlighted students, master's and PhD candidates, researchers, the faculty leadership and external partners as essential to what Shore Control Lab has become. The result is not only a laboratory, but a collaborative culture that extends beyond the lab itself and connects researchers and students with other disciplines at NTNU and with external partners. Five years after the lights were first switched on, Shore Control Lab is entering its next chapter with a considerably larger team, a growing research portfolio and close links to the maritime technology community surrounding Ocean Autonomy Cluster.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "04/11/2026", "datePublished" : "04/11/2026", "headline" : "Five years of Shore Control Lab: From a blank slate to a thriving research environment", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/NTNU%20Shore%20Control%20Lab%205%20%C3%A5r%20-%20Foto%20Lars%20Bugge%20Aarset%20Fremtidens%20Industri%20%2812%29.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/five-years-of-shore-control-lab-from-a-blank-slate-to-a-thriving-research-environment", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Text by Oda Ryggen When the no-take zones took effect in the Indre Oslofjord on 1 January 2026, commercial fisherman Arild Lindholm Karlsen lost his livelihood overnight. He had fished the waters north of Horten and Moss for years. In April, he applied for restoration funding from the Norwegian Environment Agency to retrain his business, and by summer 2026 Karlsen was holding a Blueye X3 Ultra. Now he's back on the fjord he knows best, not to fish, but to recover all the gear fishing left behind there. A ban to save a fjord under pressure The Oslofjord has been under pressure for decades: overfishing, oxygen-poor bottom water, and a lobster and groundfish population that has shrunk year after year. On 1 January 2026, the Norwegian government introduced three large no-take zones: the Indre Oslofjord from Moss to Oslo, and the Færder and Ytre Hvaler national parks. All fishing is banned in these zones, both commercial and recreational. The exceptions are children's crab fishing with a hand line, and a few permits for research and removal of Pacific oysters. The no-take zones in the Oslofjord, in effect since 1 January 2026: the Indre Oslofjord from Moss to Oslo, and the Færder and Ytre Hvaler national parks. Illustration: Blueye Robotics One of the biggest single problems isn't the fishing that's still happening, but the fishing that stopped happening a long time ago. Lost pots, nets, and lines stay on the seabed for years, still catching fish and shellfish with nobody there to retrieve them. This kind of ghost fishing is a quiet, ongoing strain on an ecosystem that's already struggling. The environmental organization OceanFront alone recovered around 10 tonnes of ghost gear from the Indre Oslofjord in a single month in the summer of 2026. Recovered ghost fishing gear on Arild Karlsen's boat. Photo: Blueye Robotics To fund this kind of work, the Norwegian Environment Agency set aside a pool of almost NOK 100 million for nature restoration in the Oslofjord. The applications that came in totaled around NOK 400 million, four times what was available. From fisherman to fjord guardian: a new job on the same fjord Today, the same fjord is Karlsen's workplace again, just with a different assignment. After applying for restoration funding and being turned down in the first round, he won his case on appeal in June. The money arrived late, not until August, but it came with a Blueye X3 Ultra and a gripper claw. Since then, he's been out on the fjord almost every day. None of this work brings in any income. So you're completely dependent on getting funding to do it year-round: equipment, but also salary and operations.- Arild Karlsen The funding he has received runs through the end of 2026. After the new year, he'll have to apply again, and he's one of several fishermen waiting to see whether the Norwegian Environment Agency will follow up next year too. Arild Karlsen with the Blueye X3 Ultra on his boat. Photo: Blueye Robotics Arild Karlsen launches the Blueye X3 Ultra from the boat before a dive. Photo: Blueye Robotics Karlsen also works with Green Bay, which has received funding to map the seabed using AUVs and sonar systems. When Green Bay confirms a find of lost gear, Karlsen takes over the coordinates and dives down with the ROV to recover it. Karlsen examines a piece of fishing gear just hauled up from the seabed. The choice of ROV supplier was no accident. I chose Blueye for a few reasons. One is the AI model. I think that's very forward-looking. Another is the Blueye Cloud system, the logging and reporting. It saves me a lot of work.- Arild Karlsen He now spends his evenings on something few ROV operators do themselves: building his own training dataset to recognize ghost gear in the Oslofjord. With the Blueye X3 Ultra, operators can upload their own AI models trained to recognize objects automatically and have them flagged directly in the Blueye App during the dive. Ready-made datasets exist, but they were collected elsewhere in the world, under completely different conditions. The Oslofjord is special. The visibility is poor, and the fouling is a completely different type, he says. Every evening, he feeds the day's finds into a model that trains overnight. The goal is an AI model trained specifically on conditions in the Oslofjord, one he can eventually load into Blueye, and that should, in time, make it possible to detect ghost gear at a longer range than he can see on camera himself. Karlsen isn't alone in doing this kind of work on the fjord. The volunteer environmental organization Marinreparatørene has been cleaning up the Indre Oslofjord since 2014, and has, with funding from the Norwegian Environment Agency, hired two full-time staff for a similar project further north in the fjord, in partnership with OceanFront. Guttorm Wiik and Stian Lund from Marinreparatørene with a recent catch from the Indre Oslofjord. Photo: Marinreparatørene The Marinreparatørene boat with tires recovered from the Indre Oslofjord. Photo: Marinreparatørene How it works in practice: from mapping to recovery A typical workday starts with mapping. Karlsen uses sonar images, described as an X-ray of the seabed, to look for signs of lost gear, but pots are often overgrown with fouling or hidden between rocks, and are hard to spot even on sonar. When he doesn't have a confirmed point to go on, the method is to find an edge on the bottom and follow it. Most lost gear collects along edges and in rope lines like this over the decades. The sonar chart Karlsen uses to search for signs of lost gear on the seabed. The track of the Blueye ROV is also integrated with Sailorsmate. Photo: Blueye Robotics The operation requires the boat to hold its position underwater. He also uses the Sailorsmate chart system, which he knows from his fishing career and which is now integrated with Blueye and positioning systems such as USBL. That lets him follow the ROV's exact position and track in real time on the chart display, and take screenshots as documentation for the national parks and the Norwegian Environment Agency. Having USBL on the ROV is the single most important thing for understanding where you're operating. Where have I searched, and where haven't I? You can only get that with USBL.- Arild Karlsen That documentation isn't just useful, it's a requirement. Karlsen is one of around five operators who have been granted a three-year permit to clear ghost gear with an ROV in the Færder and Ytre Hvaler national parks, precisely because the method is gentler on the seabed fauna than traditional grapnel dragging. The national park managers require video and reporting from every dive, even when nothing is found, since a cleared area is also valuable mapping information. Close-up of a fouled crab trap, with juvenile fish visible in the netting. Photo: Arild Karlsen The trap is lifted straight up from the seabed to keep it from digging into the mud. Photo: Arild Karlsen What makes this work possible for people without an ROV background is that none of them had to retrain to use the equipment. For fishermen like Karlsen, who know the fjord from decades on the water, the real expertise is knowing where things collect and what the seabed looks like. The ROV is simply the tool that lets that knowledge be put to a new use. Blueye operators also use Blueye Cloud to share their findings with the Norwegian Environment Agency. Mapping data and finds from each mission can be uploaded and made available to those managing the restoration work. Illustration image of Blueye Cloud (generic screenshot of dive playback). Photo: Blueye Robotics What this means going forward for the Oslofjord and its fishermen The Blueye X3 Ultra, fitted with a gripper claw, approaches a piece of fishing gear on the seabed of the Oslofjord. Photo: Blueye Robotics In theory, the no-take zones are meant to do two things at once: stop new fishing gear from entering the water, and give the fjord room to recover. Karlsen's story shows a third effect: some of the people hit hardest by the ban are now among those cleaning up after decades of fishing, their own and everyone else's. Karlsen also believes the road ahead needs careful thought. He supports reusing old fishing gear, but he's concerned that cheap replacement traps could lead to more ghost fishing, not less: a brand new trap can cost NOK 800–900 today, against as little as NOK 250 for a restored, reused one. My guess is that some people will end up setting them pretty carelessly.- Arild Karlsen Everything he brings up himself goes to recycling or destruction, not back onto the market. The funding Karlsen has received runs through the end of 2026. After that, he'll have to apply again, competing against far more applications than the Norwegian Environment Agency has funds to cover. He isn't alone in this work. The volunteer environmental organization Marinreparatørene, among others, is doing the same kind of cleanup further north in the fjord. But for Karlsen, much of what happens next comes down to whether a fisherman who has rebuilt his entire career gets to keep doing it. He's far from the only one who has turned the fishing ban into a new job. But Karlsen's story is the story of how someone who knows the seabed better than most is now using that knowledge to clean it up, and to build his own method for finding what other fishermen have lost. Watch Arild Karlsen at work recovering ghost fishing gear in the Oslofjord with the Blueye X3 Ultra. Video: Blueye Robotics About Blueye Robotics Blueye Robotics is a Trondheim-based technology company developing compact underwater ROVs for inspection, monitoring and exploration below the surface. Its technology combines underwater robotics with sensors, positioning, cloud-based data management and AI capabilities. Blueye Robotics is a member of Ocean Autonomy Cluster.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "30/10/2026", "datePublished" : "30/10/2026", "headline" : "Arild lost his job as a fisherman - now he's mapping the fjord with underwater ROVs", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/arild-karlsen-blueye-robotics.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/arild-lost-his-job-as-a-fisherman-now-hes-mapping-the-fjord-with-underwater-rovs", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Equinor has opened the Kårstø Marine Robotics Centre (KNARR), a new facility dedicated to the testing, qualification and development of marine robotic technologies. Ocean Autonomy Cluster members Eelume, Maritime Robotics and Blueye Robotics all had systems in the water during the opening. The centre, located at the processing plant at Kårstø in Tysvær, will be used for testing, qualification and development of marine robotics. KNARR will be Norway’s and one of the world’s first test centres of its kind connected to a facility in operation and will make it possible to develop technology in an already operational environment. The centre will be available for use across maritime industries, and will, among other things, establish solutions for inspection, autonomous operations, environmental monitoring, securing and maintenance of offshore installations. Subsea drones, robots and unmanned vessels will be tested, qualified and developed on existing infrastructure in the newly established test centre connected to the processing plant at Kårstø at the west coast of Norway Eelume, Maritime Robotics and Blueye Robotics all had systems in the water during the opening. Visitors were able to see and test equipment that Equinor has purchased from the Ocean Autonomy Cluster member companies. Thomas Nygaard of Eelume points to Equinor’s role in bringing the technology into offshore operations. “Equinor is pioneering efforts to reduce costs, lower the CO2 footprint and improve HSE in offshore operations. KNARR will play an important role in testing and developing this technology, and we greatly appreciate the close cooperation with Equinor,” says Thomas Nygaard of Eelume. Equinor entered into an agreement to purchase an Eelume S AUV in 2025 and later acquired a Mariner X USV from Maritime Robotics, and a Blueye X3 ROV from Blueye Robotics. Subsea drones, robots and unmanned vessels will be tested, qualified and developed on existing infrastructure in the newly established test centre connected to the processing plant at Kårstø on the west coast of Norway. Equinor sees potential cost savings of several hundred million NOK annually by using underwater robots and autonomous vessels in the years to come. “We have set a goal of reducing operational costs significantly by 2035. By using underwater drones for smaller tasks, we can work more efficiently and use the larger vessels where they provide the greatest value,” says Hege Skryseth, executive vice president for Technology, Digitalisation and Innovation in Equinor. From left: Christian Gabrielsen from Blueye Robotics, Vegard from Maritime Robotics, Thomas Nygaard from Eelume and Jan Christian Torvestad at the indoor pool at KNARR, where the systems can be operated while further development and applications are discussed from a bird’s-eye view. KNARR is an extension of several established test centres for the early phase of technology testing. Three test areas have been set aside in water depths of 25, 140 and 250 metres, respectively. Three kilometres of subsea cable and associated electronics have been laid to test sensor technology over time. Together with existing power cables, export pipelines and subsea structures, this provides an opportunity to test, among other things, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS). Equinor and Gassco have so far set aside NOK 16 million to establish the centre, with the possibility of expanding the facilities for new functionality in the future. Marine robotics will play an increasingly important role in the inspection, monitoring and maintenance of offshore infrastructure. It contributes to employees being less exposed to risk, strengthens operational performance and provides a better basis for decision-making. “The strong environments we have in advanced robotics and digital technology in Norway are among the strategic advantages that will be able to strengthen our competitiveness in the decades to come. We have a long coast, and a rich maritime industrial history that we want to strengthen through good cooperation across industries such as aquaculture, oil and gas extraction, wind power, shipping and the defence industry,” says Skryseth. Technology development is important for achieving better productivity, high value creation and ensuring long-term resource utilisation on the Norwegian shelf. KNARR is a platform for developing, testing and demonstrating new solutions that can contribute to safe, efficient and competitive energy operations in the years to come. See also: Equinor opens Kårstø Marine Robotics Centre", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "30/10/2026", "datePublished" : "30/10/2026", "headline" : "Eelume, Maritime Robotics and Blueye demonstrate marine robotics at Equinor’s new test centre", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Equinor.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/equinor-opens-kårstø-marine-robotics-centre", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "By Knut Tore Aurdal/ÅKP For two days in October, Ålesund was the meeting place for human factors in advanced maritime operations. The Human Factors in Control Forum (HFC Forum) brought together industry, authorities and researchers on 20–21 October, and GCE Blue Maritime Cluster kicked things off with a dedicated prelude event through MIDAS Academy. Walk-to-Work operations on the Norwegian continental shelf and alarm management in control rooms were among the topics that drew the most engagement. For both topics, the understanding of human factors will play a vital role in the time to come. A prelude through MIDAS Academy Ahead of the forum itself, we organised an open prelude event together with HFC Forum at the Norwegian Maritime Competence Centre (NMK) on Tuesday 20 October. The prelude, with close to 60 participants, was part of MIDAS Academy program, the joint learning platform we have developed in the MIDAS project – “Humans in Future Ocean Space Operations”. MIDAS Academy covers everything from larger workshops to courses and dedicated education programmes in maritime autonomy and automation. The aim is to make new research accessible to those who will design, operate and regulate the ships and ocean space operations of the future. The talks were based on chapters from the book Safety by Design: Human-Centered Approaches to AI, Automation, and Remote Operations, launched this summer: Erik Veitch (NTNU): Introduction to human-centred design Frøy Birte Bjørneseth (Kongsberg Maritime and NTNU): Designing for the night watch – human factors on modern bridges Jooyoung Park (NTNU): Meaningful human control in remotely operated ferries Jon Bernhard Høstmark (Kongsberg Discovery): Developing a remote operations centre (ROC) for autonomous ships Sondre Øie (DNV): Safety-critical task analysis in automation and remote operations Salman Nazir (USN): Training and performance assessment under digitalisation The common thread was that the more automated and remotely operated our vessels become, the more important it is to design systems around the people who monitor them and step in when needed. Walk-to-Work: gangways could change the shelf Tuesday had a strong focus on Walk-to-Work (W2W). Equinor presented its use of Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) across three core activities: Transfers to wellhead platforms, Wind turbines and offshore supply duties. The operations run in the season from 1 April to 30 September. Equinor highlighted clear operational benefits of using Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) with gangways: An SOV can provide additional personnel to manned installations where a flotel is not economically viable A smaller supplement of personnel from an SOV evens out activity levels and reduces the need for helicopter transport SOVs make it possible to carry out tasks that cannot be realised today The footprint is much smaller than a flotel – better for safety, the environment and operational efficiency The challenge is regulation. W2W to manned installations is currently not permitted on manned assets on the Norwegian continental shelf, and Equinor wants a regulatory change to allow it. The Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil) is preparing a proposed amendment to Section 4 of the Framework Regulations, scheduled for public consultation on 15 November 2026. If adopted, demand for SOVs in the North Sea will increase considerably – an opportunity for shipyards, equipment suppliers and shipowners in the cluster. Norwind and DNV looked at the safety aspects of gangway solutions. They stressed that the industry must come together to standardise the safety-related elements of these operations, such as safety marking and alarm management. The cluster’s own gangway suppliers, Ulmatec Handling and Seaonics, also shared their experience from developing and operating gangway systems. Alarm management: the control room needs standards Alarm management was also a key theme on day two. The Norwegian Maritime Authority and Safetech addressed the lack of standards for engine control rooms on board. The Viking Sky incident in 2019 and the subsequent report from the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority showed that current regulations and standards for alarm management were a contributing factor. In the wake of this, Norway has started a process in IMO to improve the regulatory framework. Technology alone will not solve the problem. Alarm systems must be designed so that operators get the right information at the right time, also when a situation becomes critical. There is a clear link to the W2W discussion the day before: whether on the gangway or in the engine control room, the industry is calling for common standards. Site visits with a focus on remote control centers The forum concluded with site visits to OSC, Effee and NTNU Fjordlab. Participants saw first-hand how simulation, training and testing of new technology are carried out here in the region. A big thank you to HFC Forum for an excellent collaboration, and to all speakers and participants who made these two days in Ålesund so rewarding. To learn more about upcoming courses and workshops, follow MIDAS Academy. Contact: Knut Tore Aurdal, Head of Projects, GCE Blue Maritime Cluster – knut.tore.aurdal@bluemaritimecluster.no", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "29/10/2026", "datePublished" : "29/10/2026", "headline" : "HFC Forum 2026: Human Factors in Maritime Operations", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/HFC%20Forum%202026.avif", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/hfc-forum-2026-human-factors-in-maritime-operations", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Akvaplan-niva brings extensive expertise in ocean monitoring, autonomous vehicles, sensor technology, oceanography, ecology and aquaculture to Ocean Autonomy Cluster. Based in Tromsø, Akvaplan-niva is a Norwegian research and consulting company working with the physical environment, biological diversity and ecological processes in marine and freshwater systems. The company combines research with research-based advisory services supporting innovation and environmentally friendly operations. Akvaplan-niva sees Ocean Autonomy Cluster as an arena for developing new ideas and collaborative projects across research, industry and public management. “Through the Ocean Autonomy Cluster, we hope to become involved in collaborative projects, expand our network, participate in events and develop new ideas,” says Department Director of Environment at Akvaplan-niva, Anita Evenset. The company can contribute research expertise across several disciplines, as well as infrastructure relevant to autonomous ocean technology. This includes autonomous vehicles, advanced sensor technology and marine research facilities at the research and innovation station, FISK, on Kvaløya near Tromsø. Connecting autonomy and ocean research For the Ocean Autonomy Cluster, Akvaplan-niva strengthens the connection between autonomous technology and research on the marine environment. Ocean monitoring is particularly relevant, with autonomous vehicles and advanced sensors offering opportunities for collecting environmental data. Akvaplan-niva is a subsidiary of NIVA, the Norwegian Institute for Water Research, and is also a founder and owner of Arctic Frontiers, an Arctic dialogue platform and an the annual conference held in Tromsø.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "27/10/2026", "datePublished" : "27/10/2026", "headline" : "Akvaplan-niva brings Arctic ocean research expertise to Ocean Autonomy Cluster", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/IMG_6102.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/akvaplan-niva-brings-arctic-ocean-research-expertise-to-ocean-autonomy-cluster", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster member Clarify has been named one of Norway’s 50 fastest-growing technology companies in the 2026 Deloitte Technology Fast 50, following 393 percent growth. The annual Deloitte Technology Fast 50 recognises companies that have succeeded in turning technology and innovation into sustainable businesses with real revenue and growth. This year’s ranking was announced in Oslo on 21 October. “393 percent growth shows that our customers are seeing real value from putting operational data and AI to work in their own operations. A huge thank you to our customers for trusting us and having the courage to lead the way,” says Tore Norheim Hagtun, CEO and co-founder of Clarify. Clarify placed 43rd in this year’s ranking. Radionor Communications, another Trondheim-based technology company, topped the 2026 list with revenue growth of 3,165 percent from 2022 to 2025. “With a fantastic team, our ambition is to become the operating system for AI and agents in ocean industries and defence, enabling even more companies to strengthen their competitiveness and capacity for innovation. When our customers create value, we succeed as well, and the real growth is still ahead of us. Congratulations to Radionor on the win. It is inspiring to see what they have achieved!” Tore Norheim Hagtun, CEO and co-founder of Clarify. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri See also: Clarify becomes core partner in Testination Turning operational data into value Founded in Trondheim, Clarify develops an industrial data platform designed to make operational data understandable and usable for both people and AI. The platform connects, contextualises and stores data from sources including industrial assets, SCADA systems, drones and sensors, while allowing companies to retain control of their operational data. The company’s roots go back more than a decade. Clarify says it was founded 2013 by cybernetics and robotics students at NTNU, Clarify has spent more than a decade building data tools for marine and heavy industry. Today, the technology is used across industries including food production, defence, energy and shipping. On its own website, Clarify highlights customers including Watermoon, Salmon Evolution and IINO Lines, demonstrating applications ranging from large volumes of live operational data in aquaculture to documenting fuel and CO₂ savings in shipping. Demo of tecnology from Clarify in Nyhavna, Trondheim. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri From data to autonomous operations Clarify is also playing an increasingly important role in the development and testing of autonomous maritime technology in Ocean Autonomy Cluster. In October 2026, the company became a core partner in Testination, the open test arena established by Ocean Autonomy Cluster, SINTEF Ocean and Trondheim Port. Clarify contributes both its software platform and expertise in collecting, structuring and analysing data from integrated sensor systems and autonomous platforms. The company is expanding into dual-use technology and the maritime defence and security sector. It runs its own Gjallarhorn project, supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, and is a partner in the Port Security Project, where companies from Ocean Autonomy Cluster and NORDSEC combine autonomous surface vessels, underwater drones, cameras and other sensors to improve surveillance and situational awareness around ports and critical infrastructure. The Fast 50 recognition adds another milestone to Clarify’s development, as the company continues to scale its technology and pursue its ambition of making operational data ready for AI and autonomous systems. Congratulations to the entire Clarify team on being named among Norway’s 50 fastest-growing technology companies. Photo: Ole Ekker See also: Developing autonomous systems to secure Norwegian ports", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "22/10/2026", "datePublished" : "22/10/2026", "headline" : "Clarify among Norway’s fastest-growing technology companies", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Gjallarhorn%20MR%20140825%20Foto%20Lars%20Bugge%20Aarset%20%2822%29.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/clarify-among-norways-fastest-growing-technology-companies", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Trondheim-based CGO Automasjon is bringing hands-on expertise in industrial automation, control systems, and autonomous operations to the ocean technology ecosystem. The company has already delivered advanced solutions for both aquaculture and autonomous maritime platforms, where reliability and fail-operational performance are critical requirements. The company is also part of the growing ocean technology community at Nyhavna in Trondheim, where a number of maritime and ocean-tech companies are co-locating in shared office and workshop facilities at Transittgata 10. According to CEO Christoffer Garmager Okkenhaug, the move was driven by a desire to become part of a stronger technology ecosystem and work closer to customers, partners, and fellow technology companies. Photo: CGO Automasjon Founded in 2024, CGO Automasjon has quickly established itself as a specialist provider of automation solutions for aquaculture, maritime, and industrial applications. The company delivers complete projects spanning control system engineering, PLC programming, HMI and SCADA development, electrical cabinet design and assembly, robotics, machine safety, commissioning, and long-term support. Recent projects highlight the breadth of the company's capabilities. Among them is a complete control system for a semi-enclosed aquaculture cage solution, featuring fail-operational oxygenation and water circulation systems, distributed multi-PLC architecture, redundant oxygen supply and power systems, and autonomous operation during communication outages. Christoffer Garmager Okkenhaug, CEO of CGO Automasjon. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri CGO Automasjon has also delivered electrical and automation systems for an autonomous vessel platform equipped with AI-based collision avoidance technology. In addition, the company has conducted a pre-project for automated rope-coiling equipment for land-based seaweed farming. We see significant opportunities in collaborating with companies and research institutions working within ocean autonomy. Our automation and electrical engineering expertise can complement vessel technology, sensor systems, and autonomous operations, while access to professional networks and collaborative projects is highly valuable for a growing company like ours, says Managing Director Christoffer Okkenhaug. Photo: CGO Automasjon The company's presence at Nyhavna places it alongside several other technology companies working within autonomy, navigation, maritime systems, and ocean innovation. The area is rapidly evolving into a hub where startups, scaleups, technology suppliers, and research environments can collaborate more closely on future ocean solutions. CGO Automasjon brings practical experience in several technology areas that are directly relevant to autonomous ocean operations, including distributed control systems, redundancy and emergency-operation logic, sensor integration, drive systems, safety-critical automation, and autonomous functionality under loss of communications. Christoffer Garmager Okkenhaug, CGO Automasjon outside Transittgata 10 together with Henrik Foss, Norse Navigation and Ragnar Eggen, Nyhavna Utvikling. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri As a flexible and engineering-focused SME, CGO Automasjon also sees opportunities to contribute across the entire innovation cycle, from early-stage prototypes and research projects to robust industrial solutions ready for commercial deployment. We contribute hands-on engineering capacity and proven experience delivering control systems for ocean-based technology. We have worked extensively with redundancy, autonomous operation, and the integration of sensors, drives, and safety systems, which are all key challenges in ocean autonomy. We can support both research initiatives and commercial developments, says Okkenhaug. For a young company, proximity to other ocean technology players is an important advantage. “For us, the move was about becoming part of a technology community, not just finding a new office. We are close to several customers and other companies working on many of the same challenges, making it easier to build relationships, exchange experience and develop new collaborations,” says Okkenhaug. With a team of six and ambitions for continued growth, CGO Automasjon aims to build long-term partnerships across the region's ocean technology community and contribute to the development of the next generation of autonomous maritime and aquaculture solutions. See also: New ocean tech hub takes shape at Nyhavna", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "22/10/2026", "datePublished" : "22/10/2026", "headline" : "Building the control systems behind next-generation ocean technology", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Transittgata%2010%20Nyhavna%20-%20Foto%20Lars%20Bugge%20Aarset%20Fremtidens%20Industri%2016-9.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/automation-expertise-for-safer-and-smarter-ocean-operations", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Eight NTNU student organisations working with satellites, rockets, drones, jet engines and autonomous vessels met with NORDSEC, Ocean Autonomy Cluster, ESA BIC and Fremtidens Industri in Trondheim. The meeting focused on collaboration, opportunities within the clusters and how the organisations can make their projects and achievements more visible. There is no shortage of ambition among the student organisations at NTNU. They design, build and test technology that takes them far beyond the classroom, and several have made headlines with major achievements over the past year. Selina Bolme, Peder Lillelien, Charlotte Schreiner and Julie Neef from Team Ascend NTNU. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Towards air and space Ascend NTNU develops autonomous aerial robotics and builds drones for international competitions, while Jet NTNU is taking on the challenge of developing its own turbojet engine. Founded in June 2026, Jet is Norway’s first student-run jet engine organisation. Its first project, Jotun, is being developed from the ground up, covering everything from the compressor and combustion system to the turbine, nozzle, electronics and data acquisition. Propulse NTNU successfully launched Fossekall from Spaceport Trøndelag at Tarva this summer. The 5.2-metre liquid-fuelled rocket is the eighth developed by Propulse and the organisation’s most ambitious and technically advanced to date. More than 70 students spent nearly a year designing, manufacturing and testing it, with much of the technology developed by the students themselves. See also: Ascend NTNU feirer 10 år: Avduker dronesverm Launch of Propulse NTNU's rocket Fossekall July 2026. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Orbit NTNU reached another milestone on 5 September when FramSat-1 was launched into orbit from Andøya Spaceport aboard Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket. The satellite is designed and built by students and will collect data from a Norwegian-developed sun sensor in orbit. Orbit confirmed contact with FramSat-1 following the launch. “Collaboration and shared meeting places are extremely useful for fostering new ideas, networks and innovative solutions. I hope we will have more opportunities to meet,” says Helga Therese Tomaszewski Vrenne, CEO of Orbit NTNU. See also: Propulse NTNU successfully launches rocket Fossekall from Tarva Orbit NTNU's cubesat FramSat-1 was launched on 5 September aboard Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket as part of the company’s Onward and Upward mission. Photo: Isar Aerospace Ascend, Jet, Orbit and Propulse NTNU are all members of NORDSEC, connecting the student teams with companies and organisations working within defence, security and dual-use technology. Being part of this network gives us unique opportunities to exchange knowledge and connect with the industry. These cross-disciplinary meeting places are valuable for inspiring our members and driving technological innovation, says Selina Bolme, Leader Team 27, Ascend NTNU. See also: Orbit NTNU’s FramSat-1 successfully launched from Andøya Advanced maritime autonomy for the future Eight NTNU student organisations working with satellites, rockets, drones, jet engines and autonomous vessels met with NORDSEC, Ocean Autonomy Cluster, ESA BIC and Fremtidens Industri in Trondheim. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Helga Therese Vrenne, Arun Rethnam Haug, Tara Linnea Edvardsen and Aina Karine Eid-Larssen from Team Orbit NTNU. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri More opportunities for collaboration The purpose of the meeting was to bring the student organisations closer to the companies, research institutions and technology communities in and around NORDSEC and Ocean Autonomy Cluster. The students also received information about opportunities through the clusters, upcoming events and other arenas where they can meet industry and potential partners. Communication was another topic. The organisations discussed how they can do more to showcase their projects through news stories, social media and newsletters, and how the communication channels of the clusters and their partners can help their work reach a wider audience. We have an ambitious mission ahead. Therefore, a strong network of manufacturers and technical partners is critical. NORDSEC provides a platform that can help us accelerate our progress towards achieving the goal of developing and testing our jet engine, designed and built from scratch,» says Daniel Stordahl, Jet NTNU Team Marinor NTNU, Jonas Aanensen, Vegard Hovstad and Andreas Fürst. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Several of the organisations already met industry through Forsvarskonferansen in September. Orbit, Ascend, Propulse and Jet NTNU were part of the NTNU community at the conference, presenting student-developed technology alongside other NTNU environments. The meeting also looked ahead to the Norwegian-Ukrainian Defence and Dual-Use Tech Meet-up in November, Dark Drones in January, the next hackathon in March and Forsvarskonferansen in September. Each year, Njord NTNU hosts Njord - The Autonomous Ship Challenge in Trondheim. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Representing NORDSEC, Ocean Autonomy Cluster, ESA BIC and Fremtidens Industri at the meeting were Frode Halvorsen, Linda Hald, Leonora Lund and Lars Bugge Aarset. With satellites in orbit, rockets launched from Tarva and new projects underway in air, space and the ocean, the student organisations represent an impressive part of Trondheim’s technology community. The meeting was about making it easier for them to meet each other and industry, share experience and find new opportunities to collaborate. See also: Njord Autonomous Ship Challenge sets new participation record Team Jet NTNU", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "19/10/2026", "datePublished" : "19/10/2026", "headline" : "Some of the world’s most ambitious student technology organisations are part of NORDSEC and Ocean Autonomy Cluster", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/NTNU%20Student%20groups%20-%20Photo%20Lars%20Bugge%20Aarset%20Fremtidens%20Industri%20%2811%29.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/some-of-the-worlds-most-ambitious-student-technology-organisations-are-part-of-nordsec-and-ocean-autonomy-cluster", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ```