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Maritime autonomy is becoming increasingly important for both climate and defence. Maritime Robotics has also emerged as one of the clear success stories in the portfolio of Nysnø Climate Investments, and the visit from CEO Siri Kalvig this week highlighted how the company now operates at the growing intersection of climate technology, security and maritime autonomy.

From its headquarters at Brattørkaia in Trondheim, Maritime Robotics develops autonomous surface vessels (USVs) and control systems used internationally for applications ranging from seabed mapping and environmental monitoring to port security, mine countermeasures and defence operations.

Eirik Hovstein, Maritime Robotics, and Siri Kalvig, Nysnø. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Technology for both civilian and military operations

Maritime Robotics systems are also being used in operational missions in Ukraine, where multiple autonomous vessels help clear waterways for civilian shipping in mine-affected areas of the Black Sea. Over time, the systems have detected a significant number of underwater objects that may pose risks to commercial and civilian maritime traffic.

– Maritime Robotics is one of my favourite portfolio companies. They are a perfect example of how climate technology is also security technology, said Kalvig during the visit.

She points out that the company’s autonomous vessels can replace larger and more polluting ships in a wide range of maritime operations.

– Maritime Robotics vessels replace more polluting conventional vessels, while at the same time being used within offshore wind, monitoring and defence. That creates both climate benefits and increased operational capability, Kalvig says.

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Defence and security have become an even larger focus area

Siri Kalvig is CEO of Nysnø Climate Investments, a Norwegian state-backed investment company established to support growth companies by providing risk capital to businesses that reduce emissions while creating long-term positive value for society.

Kalvig is a meteorologist with a PhD in offshore wind technology and was previously involved in establishing the weather technology company StormGeo.

She has also completed the Norwegian Armed Forces’ executive leadership programme at the Norwegian Defence University College, which she says provided valuable insight into how climate, technology and security policy are becoming increasingly interconnected.

Maritime Robotics USVs can also be remotely operated. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

– As defence and security have become an even larger focus area, it is also important to improve energy efficiency in operations. There is a significant climate benefit in using the type of technology Maritime Robotics develops, says Kalvig.

She believes both Norway and Europe must strengthen control over strategic technology value chains while ensuring access to risk capital for emerging technology companies.

– Maritime Robotics combines hardware, software and autonomy in a way that is highly relevant both for the climate agenda and the current security landscape. The timing for the company towards the defence sector is extremely strong, Kalvig says.

Maritime Robotics USV “Mariner”. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

An important investor for Maritime Robotics

Nysnø invested in Maritime Robotics in 2024, and Kalvig highlights the company as an example of how state-backed capital can help scale early-stage technology companies into commercial growth.

She also describes how Nysnø operates as an early-stage investor:

– We invest in companies before they are able to service traditional bank loans. That is the entire point of a state-backed investment fund like Nysnø. Maritime Robotics is now starting to become profitable, and not all companies in our portfolio have reached that stage yet, she says.

According to Eirik Hovstein, the partnership with Nysnø has been important for the company’s development.

– Nysnø entered at a very important stage for Maritime Robotics. It was crucial for us to bring in a Norwegian investor that both understands technology development and recognises how climate and defence are becoming increasingly interconnected, says Hovstein.

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Ongoing operations and maritime preparedness

The visit also highlighted the ongoing discussion about whether public climate investment capital should increasingly be allowed to support companies operating at the intersection of climate, security and defence, so-called dual-use technology companies.

During the visit, Maritime Robotics demonstrated its autonomous vessels and sensor systems in Trondheim harbour. The technology is used for continuous monitoring, mapping and underwater object detection.

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

– If you want to patrol large maritime areas frequently and continuously, it becomes extremely costly to rely solely on manned vessels. Autonomous systems enable far more efficient operations while also reducing both risk and emissions, says Hovstein.

He believes autonomous maritime systems will play an increasingly important role in both civilian and military operations.

– Drones and autonomous systems are highly energy efficient compared to traditional vessels. The technology can help reduce energy consumption, fuel usage, pollution and the climate footprint of maritime operations, while simultaneously strengthening security and preparedness, he says.

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

A central player

Maritime Robotics is a central player in Norway’s maritime innovation ecosystem and is a member company of Ocean Autonomy Cluster, NORDSEC Nordic Defence and Security Cluster, and Maritimt Forum Midt-Norge. The company is also part of FI Ocean Space Incubator and plays an important role in Trondheim’s ocean technology environment. Maritime Robotics will also participate at Forsvarskonferansen in September.

Maritime Robotics has developed autonomous maritime technology for more than 20 years, and the company points to long-term investors as being critical in building both its technology platform and international market position.

Siri Kalvig together with Eirik Hovstein and Eirik Moholt from Maritime Robotics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri