Exploring future careers in ocean autonomy and technology.

NTNU students met several of Norway’s most innovative, and in some cases world-leading ocean technology companies during an afternoon seminar hosted by the Ocean Autonomy Cluster and MIDAS. The event offered insights into cutting-edge research, emerging career opportunities, and collaboration between academia and industry.

How can autonomous systems help make the oceans cleaner, safer, and more sustainable? This was one of the questions explored when the Ocean Autonomy Cluster and MIDAS invited NTNU students to an inspiring networking and info afternoon at the Trondheim Maritime Center on October 29.

The event brought together students from marine engineering, technical cybernetics, and design – and several cluster member companies presented how they are innovating at the intersection of technology and the ocean.

Pauline Røstum Bellingmo,SINTEF Ocean. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

From water monitoring to new concepts

Maxime Leclaire from Computas presented the project Make Nyhavna Clean Again, which tests a water monitoring system in Trondheim’s harbor area. The solution is designed to be reusable at swimming areas and other coastal locations to monitor water quality and environmental data.
– We are now looking at opportunities for students to contribute with data collection, analysis, and further concept development, said Leclaire.

Robots in the splash zone

Erik Wold Aalde from OceanTech showcased the company’s robotic solutions for access and maintenance in the splash zone of offshore installations, a challenging environment where technology can replace risky manual operations.

Erik Wold Aalde, Oceantech. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Collecting weather, wind, and ocean data

Erik Høy from Fugro Norway (blue sweater in the photo) presented Fugro Seawatch, the company’s systems for collecting weather, wind, and ocean data. Fugro develops and produces a wide range of research buoys – floating, seabed-mounted, and submersible, with production locally in Trondheim.The buoys are used for environmental monitoring, coastal protection, pollution tracking, meteorology, and energy projects in oil, gas, and renewable sectors.

– Our final product is not the equipment itself, but the knowledge and data that make decisions safer and more sustainable, said Høy.

Fugro now plans to expand and hire more staff in Trondheim across several disciplines.

Erik Høy, Fugro Norway. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

"A robot lawnmower on the fjord"

Sander Henriksen presented Nordic USV, which operates remotely controlled USVs, water sampling, and testing.

– You can think of it as a “robot lawnmower on the fjord”, said Henriksen, explaining how the company uses the technology for fjord monitoring for both mining companies and aquaculture. Nordic USV currently operates on the west coast of Norway, Helgeland, and the Sognefjord, with several new projects underway.

The company performs measurements down to 1500 meters and plans to establish a Remote Operations Center (ROC) in Trondheim. The operations center will also require staffing, and there will be more opportunities for students in Trondheim in the future, through internships and projects related to remote operations and data analysis.

Sander Henriksen presented Nordic USV.  Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Autonomous underwater buoy

Apoorva Sinha from Ocean Access presented the company’s autonomous underwater buoy, designed to enable efficient and cost-effective data communication between underwater systems and the surface. The technology makes it easier to retrieve and transmit data from the seabed without the need for expensive vessels.

Apoorva Sinha from Ocean Access. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Navigation without GPS – and beyond Earth

Sigmund Henningsen from SentiSystems presented the company’s advanced navigation technology designed to operate even when GPS signals are unavailable — a growing challenge due to jamming and spoofing, particularly from Russian sources, affecting maritime, land, and airborne operations.

“Our system ensures precise navigation even without GPS, and the technology will soon be used to navigate a drone on the moon,” said Henningsen.

The company’s core product, the SentiNAV platform, synchronizes data from multiple sensors to maintain accurate position and heading under the most demanding conditions.

Sigmund Henningsen, SentiSystems. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Research, technology, and future maritime operations

From SINTEF Ocean, researchers Ella-Lovise Hammervold Rørvik and Pauline Røstum Bellingmo presented work at the Norwegian Centre for Marine Technology, covering maritime ICT, cybernetics, and the SFI Autoship initiative.

Ella-Lovise Hammervold Rørvik, SINTEF Ocean. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

The clusters behind innovation

Yngvild Bakken Furunes presented the Ocean Autonomy Cluster and Fremtidens Industri, explaining how the clusters promote innovation, collaboration, and career opportunities in marine technology and autonomy. Furunes also highlighted how students can engage in projects, summer jobs, and networking activities through the clusters.

MIDAS – Humans in future ocean operations

The event was part of the MIDAS – Humans in Future Ocean Operations project, exploring the interaction between humans, autonomous systems, and technology in the maritime domain. Through research and innovation activities, MIDAS aims to position the Norwegian maritime sector as a leader in safe, efficient, and sustainable offshore operations.

Yngvild Bakken Furunes, Ocean Autonomy Cluster and Fremtidens Industri. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Companies and summer jobs

Three unique summer job positions funded by the MIDAS project were also announced, giving students the opportunity to contribute to practical projects in future marine technology.

Alongside the presentations, pizza was served, and informal mingling provided a valuable opportunity for students to build networks and connect with companies at the forefront of maritime technological development. Students and companies established contacts for potential future collaborations. Many of these are highly innovative companies, several of them world leaders in their respective fields.

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri