Les saken på norsk Arendal, 13 August 2025 – In a time of growing threats to critical infrastructure, including at sea, Fremtidens Industri, Ocean Autonomy Cluster, NORDSEC, and partners brought together key figures from defence, business, and politics for a timely panel discussion on how civil ocean technology can strengthen preparedness and surveillance. The event took place aboard MS Lofoten during Arendalsuka and attracted a full house of representatives from both the public and private sectors. Moderator Frode Halvorsen, Cluster Manager at Ocean Autonomy Cluster, led the conversation between Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik, Vice President Defence & Security of Maritime Robotics Eirik Hovstein, CEO of Blueye Robotics Christian Gabrielsen, COO of Clarify Bernt-Johan Bergshaven, and Trondheim City Council Leader Kristian Dahlberg Hauge. A growing threat picture at sea The discussion began with the fact that Norway, as a maritime nation, has significant assets under water—assets increasingly exposed to threats from both state and non-state actors. The panel agreed that existing, cost-effective technology from civil actors is already in place and can be scaled to cover large parts of the Norwegian coastline. “The Armed Forces must—and will—become more innovative. It will still be difficult to enter the defence industry; you have to win the competition,” emphasised Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik. SMEs must be allowed to deliver From the industry side, Eirik Hovstein of Maritime Robotics pointed out that achieving real change requires both time and collaboration, noting that smaller actors can act quickly, while larger organisations need more time to change course. “I agree that we have to win the competition, and we’re ready for that—but that assumes we know about the competition,” Hovstein said. “Today’s threat landscape demands a renewed focus on how we secure our critical infrastructure. To meet these challenges, close cooperation with civil actors who have specialised expertise in ocean technology is absolutely essential for the Armed Forces,” he added. COO Bernt-Johan Bergshaven from Clarify highlighted a challenge faced by many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): “It’s difficult to get insight into what SMEs can contribute,” he said, calling for better dialogue channels between SMEs and the defence sector. Smaller companies often end up competing with departments within larger corporations. Procurement processes must therefore be adapted to make it possible for SMEs to participate and deliver. Ready-to-use technology solutions Clarify, Maritime Robotics, and Blueye Robotics all presented concrete solutions already in commercial use but adaptable for monitoring and securing critical infrastructure. From the municipal side, Kristian Dahlberg Hauge stressed the importance of having local preparedness and technological competence in place before crises occur. Organised by Trondheim, the technology capital The event was organised by Trondheim, the technology capital, in collaboration with Trondheim Tech Port, Ocean Autonomy Cluster, Trøndelag County Council, Trondheim Municipality, and the Trondheim Region Chamber of Commerce.
Les saken på norsk During Arendalsuka, member companies from NORDSEC and the Ocean Autonomy Cluster came together to showcase some of the most advanced solutions in defence technology and maritime autonomy. The demonstrations offered the audience a unique insight into how Norwegian innovation can enhance preparedness, operational capability, and security — at sea, in the air, and on land. The featured technology included the Gjallarhorn concept — a combination of multiple autonomous maritime platforms, advanced sensor systems, and solutions for secure, robust surveillance in challenging environments. Participating member companies were Clarify, Maritime Robotics, Blueye Robotics, and LGr Technologies, collectively highlighting the strength of the clusters’ networks and their ability to connect expertise and technology. Attendees gained first-hand insight into the latest innovations that can strengthen Norwegian defence and preparedness. “We wanted to use Arendalsuka as an arena to demonstrate how technology development in the defence sector and the maritime sector can go hand in hand,” said Frode Halvorsen, Cluster Manager of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster. “Our members are developing solutions that can strengthen national security. Being able to present these to decision-makers and defence stakeholders at Arendalsuka is extremely valuable.” Demonstrates the value of dual-use Ebbe Deraas, Cluster Manager of NORDSEC, highlighted that the event demonstrated the value of dual-use technology for protecting critical infrastructure. “The participating companies showcased mature civilian technology that is already being used by military forces in other countries. We have shown that cross-sector innovation can create solutions that make a real difference,” he said.
The government is deprioritizing maritime routes as a transport artery – is that smart? Join us for this breakfast seminar where we will take a closer look at the critical success factors in the digitalization and automation of sea-based transport, focusing on the potential of autonomous ships for efficient, robust, and environmentally friendly transport of goods and passengers. During Arendalsuka, we, along with ITS Norway, will host a breakfast seminar to discuss the digitalization and automation of sea-based transport and the lack of prioritization of maritime routes in the National Transport Plan (NTP). By leveraging our strong maritime expertise, Norway can and should position itself more strongly in this development. But are we lacking ambition and failing to see the horizon? Join us for a cup of coffee and a croissant on Wednesday, August 14th, at 10:00 AM at Salt in Arendal. Attending Erlend Solem, Prosjektleder, Boreal Ørnulf Jan Rødseth, Direktør Maritim ITS, ITS Norway Elise Caspersen, Fagansvarlig maritim, ZERO Are Gråthen, Regional Director – Norway & Sweden, Samskip Halvor Vislie, CEO, Hyke Alv Øidvin, Prosjektleder- Maritim ITS, ITS Norway ======= Overser vi mulighetene sjøtransporten gir for passasjerer og godstransporten? Regjeringen nedprioriterer sjøveien som transportåre – er det smart? Bli med på dette frokostseminar hvor vi ser nærmere på de kritiske suksessfaktorene ved digitalisering og automatisering av sjøbasert transport, med fokus på potensialet autonome skip har for effektiv, robust og miljøvennlig transport av gods og passasjerer. Under Arendalsuka skal vi sammen med ITS Norway arrangere et frokostseminar der vi skal snakke om digitalisering og automatisering av sjøbasert transport og mangel på prioritering av sjøveien i NTP. Ved å utnytte vår sterke maritime kunnskap, kan og bør Norge posisjonere seg sterkere i denne utviklingen, men mangler vi ambisjonsnivået og ser ikke horisonten? Ses til en kopp kaffe og croissant onsdag den 14.8 kl. 10.00 på Salt i Arendal. Medvirkende Erlend Solem, Prosjektleder, Boreal Ørnulf Jan Rødseth, Direktør Maritim ITS, ITS Norway Elise Caspersen, Fagansvarlig maritim, ZERO Are Gråthen, Regional Director – Norway & Sweden, Samskip Halvor Vislie, CEO, Hyke Alv Øidvin, Prosjektleder- Maritim ITS, ITS Norway