Read article in Norwegian NATO's Innovation Fund - NIF is a key component of NATO's focus on technology and innovation. The fund has a total size of 1 billion euros over 15 years and invests in technologies that could be crucial in future military operations. The Norwegian share is approximately 400 million Norwegian kroner. Recently, a number of Trondheim's ocean technology companies have received visits from the fund. They exclusively invest in research-based startups in deep tech, aiming to be a significant source of investment for Norway's high-tech industry. Visit at Oceantech Innovation. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster Can create at least 1000 more jobs Our mission is capacity building, to build local capacity within 'deep tech', says Thorsten Claus, who leads NIF's fund-of-funds platform in NATO's Innovation Fund. If there is indeed a cluster of interest that we can finance, where we have startups that we can fund, it will create a gravity like an accelerator. This will automatically create at least 1000 more jobs in the region, he says. Not only that, it will be a huge inspiration for everyone working at the university to see that there is a career path in 'dual use of deep tech' and ocean technology, says Claus. The visit is an important contribution to positioning the technology community in Trondheim, says Anders Aune at NTNU Technology Transfer. We get to showcase that we have an area where we have incredibly exciting research and knowledge-based startups that can be attractive for NATO's Innovation Fund. Anders Aune, NTNU Technology Transfer. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster We particularly want to showcase an area where Norway and Trondheim excel, which is ocean technology. Here, we have around twenty to thirty startup companies and some major end customers, as well as larger players like Kongsberg Group. We have also been able to demonstrate that we have infrastructure and facilities for testing both in labs, visually and digitally, and physical testing in pools, ports, and fjords, says Aune. Thorsten Claus, NATO's Innovation Fund. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster Ohh man, that’s gold. That’s amazing! The most important thing we've seen today is the phenomenal collaboration. NIF only invests in great teams, and teamwork is, of course, a matter of collaboration. What we've seen today are perfect examples: How many startup companies exchange ideas and technologies and find commercial engagement with each other? They share customer information. They share experiences about the customers, how they buy, what they buy, and when they buy. Oh, man, that’s gold. That’s amazing! Photo gallery from the visit Photos by Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster
All the way from Finland, Lasse Tuominen is coming to Trondheim to demo the new headset Varjo XR-4. Where: Breach VR, Fjordgata 78, 7010 Trondheim When: Wednesday, March 13th, 10:30 - 12:30 Lasse is the Account Executive of the world leading hardware provider Varjo, and have been with the company for the past 2+ years. Varjo makes the highest-immersion virtual and mixed reality products for advanced VR users. Their solutions are used to train astronauts, pilots, and nuclear power plant operators, design cars, and conduct pioneering research. Experience unparalleled XR with Varjo XR-4, and learn why organizations such as US Military, Volvo, and Wärtsilä utilize these headsets instead of any commercial ones. Read more and attend
A very own “craigslist” for the maritime sector is now making it easier for start-ups to access equipment and facilities to test and pilot new technologies. The aim is to lower the barriers and widen the innovation funnel. Frode Halvorsen, cluster manager, OAC – Technology founders and start-up companies depend entirely on testing and verifying their technology. Therefore, they must have access to infrastructure for testing and demonstration. They don’t have that today, says Frode Halvorsen, manager of the maritime cluster Ocean Autonomy Cluster (OAC) in Trondheim. Trøndelag is ranked as one of Europe’s most innovative regions, with a population among the highest educated in Norway. The region’s largest city, Trondheim, is known as Norway’s Technology Capital and is home to more than 37 000 students, 5000 researchers, creative founders, entrepreneurs, and well-established global maritime industries. This forms the perfect ecosystem for innovation. – SINTEF and NTNU and their innovation and research centers spin out revolutionary technologies like never before. To seize the business opportunities this provides – and accelerate tech maturity, there is a need to provide a platform for collaboration on tests and demos, says Halvorsen. From Natural Resources to Knowledge-Economy This year the Norwegian Authorities announced a new export reform for a post-oil era. The shift from natural resources to knowledge is significant; In the next eight years, the program “Hele Norge Eksporterer” (All of Norway Exports), the non-oil export goals are set to a 50 % increase. As a country with deep ties to the ocean, Norway is interested in strengthening maritime innovation. – Knowledge-based products and sustainable value creation are vital for the green shift. We hope this portal will be a fruitful addition to the innovation activities in Trøndelag – and a gateway to national and international collaborations on real-world testing, Halvorsen states. – On Testination.io, you’ll find an overview of available test facilities in the region, where they are, and who owns them. Both private and public actors can enter what they offer regarding test facilities. It will be a kind of “yellow pages” for testing sea-based technology, and we will develop the website further, says Halvorsen. Check out the website Testination.io.