Les saken på norsk Ocean Autonomy Cluster and Testination leads a new ocean technology initiative to monitor the water quality at Havet, a popular city beach in Trondheim. The goal: safer swimming all year round. Ocean Autonomy Cluster and several partner companies are launching a new project that will provide real-time water quality monitoring at Nyhavna, Trondheim’s urban fjord area. Combining autonomous platforms and sensor technology, the project delivers up-to-date information directly to both swimmers and city authorities. — The fjord is part of the city. It should be safe to swim here, and we need to know when it’s not, says Frode Halvorsen, manager of Ocean Autonomy Cluster. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster Real-time data means safer swimming Although the water quality at Havet is generally good, occasional sewer overflows have caused temporary contamination. To improve transparency and safety, the project deploys sensors that monitor bacteria levels, temperature, and visibility in the water. The data will be made available through a digital platform accessible to the public. — This may be a small step, but it’s an important one. It builds trust and provides safety, even when challenges arise, says Halvorsen. Pamela, an autonomous research drone developed by F&Z Solutions. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster Locally developed technology, locally applied Several cluster members are participating in the project, including Ocean Access, Kadabra, and F&Z Solutions, the latter being the developer of the autonomous research drone Pamela. — Monitoring water quality is crucial for both people and the environment, and we have the technology to make a difference, says Andrea Faltynkova of F&Z Solutions. — When you have tools in place for continuous measurements, it doesn’t just improve safety, it also increases our understanding of the issue, she adds. NTNU is contributing research expertise, and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) has also expressed interest. Morten Breivik, NTNU. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster — The goal is to achieve real-time measurements of the water quality throughout the inner harbor basin at Nyhavna. Today, sampling is done manually a couple of times a week. This would be a game-changer, says Morten Breivik, Associate Professor at the Department of Engineering Cybernetics at NTNU. Technology meets culture at the fjord Kim Aasli, Kristina Emilie Winther Jakobsen, and Erlend Mogård Larsen from Havet, together with Frode Halvorsen from Ocean Autonomy Cluster. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster With more than 50,000 annual visitors, Havet has become a popular public swimming facility in Trondheim. The team behind the initiative welcomes the new collaboration. — It’s rewarding to see ocean technology applied to real-world challenges in the city. This collaboration shows how business, academia, and the local community can create value together. Swimming in the sea is no longer limited to the short summer season — people bathe year-round across Norway, says Erlend Mogård Larsen, founder of Havet. — We support full transparency and clear documentation that the water is safe, even during irregular events. This initiative helps us achieve that, adds Kim Aasli, general manager at Havet. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster Pilot project starts this summer The team aims to deploy the first set of sensors during a pilot phase this summer, in collaboration with Trondheim Municipality and NTNU. — Real-time water quality monitoring in the urban fjord basin would be a national first, says Breivik. — The fact that the tech environments at Nyhavna are joining forces with one of its main cultural venues is also quite unique. It shows the power of combining local culture and short-traveled technology, he adds. — This could serve as a model for urban fjord water monitoring across the country, says Halvorsen. Want to learn more? For questions about the project, contact: Ocean Autonomy Cluster, Frode Halvorsen: +47 918 45 969 / frode@fi-nor.no NTNU, Morten Breivik: +47 415 25 881 / morten.breivik@ntnu.no F&Z Solutions, Andrea Faltynkova: +47 967 06 776 / andrea@fzsolutions.no Ocean Access, Fredrik Lilleøkdal: +47 988 41 415 / fredrik@oceanaccess.no Kadabra, Espen Jørgensen: +47 930 02 430 / espen@kadabra.com Havet, Kim Aasli: +47 926 30 274 Havet, Erlend Mogård Larsen: +47 911 57 449 Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster
Les saken på norsk This week Ocean Autonomy Cluster hosted After-Sea, an informal networking event for members, partners, and anyone interested in ocean industries. The event took place at HAVET in Trondheim and brought together actors from across the maritime innovation ecosystem. The goal of After-Sea was to strengthen connections, share insights, and provide updates on ongoing initiatives and available opportunities within ocean technology. Participants received news from Fremtidens Industri’s project portfolio and learned more about programs offered through Ocean Autonomy Cluster, Maritime Forum, Testination, ESA BIC, and Ocean Space Incubator. Ellen Weidemann, Maritimt Forum Midt-Norge. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster. New initiatives, new members, and new calls The program featured updates on how Ocean Autonomy Cluster is developing new service packages for its members, as well as its process toward achieving Norwegian Innovation Cluster status. Participants also heard firsthand experiences from companies in XLRTR, a business development program focused on dual-use technologies with promotion of the upcoming fall cohort. ESA BIC shared how the incubator supports startups through funding and business development, with a reminder of the next application deadline on September 1. Maritime Forum introduced its new leader and outlined future plans. Attendees also got to meet some of the cluster’s newest member companies including Kadabra. Espen Jørgensen, Kadabra. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster. A meeting point for the ocean industries The event provided both professional insights and social engagement. Over food and drinks, participants had the chance to connect, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations across projects and organizations. After Sea once again highlighted the value of informal arenas for sparking dialogue and building partnerships. Export seminar for tech companies Earlier in the day, Ocean Space Incubator and FI Næringshage, in collaboration with Innovation Norway, hosted a dedicated seminar on export strategies for technology companies. This session provided practical knowledge for businesses looking to succeed in international markets. Pictures from After-Sea Photos: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster