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American ocean technology company Biospherical Instruments is looking to expand its international partnerships and autonomous maritime capabilities following its participation in the 2026 Norway Trade Mission, organized by TMA BlueTech in collaboration with Ocean Autonomy Cluster. The San Diego-based company participated in the five-day program in Trondheim and Trøndelag together with U.S. ocean technology companies, researchers and defence representatives exploring Norway’s rapidly growing ecosystem for ocean autonomy, maritime sensing and dual-use technologies. Following the visit, Biospherical Instruments has decided to join Ocean Autonomy Cluster as a member company. According to Vieri Tenuta, president of Biospherical Instruments and board member of TMA BlueTech, the visit provided direct access to one of the world’s most integrated environments for autonomous maritime operations. – Trondheim is a primary space where this technology ecosystem is really centered in Norway. The combination of companies, research institutions and operational environments creates strong opportunities for collaboration, says Tenuta. Demonstration at Oceantech Innovation in Trondheim. One of their services is robotic cleaning of marine growth. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Expanding from instruments to autonomous integration Founded in 1977, Biospherical Instruments develops scientific instrumentation for environmental monitoring and has built an international reputation through decades of deployments ranging from polar research missions to municipal water reservoirs. The company's optical sensors and radiometers are used to monitor water quality and detect phenomena such as harmful algal blooms, oil contamination and environmental changes in marine environments. Its technologies support research and monitoring activities for organizations including NOAA, NASA and universities around the world. In recent years, the company has expanded from manufacturing standalone instruments toward integrating sensors into autonomous platforms including buoys, unmanned surface vessels, underwater drones and aerial systems. – We are moving from being purely an instrumentation company into a broader integration role. We work through partnerships with companies that build platforms and systems we do not manufacture ourselves, says Tenuta. The company supplies instruments to research institutions and government agencies including NOAA and NASA, and has also started engaging with defence-related applications. Mariner seadrone by Maritime Robotics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Developing technology for long-term ocean deployments One of the challenges with long-term optical sensing underwater is biofouling — the accumulation of biological material on sensors and cameras that quickly reduces performance. Tenuta says Biospherical Instruments has spent the past three years developing anti-biofouling technology together with partners through projects supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). – Historically, optical systems have struggled with long-term deployments underwater because biological growth rapidly degrades the sensors. We have developed retrofit technology that significantly improves endurance and reduces maintenance requirements for underwater instruments and cameras, he says. The technology is particularly relevant for autonomous maritime systems requiring persistent monitoring and domain awareness over extended periods. According to Tenuta, optical sensing can also support maritime security and defence applications. – Our sensors can contribute to ocean domain awareness by identifying substances and anomalies in the water, including oil, gas and potentially traces linked to vessel activity. There is significant potential for optical instrumentation within maritime defence and security applications, he says. Vieri Tenuta, president of Biospherical Instruments and Trond Larsen, Senior Technical Sales Engineer at Blueye Robotics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Building transatlantic collaboration The Trondheim trade mission connected American companies directly with Norwegian industry clusters, research institutions and test environments within ocean autonomy and maritime technology. The program included visits to companies and facilities such as NTNU Shore Control Lab, Zeabuz Remote Operations Center, Maritime Robotics, Blueye Robotics and several Ocean Autonomy Cluster member companies. Tenuta says the goal of the trade missions is both to help U.S. companies enter the Norwegian market and to create opportunities for Norwegian companies seeking partnerships in the United States. – We want to establish long-term relationships between Norwegian and American companies, research environments and public stakeholders. These missions are about creating real collaboration opportunities and strengthening technology exchange between the two countries, he says. He also highlights the importance of research collaboration and points to NTNU as an especially interesting environment for both TMA BlueTech and Biospherical Instruments. – NTNU is already one of our largest customers in Norway. The university’s research activities and the broader Trondheim ecosystem are highly relevant for companies like ours working with ocean sensing, autonomy and maritime technology, says Tenuta. Blueye X3 Ultra underwater drone from Blueye Robotics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Joining Ocean Autonomy Cluster For Biospherical Instruments, the trade mission has already resulted in a concrete outcome through its decision to join Ocean Autonomy Cluster. Tenuta says the company sees the cluster as an important platform for building relationships with Norwegian industry, participating in collaborative projects and exploring new business opportunities. – We are looking to participate in industry forums, trade missions, business development activities and research opportunities. At the same time, we want to build stronger international relationships that can support both import and export activities between Norway and the United States, he says. Biospherical Instruments believes its expertise in environmental monitoring, optical sensing and autonomous platform integration can provide value to the cluster's members. Demonstrations at Nyhavna harbour basin in Trondheim. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri – We manufacture optical instruments that can be integrated into a wide variety of autonomous platforms used for environmental monitoring and research. We also bring experience from working with U.S. government agencies and can help companies interested in accessing the American market through our manufacturing and export capabilities in the United States, says Tenuta. The company sees significant opportunities for collaboration with Norwegian developers of autonomous vessels, underwater systems, sensors and maritime data solutions. – Norway has developed a unique ecosystem for ocean autonomy. By joining Ocean Autonomy Cluster, we gain access to a strong network of companies and research institutions, while also creating opportunities for cluster members looking to establish partnerships and business activities in the U.S. market, says Tenuta. The 2026 Norway Trade Mission was organized by TMA BlueTech in collaboration with Ocean Autonomy Cluster and brought together companies focused on maritime autonomy, ocean intelligence, sensing technologies and offshore systems.

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