Les også saken på Norsk hos Maritimt Forum The Norwegian Maritime AI Centre has been granted the status of a national research centre for applied artificial intelligence (AI) in the maritime sector. Led by NTNU, the centre will develop technology and drive innovation for Norwegian maritime actors through increased use of AI. – The Norwegian maritime industry is among the world’s best, and we must quickly adopt new technologies to maintain our position. Artificial intelligence will revolutionize multiple sectors, including the highly competitive and rapidly changing maritime industries, says Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy. A cross-sector collaboration The centre will receive 100 million NOK over five years and is a collaboration between industry, academia, public sector actors, and international partners. Its mission is to advance AI research and explore practical applications in the maritime sector. Frode Halvorsen, Cluster Leader of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster and Head of Testination. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri – It’s fantastic to be part of the consortium awarded the Maritime AI Centre! This means more resources that our members can utilize and a further strengthening of the capabilities within Testination and Fremtidens Industri, says Frode Halvorsen, cluster manager of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster and Head of Testination. He adds that they will share more about the centre at the next AfterSea. – We are enthusiastic about the potential of the Norwegian Maritime AI Centre to accelerate digital transformation in the maritime industry and look forward to a productive and impactful collaboration, says Ellen Weidemann, Head of Maritimt Forum Midt-Norge. Ellen Weidemann, head of Maritimt Forum Midt-Norge. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster. Centre partners Partners in the Norwegian Maritime AI Centre include the University of Oslo, NTNU, SINTEF Nordvest, Kongsberg Gruppen, Equinor, DNV, and several other academic and industry players, alongside organizations such as the Ocean Autonomy Cluster, Maritimt Forum Midt-Norge, Testination, and Fremtidens Industri. Read also: 100 millioner kroner til verdens første maritime forskningssenter for kunstig intelligens (in Norwegian)
Les saken på norsk How can autonomous operations become smarter and more cost-effective? This was the topic when Ocean Autonomy Cluster hosted AfterSea with TrønderROC on 22 September at Trondheim Maritime Center. The event showcased concrete plans and projects related to Remote Operation Centers (ROC) – a technology expected to play a key role in the future of maritime operations. ROC as a strategic area Frode Halvorsen from Ocean Autonomy Cluster and Testination highlighted ROC as one of the most important areas moving forward, and invited all interested actors to contribute to the development of solutions that can make offshore operations more flexible and cost-efficient. Frode Halvorsen, Ocean Autonomy Cluster. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri NTNU course in ROC design Ole Andreas Alsos from NTNU Shore Control Lab (SCL) presented ongoing projects and introduced the course Design of Remote Operation Centers for Autonomous and Remotely Operated Systems, which will start in spring 2026. – Development is happening fast. Humans and machines working together is the best combination, Alsos said. Read more about the course at NTNU – the course is part of the MIDAS Academy. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Mobile ROC under development Eirik Hovstein from Maritime Robotics shared plans to build a mobile, container-based ROC that can operate for extended periods – partially funded by Testination. – We are creating a mobile, container-based operation center that can run for long periods, Hovstein explained. Eirik Hovstein, Maritime Robotics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri An important step on the autonomy ladder ROC represents a crucial step toward more autonomy. Even in its current form, such centers can contribute to more efficient, safe, and scalable operations for industry, research, and management. Collaboration for knowledge and innovation The event was organized by Ocean Autonomy Cluster in collaboration with NTNU Shore Control Lab, FI Ocean Space Incubator, and Maritime Forum Mid-Norway. Participants included both research environments and industry actors keen to help advance the next generation of maritime operations. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri
Available and accessible test sites and equipment are crucial for developing new technologies and making them usable products and services. We can`t do this alone; collaboration across borders is more important than ever. Therefore, we are happy to present a study by Ocean Autonomy Cluster (and an incredible NTNU student, Frida Hesby Lunder) this year, partly funded by Trøndelag fylkeskommune. To uncover the business model, we analyzed 59 European testbeds. To begin with, we looked at who owned and operated the testbed and classified each testbed into one of two categories: public or private. Furthermore, we examined whether it was for-profit or non-profit, whether and what services/products were provided, who the testbed was available to, and whether the testbed received any funding or assistance. Additionally, to get a more complete understanding of how some European testbeds structure their business model, we conducted two in-depth interviews. This allowed us to understand better how individual testbeds play into regional test areas and their importance for regional innovation. The first case, Innovamare, presents an example of how a cluster network can establish a profitable testbed platform of real-world testbeds. Meanwhile, the second case, The Coastal and Ocean Basin, exemplifies how an artificially built testbed owned by local research institutions can play an essential role in regional innovation and technology development. Fill out the form to the right to get the report. You will receive an email with a download link.
Les saken på norsk Testination and Ocean Autonomy Cluster have been appointed as one of eight new Katapult nodes under the Norwegian Katapult program. This marks an important step towards strengthening Norwegian industrial innovation, particularly in ocean autonomy. The new katapult node, Testination, will serve as a national center for testing, developing, and implementing autonomous technologies for the ocean industries and is part of Digitalization (DigiCat) under the Norwegian Katapult program. “For the Trondheim community, it is important that we now have a complete toolbox with a cluster, incubator, and katapult. This is a triad of tools that few others have, and it's focused on ocean technology, which is something we in Trondheim should excel at,” says Ocean Autonomy Cluster leader, Frode Halvorsen. “Testination is also a test center at a higher level than what we usually have in terms of research infrastructure in Trondheim,” he adds. Frode Halvorsen, manager, Ocean Autonomy Cluster. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/FI - Fremtidens Industri Autonomy for the Future As a katapult node, Testination, in collaboration with the Ocean Autonomy Cluster, will be a key tool for companies wishing to develop and test autonomous solutions in the ocean space. This will provide both small and large companies with the opportunity to accelerate innovation, strengthen competitiveness, and contribute to the sustainable development of the ocean industries. “Autonomous technology in the ocean is a crucial part of the future industry. With our new role as a Katapult node, we will provide companies access to state-of-the-art testing facilities and industrial expertise,” says Frode Halvorsen. A National Boost for Ocean Autonomy Norwegian Katapult is already a well-established national program that supports innovation and sustainable development within Norwegian industry. Through collaboration with strong industrial environments, the new Katapult node in Trondheim will enhance efforts in digitalization and autonomy. This will ensure that Norwegian companies can test, verify, and commercialize new autonomous solutions faster and with lower risk. “We are proud to be part of this important initiative. It will give the ocean industries a significant boost and help Norway remain a leader in ocean autonomy,” says Frode Halvorsen. Siva Strengthens Test Infrastructure Siva – The Industrial Development Corporation of Norway, together with Innovation Norway, has selected the eight new nodes based on their ability to deliver strong industrial solutions. The new structure makes it easier for companies across Norway to access test infrastructure regardless of geography and supports faster transitions and increased innovation capacity. See also Trondheimsfjorden skal bli digital testarena (MN24) Snart kommer Gule Sider for testing (MN24) Siva styrker ordningen Norsk katapult med nye katapultnoder (Pressemelding fra SIVA) For more information Ocean Autonomy Cluster Frode Halvorsen, Cluster Leader Email: frode@fi-nor.no Phone: +47 918 45 969
A new inter-European collaboration will accelerate the international venture of several Trondheim companies. The Croatian cluster DIH Innovamare and the Norwegian Ocean Autonomy Cluster (OAC), are behind the new network cooperation Croatia - Norway Marine Technology Innovation-network (MATIN). - Trøndelag has long been on the list of the most innovative regions in Europe, and the maritime technology environment in Trondheim has a unique position that gives us a lot of international attention. Several companies in our network hold the key to many of our major global challenges, explains Frode Halvorsen, cluster leader in the Ocean Autonomy Cluster. The EEA-funded collaborative project will look at three specific areas: Maritime transport, environmental monitoring, and mapping of bottom conditions in the sea. - Crew shortages, traffic congestion, climate emissions, and seabed damage from anchoring are challenges that can be solved with autonomous and smart systems. Halvorsen explains that technology can make data collection and operations at sea more efficient and scalable. Croatia has a strong international role as a European innovation district with good test facilities on the Adriatic Sea, and close cooperation with major key players in industry and business development. More companies will now have the opportunity to travel to Croatia to establish new partnerships and collaborations. One of these companies is Zeabuz from Trondheim. The technology company, which originates from the research environment at NTNU, has received a great deal of international attention for the launch of the world's first autonomous passenger ferry in Stockholm. Now, the company is also supplying autonomous systems to two industrial groups Yinson GreenTech's new buildings in Singapore, while constantly establishing new customer relationships. - Zeabuz is a leading supplier of maritime autonomy solutions but simultaneously completely depends on close cooperation with technology suppliers with whom we have to integrate our systems. A cluster collaboration like MATIN is a very good way to combine technical collaboration and commercial processes, says Erik Dyrkoren, CEO of Zeabuz.