Les saken på norsk Norway’s Minister of Defence, Tore O. Sandvik, recently visited Fremtidens Industri, NORDSEC Nordic Defence and Security Cluster and Ocean Autonomy Cluster to gain insight into how the cluster ecosystem brings together Norway’s defence and security industry. The visit also included presentations from several member companies developing advanced technologies within autonomous systems, surveillance and maritime security. Thomas Nygaard, Eelume. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri During the visit, Sandvik received a comprehensive overview of NORDSEC’s activities, collaborative projects and innovation initiatives, in addition to in-depth presentations from the member companies. He expressed clear appreciation for both the technologies being developed and the strong collaboration across the cluster. Among the companies the minister met were Maritime Robotics, Biodrone, Blueye Robotics, Eelume and Senti Systems. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Sandvik highlighted the strategic importance of maritime and subsea security in Norway’s defence posture. “On the seabed we have oil and gas pipelines, internet cables and power cables that are critical to society and must be protected. At the same time, we are investing in frigates, submarines, helicopters, surveillance aircraft, drones and autonomous systems. We also have a responsibility to detect and track Russian submarines in our waters. Together with NATO, we are strengthening control of our maritime areas, both above and below the surface,” said Sandvik. Tore O. Sandvik at NORDSEC, 15 December 2025. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri He also emphasised the need for closer cooperation between the Armed Forces and civilian technology companies. “The Armed Forces cannot innovate fast enough on their own. We need to work closely with industry and the private sector to develop solutions that are both rapid and effective. The collaboration within NORDSEC strengthens not only the Armed Forces, but the Norwegian economy as a whole. Trøndelag plays a key role in this effort. We depend on the region’s competence and capacity, and cooperation with NTNU, SINTEF and the NORDSEC member companies is essential if we are to succeed.” Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri “It was an honour to show Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik how Trøndelag, through a unique maritime technology ecosystem, delivers scalable and complementary world-class drone technologies that provide rapid operational capability across both the civilian and military sectors, in Norway and internationally,” says Thomas Nygaard, CEO of Eelume. The visit underscored the role of NORDSEC and the technology ecosystem in Trøndelag as a central arena for collaboration and innovation within Norway’s defence and security sector, and how the cluster connects industry, research institutions and the Armed Forces to address future security challenges. More photos from the visit Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri See also: Innovation Breakfast in Trondheim: Technology as Security
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.