--- title: News | Trondheim description: Trondheim | --- [![Dark\_yellow-fill\_POS\_powbyFI](https://oceanautonomy.no/hs-fs/hubfs/Dark_yellow-fill_POS_powbyFI.png?width=350&height=49&name=Dark_yellow-fill_POS_powbyFI.png)](https://oceanautonomy.no?hsLang=en-us) - [NEWS](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/news?hsLang=en-us) - ABOUT - [CLUSTER AND TEAM](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/clusterandteam?hsLang=en-us) - [MEMBERSHIP](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/membership?hsLang=en-us) - [MEMBERS](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/members?hsLang=en-us) - PROJECTS - [Dark Drones](https://oceanautonomy.no/dark-drones?hsLang=en-us) - [FI Ocean Space Incubator](https://fi-nor.no/en/oceanspaceincubator/) - [Frostabåten](https://oceanautonomy.no/frostab%C3%A5ten?hsLang=en-us) - [Maritimt studentsenter Nyhavna](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/maritimt-studentsenter-nyhavna?hsLang=en-us) - [MIDAS - Mennesket i framtidens havromsoperasjoner](https://oceanautonomy.no/nb/project_midas?hsLang=en-us) - [MIDAS Academy](https://midas-academy.no/) - [ROC - Remote Operation Centres for next-generation maritime autonomy](https://oceanautonomy.no/project_roc-remote-operation-centres-for-next-generation-maritime-autonomy?hsLang=en-us) - [Strategisk forum Nyhavna](https://oceanautonomy.no/no-no/project-strategisk-forum-nyhavna?hsLang=en-us) - [Testination](https://testination.io/) - [XLRTR - Accelerate Dual-Use Technology for Multi-domain Operations](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/xlrtr?hsLang=en-us) - Completed projects - [AGATI - Adriatic Green Autonomous Transport Initiative](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_agati?hsLang=en-us) - [DIGIFJORD](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_digifjord?hsLang=en-us) - [FAST - Flexible Autonomous Smart Transport](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_fast?hsLang=en-us) - [FLEX FERRY](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_flexferry?hsLang=en-us) - [MATIN - The Croatia – Norway Marine Technology Innovation network](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_matin?hsLang=en-us) - [NEWS](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/news?hsLang=en-us) - ABOUT - [CLUSTER AND TEAM](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/clusterandteam?hsLang=en-us) - [MEMBERSHIP](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/membership?hsLang=en-us) - [MEMBERS](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/members?hsLang=en-us) - PROJECTS - [Dark Drones](https://oceanautonomy.no/dark-drones?hsLang=en-us) - [FI Ocean Space Incubator](https://fi-nor.no/en/oceanspaceincubator/) - [Frostabåten](https://oceanautonomy.no/frostab%C3%A5ten?hsLang=en-us) - [Maritimt studentsenter Nyhavna](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/maritimt-studentsenter-nyhavna?hsLang=en-us) - [MIDAS - Mennesket i framtidens havromsoperasjoner](https://oceanautonomy.no/nb/project_midas?hsLang=en-us) - [MIDAS Academy](https://midas-academy.no/) - [ROC - Remote Operation Centres for next-generation maritime autonomy](https://oceanautonomy.no/project_roc-remote-operation-centres-for-next-generation-maritime-autonomy?hsLang=en-us) - [Strategisk forum Nyhavna](https://oceanautonomy.no/no-no/project-strategisk-forum-nyhavna?hsLang=en-us) - [Testination](https://testination.io/) - [XLRTR - Accelerate Dual-Use Technology for Multi-domain Operations](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/xlrtr?hsLang=en-us) - Completed projects - [AGATI - Adriatic Green Autonomous Transport Initiative](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_agati?hsLang=en-us) - [DIGIFJORD](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_digifjord?hsLang=en-us) - [FAST - Flexible Autonomous Smart Transport](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_fast?hsLang=en-us) - [FLEX FERRY](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_flexferry?hsLang=en-us) - [MATIN - The Croatia – Norway Marine Technology Innovation network](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/project_matin?hsLang=en-us) [Get in touch](https://26558673.hs-sites-eu1.com/contactus?hsLang=en-us) Posts about # Trondheim ## [Telia becomes a core partner in Testination](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/telia-becomes-a-core-partner-in-testination) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Sep 25, 2026, 10:40:29 AM **Telia is becoming a core partner in Testination, bringing expertise and solutions in secure and...** [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/telia-becomes-a-core-partner-in-testination) ## [Njord Autonomous Ship Challenge sets new participation record](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/njord-autonomous-ship-challenge-sets-new-participation-record) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Aug 14, 2026, 10:25:37 AM The Njord Autonomous Ship Challenge has reached a new milestone in 2026, bringing together 20... [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/njord-autonomous-ship-challenge-sets-new-participation-record) ## [Marinor NTNU brings next generation of maritime autonomy innovators into Ocean Autonomy Cluster](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/marinor-ntnu-brings-next-generation-of-maritime-autonomy-innovators-into-ocean-autonomy-cluster) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Jul 8, 2026, 10:24:14 PM Ocean Autonomy Cluster is pleased to welcome Marinor NTNU as a new member of the cluster.Marinor... [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/marinor-ntnu-brings-next-generation-of-maritime-autonomy-innovators-into-ocean-autonomy-cluster) ## [Maritime autonomous drone swarm demonstrated live for the US Navy in Trondheim](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/autonomy-at-sea-demonstrated-live-for-us-navy-in-trondheim) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Apr 10, 2026, 11:20:27 AM [Les saken på norsk](https://fi-nor.no/maritim-autonom-dronesverm-demonstrert-live-for-us-navy-i-trondheim/) Maritime Robotics demonstrated a maritime autonomous drone swarm for the US... [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/autonomy-at-sea-demonstrated-live-for-us-navy-in-trondheim) ## [Dark Drones: Future Drone Technology Demonstrated in Trondheim](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/dark-drones-future-drone-technology-demonstrated-in-trondheim) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Jan 24, 2026, 12:33:04 AM [Les saken på norsk](https://www.nordsec-cluster.no/aktuelt/fremtidens-droneteknologi-demonstrert-i-trondheim) [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/dark-drones-future-drone-technology-demonstrated-in-trondheim) ## [Ukrainian–Latvian drone company establishes operations in Trondheim](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/ukrainian-latvian-drone-company-establishes-operations-in-trondheim) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Jan 23, 2026, 10:04:25 PM [Les saken på norsk](https://www.nordsec-cluster.no/aktuelt/ukrainsk-latvisk-droneselskap-etablerer-seg-i-trondheim) [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/ukrainian-latvian-drone-company-establishes-operations-in-trondheim) ## [Trondheim municipality testing electric hydrofoil to Munkholmen](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/trondheim-municipality-tested-electric-hydrofoil-to-munkholmen) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Dec 19, 2025, 10:31:09 PM By Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/trondheim-municipality-tested-electric-hydrofoil-to-munkholmen) ## [To the World Finals: Nidarvoll Students Develop AUV to Combat Sea Lice](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/to-the-world-finals-nidarvoll-students-develop-uav-to-combat-sea-lice) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Jan 15, 2025, 3:18:33 PM [Les saken på norsk](https://fi-nor.no/til-verdensfinale-nidarvoll-elever-utvikler-uav-for-a-bekjempe-lakselus/) [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/to-the-world-finals-nidarvoll-students-develop-uav-to-combat-sea-lice) ## [The Norwegian government has launched a new initiative to increase research efforts in the business sector](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/the-norwegian-government-has-launched-a-new-initiative-to-increase-research-efforts-in-the-business-sector) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Apr 29, 2024, 11:01:11 AM On Tuesday, April 30th, Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth (Labour Party) and Minister... [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/the-norwegian-government-has-launched-a-new-initiative-to-increase-research-efforts-in-the-business-sector) ## [Cronicle: Ocean Technology Companies - Strong Growth and Optimism](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/ocean-technology-companies-strong-growth-and-optimism) Posted by [Lars Bugge Aarset](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset) | Feb 16, 2024, 10:49:25 AM Av Ragnar Eggen, CFO Clean Sea Solutionsog Frode Halvorsen, leder Ocean Autonomy Cluster [CONTINUE READING](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/ocean-technology-companies-strong-growth-and-optimism) ## On the same subject ### [Breach VR: Reality is cross-platform](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/breach-vr-reality-is-cross-platform) [Aida Refvik Angell](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/aida-refvik-angell) [VR](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/tag/vr), [Breach VR](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/tag/breach-vr) ### [The Ocean Space Incubator in Trøndelag: Will strengthen Norway’s position in ocean space technology](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/the-ocean-space-incubator-will-strengthen-norways-position-in-ocean-space-technology) [Birgit Thorsen](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/birgit-thorsen) [Uncategorized](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/tag/uncategorized) ### [Autonomimiljøet i Midt-Norge får støtte til millionprosjekt](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/autonomimiljoet-i-midt-norge-far-stotte-til-millionprosjekt) [malin](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/malin) [Uncategorized](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/tag/uncategorized) - - [1](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews) - [2](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/tag/trondheim/page/2) - ##### About Ocean Autonomy Cluster Ocean Autonomy Cluster is awarded The ECEI BRONZE Label “Striving for Cluster Excellence” [![Bronze label](https://oceanautonomy.no/hs-fs/hubfs/Bronze%20label.png?width=180&height=70&name=Bronze%20label.png)](https://www.cluster-analysis.org/benchmarked-clusters)   ##### Links - [NEWS](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/news) - ABOUT - PROJECTS - [NEWS](https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/news) ##### Contact us [Frode@fi-nor.no](mailto:Frode@fi-nor.no) +47 918 45 969 Skippergata 14 - 7040 Trondheim-NORWAY [Subscribe for newsletter](https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1drRpuCknT9Gj2pUOE-9pVgft8sx) ![Dark\_yellow-fill\_POS (3)](https://oceanautonomy.no/hs-fs/hubfs/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png?width=322&height=45&name=Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png) [![FI\_logo\_stor](https://oceanautonomy.no/hs-fs/hubfs/FI_logo_stor.png?width=41&height=41&name=FI_logo_stor.png)](https://fi-nor.no/) ![FI - redigert logo](https://oceanautonomy.no/hs-fs/hubfs/FI%20-%20redigert%20logo.png?width=174&height=58&name=FI%20-%20redigert%20logo.png)    ©2026 Copyright . All rights reserved. [Privacy policy](https://oceanautonomy.no/privacy-policy?hsLang=en-us) - - - ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Telia is becoming a core partner in Testination, bringing expertise and solutions in secure and advanced communications technology to the ecosystem. The partnership strengthens the offering available to companies developing and scaling new technology, from the seabed to space. Testination is part of the Fremtidens Industri ecosystem and provides an arena for the development, testing and demonstration of new technology. By providing access to test areas, infrastructure, expertise and relevant partners, Testination aims to make it easier for companies to move from technology development to testing, demonstration and scaling. For members of Ocean Autonomy Cluster and NORDSEC Nordic Defence and Security Cluster, Testination is a practical resource that enables companies to test technology and develop new solutions in collaboration with relevant industry players. Testing of autonomy at Frostabåten with NTNU and SINTEF in Trondheim winther 2026. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Testing technology together with customers As a core partner, Telia brings both existing and innovative communications solutions to the ecosystem. These include 5G Standalone, private 5G networks, tactical 5G networks and solutions for operational technology (OT). “We want to build new things and challenge the way things are done today. Testination gives us a very good arena for testing new technology together with those who need the technology, and for developing new value propositions and solutions,” says Henning Huuse of Telia. For Telia, the partnership is also about getting closer to technology communities and understanding emerging needs. “It is important for us to understand what the market needs and stay close to those working on development. It is also important to be able to test the technology together with potential and existing customers,” Huuse says. Telia wants to establish an active partnership in Testination, where technology can be developed in close interaction with the companies that will use it. “We want to have an active partnership, not just be a supporting member. If we can scale this and establish even more concrete collaborations, that is very interesting to us,” Huuse says. Espen Frydenlund and Henning Huuse, Telia. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri We have a challenger mentality at Telia, and we love being challenged right back by our customers. Customer-driven innovation is what works best. And the people here are genuinely out to transform an entire industry at sea – those are the communities we want to work with, Espen Frydenlund says. See also: The critical role of 5G in future of autonomous maritime transport From 5G to secure communications solutions Telia already has extensive experience with 5G and advanced communications solutions in Trondheim and elsewhere in Norway. The company has, among other things, delivered 5G to Fjord1’s ferry route between Lavik and Oppedal, where communications are an important part of the infrastructure supporting the development of autonomous ferry operations. Telia has also worked with NTNU and other technology communities on 5G and NTNU's Shore Control Lab. These activities demonstrate how advanced mobile communications can form part of the infrastructure for remote control, autonomy and data-intensive maritime operations, Espen Frydenlund says. In the defence sector, Telia has in recent years developed solutions for secure and robust connectivity based on 5G. These include portable base stations for extending coverage, tactical 5G networks for closed networks, and a dedicated slice in Telia’s national mobile network that provides the Norwegian Armed Forces with dedicated capacity. “We have worked with the Norwegian Armed Forces for many years, and over the past few years we have had a development project exploring the possibilities offered by 5G networks. We have developed various solutions for secure and robust connectivity, and the Norwegian Armed Forces selected 5G as its primary platform two years ago,” Huuse says. Vegard Saur, manager of Testination. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri See also: Telia tests 5G-powered autonomous vessels (Telia.no) Trondheim as a technology hub Telia has a long history of working with technology communities in Trondheim, including NTNU and SINTEF. The company has also been an early adopter of testing new communications technology in the region. “There is no doubt that Trondheim has one of Norway’s leading technology communities. We have been working in the Trondheim region for a long time, and establishing closer cooperation with the innovation community here is a natural continuation of that,” Huuse says. For Testination, connecting technology providers, research communities and companies developing new products and services is a key part of the ecosystem. “Telia brings both existing and innovative communications solutions to the table. This enables us to offer and further develop our services for technology companies developing and scaling technology from the seabed to space,” says Vegard Saur, head of Testination. With Telia as a core partner, Testination strengthens its capabilities in communications technology while members of Ocean Autonomy Cluster and NORDSEC gain access to additional expertise and technology opportunities through the test ecosystem. See also: Innovativ teknologi skal gi nett til verdens første autonome fergesamband (Telia.no) NTNU Shore Control Lab in Nyhavna Trondheim. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Telia Telia is a leading telecommunications company in Norway and part of the Telia Company group. The company provides mobile and fixed communications, connectivity and digital services to consumers, businesses and public-sector organisations. Telia develops and delivers advanced communications solutions, including 5G, 5G Standalone, private 5G networks and specialised solutions for secure and robust connectivity. The company has extensive experience from the defence sector and collaborates with technology and research communities on developing and testing new solutions. Testination Testination is an open test and development ecosystem in Trondheim, part of the Fremtidens Industri ecosystem. It provides companies with access to test areas, infrastructure, expertise and relevant partners for developing, testing and demonstrating new technology. The test ecosystem covers areas including maritime technology, autonomy, communications, defence and security, with the Trondheim Fjord and surrounding areas providing important real-world test environments. Ocean Autonomy Cluster and NORDSEC Nordic Defence and Security Cluster are core partners in Testination, making the ecosystem a practical resource for member companies developing and scaling new technology.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "25/09/2026", "datePublished" : "25/09/2026", "headline" : "Telia becomes a core partner in Testination", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Telia%20og%20Testination%20Foto%20Lars%20Bugge%20Aarset%20Fremtidens%20Industri%20%281%29.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/telia-becomes-a-core-partner-in-testination", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "The Njord Autonomous Ship Challenge has reached a new milestone in 2026, bringing together 20 student teams and around 140 participants from nine countries to compete in autonomous maritime technology. India’s Aritra team took the top spot in a closely contested competition, followed by Mys Yavuz from Turkey and AGH Solar Boat from Poland. Teams from Canada, Japan, India, Spain, Scotland, Poland, Turkey and other countries travelled to Norway to test their autonomous vessels in a series of demanding challenges. According to Sutha Rajasingham, Head of Competition Planning for Njord Autonomous Ship Challenge 2026, interest was so high that the organisers had to cap the number of participating teams at 20. “This is the biggest Njord Challenge ever,” Rajasingham says. The number of teams has doubled from last year, when 10 teams took part. Participation has also roughly doubled, making the 2026 competition the largest edition to date. Sutha Rajasingham, Head of Competition Planning for Njord Autonomous Ship Challenge. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Testing autonomous vessels in realistic scenarios The competition is designed to test both the individual capabilities of the vessels and the teams’ ability to integrate different autonomous systems into one functioning platform. The challenges are organised around three main areas and four exercises: pathfinding and manoeuvring, docking, and collision avoidance. In the pathfinding exercise, the vessels must detect buoys and follow a predefined route using GPS waypoints. The docking exercises test two different approaches: conventional docking, similar to parking a vessel alongside a quay, and parallel docking, where the vessel must manoeuvre into position with its long side facing the dock. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri The collision-avoidance exercise introduces another autonomous vessel into the scenario. The vessel is remotely monitored and controlled from NTNU’s Shore Control Lab, approximately one kilometre from the competition area. This provides the competing teams with a realistic moving obstacle that they must detect and avoid. The teams are not told in advance exactly what they will encounter. The collision-avoidance is remotely monitored and controlled from NTNU’s Shore Control LabPhoto: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri The element of surprise is deliberate. It tests whether the teams have developed fully integrated autonomous systems capable of responding to situations they have not specifically rehearsed. “It really tests whether they have a fully integrated system that can handle all the different exercises, rather than having separate solutions for each exercise,” Rajasingham explains. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Competition drives collaboration While the teams are competing for points, the event also creates an environment for collaboration and knowledge sharing. Despite the increasingly close competition, teams openly share solutions, tools and experience with one another. Participants compare approaches and help each other solve technical challenges. “There is a lot of fair play between the teams. They help each other with tools, look at each other’s solutions, and are very open about the solutions they have developed themselves,” says Rajasingham. Photo: Anine Ødegaard/Njord NTNU The competition also highlights the diversity of approaches to autonomous vessel design. One team has developed a highly distinctive hull with a 3D-printed exterior, while another has experimented with a moving battery system designed to stabilise the vessel. The latter team consists of just two students and has only been working together for a year. Several teams have also had to overcome significant technical and logistical challenges, underlining the importance of adaptability in autonomous systems development. Photo: Anine Ødegaard/Njord NTNU International competition, local talent The 2026 competition was decided by very small margins, underlining the high level among this year’s teams. The final top three were: 1. Aritra – India 2. Mys Yavuz – Turkey 3. AGH Solar Boat – Poland The best-performing Norwegian team was Navier USN, which finished in fourth place. The international field brings together different engineering approaches, technologies and experiences from across the world, creating a highly competitive environment. For newer teams, the challenge provides an opportunity to benchmark their systems against teams with several years of competition experience. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Preparing the next generation of maritime technology For the organisers, the most important outcome is not simply determining who wins the competition. Njord is intended to push students to explore what autonomous maritime systems can achieve, while giving them an opportunity to develop technologies that may have applications well beyond the competition. “The most important thing is that we build an event that promotes autonomy and innovation, and pushes students to test the limits of what they can achieve,” Rajasingham says. Photo: Anine Ødegaard/Njord NTNU That ambition aligns closely with the wider development of autonomous maritime technology. Skills developed through the competition – from perception and navigation to sensor integration, control systems and collision avoidance – are increasingly relevant to the maritime industry. And the competition provides students with an environment where they can test those systems on the water, under conditions where unexpected technical problems are inevitable. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Adaptability is part of the challenge Even the strongest teams encounter technical problems during the competition. Having good hardware and a sophisticated autonomous system is only part of the equation. Teams must also be able to diagnose problems, adapt their systems and make decisions when something unexpected happens. “That is probably one of the things that separates the teams – how well they manage to adapt,” Rajasingham says. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri The result is a competition that tests not only autonomous navigation, but also engineering judgement, system integration and problem-solving under pressure. With 20 teams from nine countries and around 140 participants, Njord Autonomous Ship Challenge 2026 demonstrates the growing international interest in autonomous maritime technology – and the role student competitions can play in developing the people and technologies that will shape the maritime industry of the future. The winners Team Aritra form India. Photo: Anine Ødegaard/Njord NTNU Mys Yavuz from Turkey. Photo: Anine Ødegaard/Njord NTNU Team AGH from Poland. Photo: Anine Ødegaard/Njord NTNU Best Norwegian team: Navier USN on forth place.. Photo: Anine Ødegaard/Njord NTNU", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "14/08/2026", "datePublished" : "14/08/2026", "headline" : "Njord Autonomous Ship Challenge sets new participation record", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Njord%20Challenge%202026%20Foto%20Lars%20Bugge%20Aarset%20Fremtidens%20Industri%20%28116%29.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/njord-autonomous-ship-challenge-sets-new-participation-record", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster is pleased to welcome Marinor NTNU as a new member of the cluster. Marinor NTNU is a student organisation at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) that provides students with practical experience in autonomous maritime systems through engineering projects and interdisciplinary collaboration. By combining technical development with industry engagement, the organisation helps prepare students for careers in one of Norway's fastest-growing technology sectors. Joining Ocean Autonomy Cluster is a natural step in strengthening those industry connections. – We look forward to becoming part of a community where companies, researchers and innovators work together to advance maritime autonomy. The cluster gives us an opportunity to build stronger relationships with the industry while allowing our members to gain valuable insight and experience, says Kasper Tufte Langland, primary contact for Marinor NTNU. The organisation sees the membership as a two-way partnership. While students gain access to an established innovation network, cluster members gain closer contact with emerging talent already working on autonomous maritime technologies. – We hope to contribute with enthusiastic students, new perspectives and future employees who have developed practical skills through our activities. Creating stronger links between students and industry benefits everyone involved, says Langland. Marinor NTNU's membership further strengthens Ocean Autonomy Cluster's ambition of connecting industry, research and education. By bringing student-driven innovation into the network, the cluster expands opportunities for collaboration while helping ensure a strong pipeline of expertise for the future of autonomous ocean technology. Photo: Marinor NTNU", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "08/07/2026", "datePublished" : "08/07/2026", "headline" : "Marinor NTNU brings next generation of maritime autonomy innovators into Ocean Autonomy Cluster", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Marinor%20NTNU%20%281%29.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/marinor-ntnu-brings-next-generation-of-maritime-autonomy-innovators-into-ocean-autonomy-cluster", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Les saken på norsk Maritime Robotics demonstrated a maritime autonomous drone swarm for the US Navy during a live operation in the Trondheim Fjord on 9 April. The demonstration showed how multiple unmanned surface vessels operate in coordinated real time, with integrated sensors, remote control, and autonomous collaboration in realistic maritime scenarios. – The US is in the lead. They are placing orders now to build up their arsenal. They understand that you cannot wait two years and see how this develops, says Eirik Hovstein, Vice President Defence & Security at Maritime Robotics. Autonomous maritime operations were taken from concept to practice as multiple USVs were deployed in realistic scenarios. The demonstration provided participants with a concrete understanding of platform capabilities, including remote control, real-time data transmission, and supervised autonomy in dynamic environments. Eirik Hovstein, Maritime Robotics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Maritime drone swarm demonstration One of the highlights was the demonstration of a maritime autonomous drone swarm, where multiple vessels operated in coordinated formation to simulate the protection of a mothership, a concept that is becoming increasingly important in modern naval operations. Autonomous maritime drone swarm. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri – The way warfare was conducted a year ago – you would not have survived more than a couple of days today, said Hovstein. The maneuver illustrated how multiple autonomous platforms can operate together under remote supervision, combining autonomy with effective vessel-to-vessel cooperation. Seabed mapping, autonomous navigation and collision avoidance. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Operations in practice Maritime Robotics’ autonomous vessel Mariner USV carried out advanced seabed mapping, while the larger Mariner X demonstrated autonomous navigation and collision avoidance in dynamic conditions. The larger vessels departed from Maritime Robotics’s base in Vanvikan on Fosen, while the smaller Otter units operated in the Trondheim harbour basin. All operations were controlled from the company’s Remote Operations Center (ROC) at Brattørkaia in Trondheim, where real-time monitoring and control were maintained throughout the demonstration. Mariner X. Photo: Maritime Robotics The Otter platform also carried out deployment and recovery of an underwater ROV, demonstrating how surface and subsea systems can be integrated for real-time data collection. The demonstration was streamed live to a broad international audience, with real-time data feeds including sonar (MBES), magnetometer data, and video shared throughout the operation. This provided direct insight into key enabling technologies such as beyond-line-of-sight communication, sensor fusion, and human–machine interfaces. Otter units operating in the Trondheim harbour basin Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri International interest The event was conducted in collaboration with Koniag Government Services. A technical Q&A session followed, allowing participants to explore operational aspects such as logistics, deployment, and mission-specific adaptation. – The pace of development is so fast that technology that was cutting-edge only a few months ago can quickly become outdated, said Hovstein. – The market is so large that we have no chance of covering it alone, and the maritime drone industry is not set up for scale. Very few players are able to produce thousands of units per year, said Eirik Hovstein. Experience from Ukraine also demonstrates the operational maturity of the systems, including their use in clearing sea lanes for mine threats to enable Ukrainian grain exports in the Black Sea. Eirik Hovstein, Vice President Defence & Security at Maritime Robotics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri – The systems we delivered in 2023 are still operational – that says something about their robustness. They are being used in some of the most demanding conditions imaginable. In 2025, our systems identified more than 70 subsea objects, and the operators down there are the most experienced we have seen, they use the systems every day and continuously push their limits, said Eirik Hovstein. The strong international interest contrasts with more limited domestic attention, but underscores a rapidly growing global demand for unmanned systems that enhance maritime security and operational efficiency at sea. – It is striking that Norway does not yet have operational maritime drones, Eirik Hovstein adds. Mariner USV and Mariner X departed from their base in Vanvikan. Photo: Maritime Robotics Part of strong cluster collaboration Maritime Robotics is a member of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster, NORDSEC Nordic Defence and Security Cluster, and Maritimt Forum Midt-Norge, main partner for Testination - Test Arena for Maritime Operations in Trondheimsfjorden, as well as an incubator company in the FI Ocean Space Incubator, where the company works closely with a range of other companies across the cluster networks. For members of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster and NORDSEC, the demonstration highlighted both the maturity of Norwegian-developed technology and the expanding international market for autonomous maritime systems. Eirik Hovstein in interview with Teknisk Ukeblad. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri. Video from the demo", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "10/04/2026", "datePublished" : "10/04/2026", "headline" : "Maritime autonomous drone swarm demonstrated live for the US Navy in Trondheim", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Maritime%20Robotics%20Demo%20US%20Navy%20Photo%20Lars%20Bugge%20Aarset%20Fremtidens%20Industri%20%2859%29.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/autonomy-at-sea-demonstrated-live-for-us-navy-in-trondheim", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Les saken på norsk Dark Drones 2026 brought together leading Norwegian and international actors in autonomous drone technology for presentations, panel debates, and live demonstrations in Trondheim. The event focused on defense, security, situational awareness, and collaboration between industry and military actors. Denis Kanin from Ukraine, representing Defence Innovation Highway (DIH), discussed the rapid development of both remote-controlled and autonomous drones in Ukraine. He highlighted how technological experiences from conflict areas can inspire innovation in peacetime and open new opportunities for both industry and defense. Dark Drones 2026. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Alberts Spila from the Ukrainian-Latvian company DK Nejet, which plans to produce 40,000 drones this year, said: We want to be part of the industry here in Norway. We already have early-stage collaboration on products that we will test on the front line in a few months, and Trondheim will become our global integration office. Alberts Spila, DK Nejet. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Read also: Ukrainian-Latvian drone company establishes office in Trondheim Autonomous Solutions for Air, Surface, and Underwater Operations Dark Drones demonstrated how the drones of the future can operate across multiple domains: in the air, on the water surface, and underwater. Fugro was highlighted as a world leader in seabed mapping and inspection. Jan Arvid Ingulvsen presented a video of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) operating in 6-meter waves. Fugro delivers solutions for situational awareness, including UAVs, USVs, and remote operation centers (ROCs) for global operations. Jan Arvid Ingulvsen, Fugro. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Sander Henriksen from Nordic USV showed how multiple autonomous drones can operate along large parts of the coastline from a single ROC, with multiple docking stations and built-in redundancy to ensure safe operations. Torstein Skogset from WaterLinked emphasized that underwater operations are one of the most challenging domains, even more demanding than air or space. The company develops navigation systems using Doppler technology and 3D sonar, combined with sensor fusion to make drones compact, robust, and efficient. WaterLinked collaborates with partners including Skarv and Blueye Robotics. Torstein Skogset, WaterLinked. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Sigmund Henningsen from SentiSystems presented GNSS-denied operations, referring to autonomous navigation without GPS, with examples from autonomous ferries in the Sognefjord, aviation, and future lunar navigation. Øyvind Smogeli from Zeabuz presented dual-use autonomy solutions, where multi-sensor systems enable autonomous sailing, remote operations, and SLAM-based navigation for GPS-denied environments. The ZeaFalcon Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) from Zeabuz was among the autonomous vessels demonstrated. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Situational Awareness with AI Several panel debates at Dark Drones emphasized the importance of AI and advanced sensor networks. Tore Norheim Hagtun from Clarify presented Gjallarhorn, a collaborative project that integrates data from multiple surface, underwater, and aerial sensors. He stressed: Too much data without context is useless, and speed in decision-making is a weapon in itself. Trygve Olav Fossum from Skarv Technologies highlighted that physical resources alone are no longer sufficient; software and data analysis are essential for autonomous missions, such as scallop searches in the Barents Sea and port security operations. Trygve Olav Fossum demonstrating the Skarv underwater drone. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Squarehead demonstrated how acoustic sensors can detect drones, boats, and helicopters, while Kahu collects and organizes radar and AIS data for dual-use operations offshore and onshore. The panel also highlighted the challenges of underwater operations, which remain largely unregulated, and the importance of access to test areas for air, surface, and subsea operations. Defense systems are complex “systems of systems,” and AI will increasingly support real-time decision-making. Dark Drones 2026. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Demo Day with Practical Demonstrations The second day of Dark Drones was Demo Day, where multiple companies showcased drones in the air, on the water surface, and underwater. Drone detection systems, counter-drone solutions, and Remote Operation Centers (ROCs) were also demonstrated. Nanodrone from Teledyne FLIR. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Demonstrations took place at Trondheim Maritime Center, Dora 2 Pier, and the Nyhavna harbor basin. Participating companies included Skarv, Blueye Robotics, Teledyne FLIR, DK Nejet, Airolit, Maritime Robotics, Eelume, and Kongsberg Discovery. In addition, Clarify, Wsense, WaterLinked, Ocean Access, and Fugro offered continuous presentations of their technology and solutions. Pictures from Dark Drones and demonstrations Levi Jamt demonstrating control of autonomous vessels from the Zeabuz Remote Operations Center (ROC) at Nyhavna. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Thomas Nygaard (Eelume), Eirik Hovstein (Maritime Robotics), Christian Gabrielsen (Blueye Robotics), and Vegard Forbord (Biodrone) showcasing the collaborative Eelume WP960 project. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Read also: Launching a new uncrewed surface vessel for mine countermeasures Dennis Kanin, Defence Innovation Highway (DIH). Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Dark Drones 2026. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Tore Norheim Hagtun from Clarify presenting the Gjallarhorn project. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Beata Hranaiova, Founder & CEO of Kahu. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Eelume WP960, autonomous vessel for mine countermeasures. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Nanodrone from Teledyne FLIR. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Tore Norheim Hagtun, Clarify. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Watch NRK’s coverage of Dark Drones 2026", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "24/01/2026", "datePublished" : "24/01/2026", "headline" : "Dark Drones: Future Drone Technology Demonstrated in Trondheim", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark%20Drones%202026%20-%20Demo%20Day%20Foto%20Lars%20Bugge%20Aarset%20Fremtidens%20Industri%20%288%29.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/dark-drones-future-drone-technology-demonstrated-in-trondheim", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Les saken på norsk The Ukrainian–Latvian company DK Nejet is establishing an office in Trondheim. The company develops and manufactures advanced drone systems for military and dual-use applications and views Trondheim as a strategically important hub for further growth in the Nordic region and Europe, with a production target of 40,000 drones in 2026. “Trondheim has a unique technology ecosystem,” says Alberts Spila, CSO and co-founder of DK Nejet. “The city combines strong technical expertise, leading research environments, and an active industrial base. We see many opportunities for collaboration and want to be an active part of Norway’s defence and technology landscape.” For DK Nejet, establishing a presence in Norway is about becoming an integrated part of the industry and strengthening the company’s position as a global player, alongside its operations in Latvia and Ukraine. Alberts Spila, CSO and co-founder of DK Nejet. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Scaling drone production DK Nejet develops and produces several types of drones, including platforms for air-to-ground and air-to-air operations. The company currently has five operational drone platforms, with an additional five under development. A key focus is a high level of automation, enabling a single operator to control up to 42 drones simultaneously. The systems can be integrated with sensors and radar, automatically identify targets, and execute precise operations following operator approval. “Last year we produced 14,000 drones. This year, we are planning to triple production to around 40,000 drones,” says Spila. DK Nejet’s standard drone, capable of carrying a 2 kg payload. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri See also: Launching a new unmanned surface vessel for mine countermeasures Establishing in Trondheim As part of the establishment in Trondheim, DK Nejet plans to open its local office in the near term and initially recruit two positions within project management and systems integration. The objective is to strengthen the company’s ability to integrate its own solutions with partner technologies in a faster and more robust way. In the longer term, DK Nejet envisions Trondheim developing into a global integration hub, coordinating technology integrations across markets and regions. Alberts Spila of DK Nejet presenting on the rapid development and challenges of drone warfare in Ukraine during Dark Drones in Trondheim. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri Participated in Dark Drones and Dual-Use Meet-up in Trondheim DK Nejet has already been visible in the Norwegian ecosystem through participation in the Norwegian-Ukrainian Defence and Dual-Use Meet-up and Dark Drones in Trondheim. Both events were organised by Ocean Autonomy Cluster in collaboration with NORDSEC – Nordic Defence and Security Cluster. Demonstration of the company’s FPV (First Person View) drones during Dark Drones in Trondheim. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri During Dark Drones, Alberts Spila and DK Nejet shared insights into the rapid development and operational challenges of drone warfare in Ukraine. The company also presented and demonstrated its own drone systems. Nyhavna in Trondheim seen from a DK Nejet FPV drone. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset / Fremtidens Industri The conference focused on challenges related to operating and detecting drones in demanding conditions and brought together a wide range of actors showcasing drone technologies for operations in the air, on the surface, and below the surface. “We experienced strong interest in our solutions and see significant potential for collaboration in Norway,” says Spila. Read also: Ukrainian and Norwegian technology companies met in Trondheim to strengthen defence cooperation Watch NRK’s feature and interview with Alberts Spila during Dark Drones Photo: NRK", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "23/01/2026", "datePublished" : "23/01/2026", "headline" : "Ukrainian–Latvian drone company establishes operations in Trondheim", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark%20Drones%202026%20-%20Demo%20Day%20Foto%20Lars%20Bugge%20Aarset%20Fremtidens%20Industri%20%2842%29%202.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/ukrainian-latvian-drone-company-establishes-operations-in-trondheim", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "By Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Les saken på Norsk Testing the future of fjord transport – seamless travel, also by bike Representatives from Trondheim municipality recently took part in a test sailing with the Frostabåten, an electric hydrofoil to Munkholmen, to assess the potential for scheduled passenger transport on the fjord. Munkholmen is the small historic island just outside Trondheim city centre, known for its former monastery, fortress and prison, and today a popular recreational destination. Participants from the municipality included Trond Åm from the City Executive Department for Culture, Sports and Outdoor Recreation (V), Knut Kvaran, Head of Unit for Sports and Outdoor Recreation, Marius Austeen, Advisor in the Unit for Sports and Outdoor Recreation, and Paal Christian Bjønnes, Executive Secretary to the City Councillor for Education and Early Childhood in Trondheim municipality. Knut Kvaran tested bringing a bicycle on board. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Considering scheduled transport to Munkholmen The purpose of the trip was to test how the electric hydrofoil performs in practice, and to explore the opportunities the technology may offer for future, sustainable passenger transport between the city and Munkholmen. “It was great fun to take part in this. I truly hope this can be realised, because there is significant potential for scheduled transport on the fjord. This technology opens up many opportunities, and I hope viable commercial solutions can be found,” says Trond Åm from the City Executive Department for Culture, Sports and Outdoor Recreation (V). Frostabåten at Munkholmen. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Zero-emission technology with strong potential The Frostabåten project, featuring the electric hydrofoil Candela P-12, is a pilot project for zero-emission scheduled transport on the fjord. The technology offers low energy consumption, reduced noise, and minimal wake. The goal is to test new solutions for efficient and sustainable maritime transport, and it may also be a relevant alternative between Trondheim city centre and Munkholmen. Trond Åm, City Councillor for Culture, Sports and Outdoor Recreation, and Linda Hald, Project Manager for Frostabåten from FI Ocean Space Incubator. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Combining boat and bicycle The test sailing also demonstrated how the electric hydrofoil can be combined with other modes of transport. Knut Kvaran took the opportunity to bring a bicycle on board and went for a bike ride around Munkholmen after arrival. “This was genuinely exciting. It was great to see how smooth the entire journey was, and very practical that you can bring a bicycle on board. This really makes you want more,” says Knut Kvaran, Head of Unit for Sports and Outdoor Recreation. Knut Kvaran, Head of Unit for Sports and Outdoor Recreation, tested the bicycle on Munkholmen. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Broad collaboration across industry, research and the public sector The company Crazy Coyote works closely with the municipality on the agreement for operating Munkholmen. Crazy Coyote is also providing the boat pilots during the test period. “This type of vessel is highly exciting, and something we see as a sustainable, future-oriented and safe way to transport tourists and the city’s residents out to Munkholmen,” says Managing Director Kenneth Tanem. “Our ambition is to elevate Munkholmen as a destination, and that means the experience must start already on the journey out to Munkholmen,” he adds. The Frostabåten project is carried out through close collaboration between Frosta Brygge, Trondheim Havn, Ocean Autonomy Cluster, MIDAS, Crazy Coyote, WTW, Login Group, Norsk Droneindustri, SINTEF, Maritime Robotics and FI Ocean Space Incubator. NTNU, through its Shore Control Lab, is a key partner in testing and research related to remote monitoring and autonomous systems. Trondheim municipality and Trøndelag County Council are important public-sector partners and contribute to the financing of the project. Test sailing with the Frostabåten, Candela P-12, on the Trondheimsfjord. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Knut Kvaran, Head of Unit for Sports and Outdoor Recreation in Trondheim municipality. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri At 15 knots, the hydrofoil on the Candela P-12 lifts the hull out of the water and the boat “flies”. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Paal Christian Bjønnes, Executive Secretary to the City Councillor for Education and Early Childhood, and Marius Austeen, Advisor in the Unit for Sports and Outdoor Recreation, Trondheim municipality. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri The Frostabåten at Munkholmen. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Kenneth Tanem, Managing Director of Crazy Coyote and pilot during the Frostabåten test sailings. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Test sailing of the Frostabåten, electric hydrofoil Candela P-12, on the Trondheimsfjord. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri The boat even has a bicycle rack on board. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Frostabten at the NTNU quay in Nyhavna. NTNU’s Shore Control Lab is located in the building behind. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Ole Andreas Alsos remotely monitors the test sailings from NTNU’s Shore Control Lab at Nyhavna, by the NTNU quay. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri First landing at Munkholmen from the Frostabåten. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Approach to the Pier Terminal at Brattøra, Trondheim. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri Se also: Frostabåten – Successful test sailing of electric hydrofoil in Trondheimsfjorden", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "19/12/2025", "datePublished" : "19/12/2025", "headline" : "Trondheim municipality testing electric hydrofoil to Munkholmen", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/FRFD8B~1.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/trondheim-municipality-tested-electric-hydrofoil-to-munkholmen", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Les saken på norsk An impressive team of seventh-graders from Nidarvoll School in Trondheim, Nidarvoll SeaGMA, has secured a spot in the world finals of the FIRST® LEGO® League in Houston, USA. FIRST® LEGO® League is one of the largest technology and knowledge competitions for children and young people aged 6 to 16, challenging participants to find innovative solutions to real-world problems. Groundbreaking Innovation Against Sea Lice This year’s theme, Submerged, inspired the team to focus on one of the most critical issues in Norwegian aquaculture – sea lice. Sea lice have long been a significant threat to wild salmon populations, and so far, no effective solutions have been found. Nidarvoll SeaGMA's response is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with blue laser technology, designed to remove sea lice directly from wild salmon. This innovative technology could revolutionize the fight against sea lice while simultaneously protecting both farmed and wild salmon populations. Collaboration with Experts To develop and validate the solution, the students have worked closely with some of the leading players in aquaculture and technology, including SINTEF, Stingray, Nova Sea, SalMar, SeaSalmon, NTNU, Eelume, and the Institute of Marine Research. This close collaboration has been crucial in creating a technologically advanced and biologically sustainable method. FIRST® LEGO® League – A Global Platform for Young Innovators FIRST® LEGO® League aims to inspire children and young people to become the engineers, scientists, and problem-solvers of tomorrow. The competition starts every fall with a new mission that teams must solve over eight weeks. In addition to research and innovation, participants must design and program a LEGO® Education robot. The competition culminates in local and national tournaments, where winning teams qualify for international finals. In Norway and Sweden, there are 36 tournament cities that annually attract technology and knowledge enthusiasts. The Path to the World Finals Nidarvoll SeaGMA has already won the regional finals. They now represent not only Trondheim but also Norway and Scandinavia in the world finals. Together with a Swedish team, they are the two teams from Scandinavia competing in the FLL World Championship. They will compete against teams from all over the world that have all found creative solutions to global challenges. Ocean Autonomy Cluster and NCE Aquatec Cluster congratulate Nidarvoll SeaGMA on their achievements so far and wish them the best of luck in Houston. We are proud to see the next generation of engineers and innovators step into the world with solutions that can contribute to a more sustainable future for aquaculture. Visit Nidarvoll SeaGMA’s website for more information about the project and the competition. It is also possible to contribute support to the team.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "15/01/2025", "datePublished" : "15/01/2025", "headline" : "To the World Finals: Nidarvoll Students Develop AUV to Combat Sea Lice", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Nidarvoll%20SeaGMA%20%282%29.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/to-the-world-finals-nidarvoll-students-develop-uav-to-combat-sea-lice", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "On Tuesday, April 30th, Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth (Labour Party) and Minister of Research and Higher Education Oddmund Hoel (Centre Party) unveiled the government's strategy for increased investment in research and development in the business sector. Eirik Hovstein in Maritime Robotics demonstrating the Otter for Cecilie Myrseth and Oddmund Hoel. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset The government has set an ambitious goal for Norway to allocate three percent of GDP to research and development (R&D) by 2030. The aim is for two out of the three percent to come from the business sector. The launch took place at Maritime Robotics in Trondheim, a leading supplier of advanced autonomous technology for maritime operations. Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset One of the messages from the Minister of Research and Higher Education was that Norwegian research needs more wealthy uncles and aunts, said the ministers. In addition to speeches from the ministers, there were presentations by Alexandra Bech Gjørv from SINTEF and rector Tor Grande from NTNU. Vegard Hovstein presented the success story of Maritime Robotics, Bjørn Jalving from Kongsberg Maritime emphasized the importance of collaboration in the ecosystem, and the tripartite cooperation between business, research, and education. Much of Kongsberg Group's research is conducted as part of further development in already established product lines. Several speakers highlighted the importance of research in defense, societal security, and emergency preparedness. Minister of Research and Higher Education Oddmund Hoel. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset There was also ample time for demonstrations, including Kongsberg Maritime's test vessel Ocean Space Lab, Maritime Robotics' autonomous vessels, and Blueye Robotics' underwater drone. Both Kongsberg, Maritime Robotics, and Blueye Robotics are members of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster.Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster Both ministers and other guests followed with interest and also had the opportunity to try out the vessels. NTNU students Tomas Wedege and Andreas Ødegård presented their project combining a Blueye underwater drone with an Otter from Maritime Robotics. Both are industrial design students. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster Testing underwater drone with Blueye Robotics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster More pictures and norwegian text here", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "29/04/2024", "datePublished" : "29/04/2024", "headline" : "The Norwegian government has launched a new initiative to increase research efforts in the business sector", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/RE41D0~1.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/the-norwegian-government-has-launched-a-new-initiative-to-increase-research-efforts-in-the-business-sector", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Av Ragnar Eggen, CFO Clean Sea Solutions og Frode Halvorsen, leder Ocean Autonomy Cluster The Impello analysis indicates stagnation in the number of technology companies in the Trondheim region. However, beneath the Impello radar, we observe robust growth and optimism among companies in the ocean technology sector. This is welcome news that Techno Capital must further facilitate. The recent user analysis for Nyhavna, commissioned by the Municipality of Trondheim and the Strategic Forum Nyhavna, documents the growth in marine activities. Companies identified within the ocean technology sector have increased their value creation by over 70% from 2020 to 2023. The vast majority of them foresee continued strong growth. Recently, the Impello analysis for 2023 was presented. This annual report provides an overview of the state of the technology industry in the Trondheim region. The bottom line is that the growth in the number of technology companies has slowed down, and there are fewer new establishments in the region now compared to the peak years of 2016-2018. With 777 technology companies, the Trondheim region is far from the ambitious goal of 1000 companies by 2025. Ragnar Eggen, CFO Clean Sea Solutions. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster Therefore, it's interesting to note the thriving state of the mapped ocean technology companies. They share several characteristics: they are primarily involved in mapping, monitoring, control, and data collection, delivering to the offshore, seafood, and security sectors. They largely work with drones, sensors, and software in maritime environments. Many of these companies are less than ten years old, and their employees predominantly have technology education from NTNU; many begin here directly after their studies. We see a grassroots movement of startup companies, individual institutes at NTNU, and student initiatives associated with Nyhavna and the port areas. This isn't the result of one major decision or a single plan. The environment has evolved through many organic forces. They have been aided by established technology companies and NTNU, but also by a heavyweight like Trondheim Harbor, and the industry cluster Ocean Autonomy Cluster, which gathers many marine companies and has taken an international position. Interest in ocean technology from abroad in Trondheim is increasing. Norway is highly trusted and known for delivering quality products. Some companies succeed because they manage to compete on price, making high technology accessible to more. Some align with the trend of increasing activity related to mapping the seabed and marine areas. Some contribute with new technology that enables more efficient vessel operations with fewer crew, directly addressing a situation of crew shortage and demands for sustainable operation. We also see increased interest in ocean technology for security and preparedness, not only within defense but also for security and preparedness related to climate change, lessons from the pandemic, environmental monitoring, biodiversity, and various other purposes. Ocean technology companies build advanced technology and export globally. In total, around thirty actors have in common the need to test equipment in water – ideally in coastal areas and fjords. The location and access to quayside, test basins, and the test arena Trondheimsfjorden are crucial for them to be where they are. This access is also vital for ensuring that companies remain in Trondheim in the future. Frode Halvorsen, manager Ocean Autonomy Cluster. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster The user analysis for Nyhavna reveals that physical test and demonstration arenas are the most important criteria for choosing a location, followed by access to competent staff, opportunities for scaling and growth, access to students, and flexibility in space. Nyhavna is ranked as the preferred location number one, ahead of Brattøra and Grilstad. This sends a clear message that the city must ensure that there are industrial areas and buildings close to the quayside and the fjord to ensure that marine technology companies continue to grow in Trondheim. The strong growth in ocean technology is one of the reasons for establishing the Strategic Forum Nyhavna. The environment needs to make itself more visible and heard. What has already emerged provides the basis for developing a world-leading environment for marine technology – Silicon Harbor Trondheim. An environment where new technology companies emerge, and established companies want to establish themselves. To succeed in developing Silicon Harbor Trondheim, with ambitions for the world's best marine technology environment, we must consider the marine technology environment as a resource and driving force in the development of Nyhavna. And public authorities, the business community, and knowledge institutions need to be more aligned and work in the same direction. Also published in Norwegian at fi-nor.no", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lars Bugge Aarset", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsaarset/", "url" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/author/lars-bugge-aarset" }, "dateModified" : "16/02/2024", "datePublished" : "16/02/2024", "headline" : "Cronicle: Ocean Technology Companies - Strong Growth and Optimism", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Nyhavna%20160224%20Foto%20Lars%20Bugge%20Aarset%20FI%20%281%29.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://oceanautonomy.no/en-us/oacnews/ocean-technology-companies-strong-growth-and-optimism", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://26558673.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26558673/Dark_yellow-fill_POS%20(3).png" }, "name" : "Ocean Autonomy Cluster/FI - Fremtidens Industri", "url" : "oceanautonomy.no" } } ```