Together with Digital innovation HUB Innovamare in Croatia, Ocean Autonomy Cluster (OAC) have established the Croatia Norway Marine Technology Innovation network - MATIN.

In November the Croatians was visiting Norway. First step on the programme was notable companies in the Norwegian marine innovation landscape, including OceanTech Innovation AS, Ocean Access, Blueye Robotics, Zeabuz, and NTNU's Sea Control Lab. There was also time for a refreshing cruise with the autonomus ferry milliAmpere2.

Throughout this project we will facilitate collaborations between companies in Croatia and Norway, particularly in the development, testing, and validation of ocean technologies. Our goals include increasing joint investments in the blue economy, fostering common patents, and advancing applied research. This visit allows both teams to explore collaborative possibilities and learn from each other's experiences.

Exciting developments in Vanvikan with AutoAgri, a company at the forefront of designing and manufacturing autonomous tractors. These vehicles are tailored for agriculture, and the potential applications are only limited by our imagination. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset

As part of the Croatia Norway Marine Technology Innovation Network - MATIN, a group of enthusiastic Croatians has visited the technology hub in Vanvikan. MATIN was established by the Digital innovation HUB Innovamare Croatia in collaboration with the Ocean Autonomy Cluster in Trøndelag.

The first step of a larger partnership

"MATIN will strengthen the collaboration between ocean tech companies in Norway and Croatia", says Frode Halvorsen from Ocean Autonomy Cluster.

"This is the first step in what we hope will be a larger and longer partnership between Ocean Autonomy Cluster and Innovamare. So, in the current phase, we are looking into companies from both countries that have shown interest in collaboration and to create common projects", says Halvorsen. 

Adriana Paric, Jan Laszowski and Davor Vranković from the Croatian delegation visiting Maritime Robotics in Vanvikan. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset. 

Exploring collaborative possibilities 

"The purpose of MATIN project is to enable companies from Croatia and Norway to cooperate and work on the development, testing, and validation of innovative marine technologies with the goal of increasing joint investments in the blue economy, developing common patents, and applied research", says Jan Laszowski. He is the project coordinator for Digital Innovation Hub Innovamare in Croatia. 
"The purpose of the visit to Norway was for Croatian partners to visit Norwegian partners and  to start exploring collaborative possibilities and learn from each other." 

"The outcome of this visit was that the partners that were brought from Croatia got insight of different projects that Norwegian partners are working on, and trough one-on-one meetings with them (B2B) they were able to exchange more detailed information on their own individual work, as well as talk about possible cooperation on existing or future projects. The next step is to do the same with Norwegian partners in Croatia, where they will be able to meet new potential partners in cooperative projects from different sectors", Laszowski says.

"Innovamare and companies from Croatia have been visiting Trondheim, and companies have allready made connections. In April, Norwegian companies will go to Croatia, where they will look into concrete projects where their tecnology can provide solutions", Halvorsen says.

Frode Halvorsen and Josip Sanković together with Trond Hansen from Blueye Robotics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset

From the production of autonomus wessels at Maritime Robotics in Vanvikan. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset.

The Otter Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) is an easily deployable turn-key system for seabed mapping and monitoring of sheltered waters. Here at Maritime Robotics development and production site in Vanvikan. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset

There was also time for a refreshing cruise with the autonomus ferry milliAmpere2 across the channel in Trondheim. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset.Students from the drone class at Johan Bojer secondary school. This is one of only a few schools in Norway which offers drone pilot training. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset.

Mateo Ivanac is Chief Executive Officer for Digital innovation HUB Innovamare. Here from the visit at Maritime Robotics in Vanvikan. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset.

Demonstration and testing of underwater drone from Blueye Robotics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset.

Demonstration of the submersible ocean data buoy by Simen Helgesen from Ocean Access. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset.

Andrijana Paric, Project manager at Digital Innovation Hub Innovamare visiting Autoagri in Vanvikan. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset.

Maritime Robotics developes multi-purpose unmanned vehicles for offshore and coastal applications. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset