Marine Industries and Ocean Technology

Spearheaded by an excellent network of clusters and knowledge centres, Norway has long been a global leader in maritime industries: offshore energy, shipping, waterborne mobility, fisheries, and aquaculture. Norway is also rapidly amassing world-leading expertise in carbon capture and offshore wind. 

A vibrant network of leading clusters  

Companies in Norway can benefit from a well-developed network of marine and maritime clusters. These clusters represent world-leading knowledge centres for offshore solutions, maritime transport, energy, carbon capture and aquaculture. This, in turn, provides companies in Norway with unmatched networking opportunities and unrivalled access to world-leading technological expertise, while promoting collaboration across sectors and value chains. You can read more about the benefits of a robust “cluster economy” here, in an interview with renowned cluster expert Torger Reve.

Clean offshore energy 

The Norwegian offshore sector has throughout the past 50 years cemented itself as one of the most advanced and innovative in the world. Now, Norway capitalises on its vast expertise and network of offshore and maritime clusters has become an epicentre of sustainable “blue growth”. For example, Norwegian powerhouse Equinor is behind the world’s first – and largest – floating wind park, and the country hosts one the world’s foremost test centres for floating wind solutions.

Shipping and transport 

The Norwegian shipping sector is large and diverse, with Norwegian companies and clusters leading the way in the development on waterborne transport of goods and people. A combination of ambitious policies and world-class maritime expertise has made Norway the unofficial “green laboratory” of the shipping world: for example, Norway developed the world’s first electric car and passenger ferry, and now more than 40 fully electric ferries operate on the Norwegian shoreline. Norwegian industry clusters are at the forefront of developing solutions for hydrogen- and ammoniac-based transport. 

Sensorics, AI and autonomy

Sensors, artificial intelligence, the internet of things (IoT) and autonomous operations are becoming key pillars of marine and maritime industries. Backed by renowned research institutions and global centres of expertise, the Norwegian maritime and marine sector has a proven track record of making the most of digital innovation. For example, Norway is home to the world’s first fully autonomous container cargo ship, and Norwegian companies are at the forefront of developing solutions for zero-emission, urban waterborne transport. 

Norwegian sensor technology has made its way into the world’s most advanced research vessels, and Norway is also home of the Ocean Data Platform, a global effort to collect, utilise and make accessible vital data from the globe’s ocean. 

Advanced and sustainable aquaculture and fisheries 

Did you know that three out of four fish in the aquaculture industry are vaccinated with a Norwegian vaccine? Fish is Norway’s second largest export industry, and Norway has capitalised on its long shoreline to build a robust and innovative aquaculture and fishing industry. The Norwegian aquaculture sector is the most advanced – and sustainable – in the world, partly due to a network of leading research institutions fostering sustainable innovation in the marine bioeconomy. 

For example, look to how a Japanese-American entrepreneur collaborated with NOFIMA to build a successful and sustainable sea urchin business in Norway.