No fewer than nine Centres for Research-based Innovation (SFI) were opened by NTNU and SINTEF recently. The Smart Maritime centre is led by MARINTEK, and it alone has been awarded NOK 192 million to fund its research for the coming eight years.
I am proud to be part of this center. But I am even more conscious of the fact that Smart Maritime is very important for the Norwegian maritime industry. If Norway is to continue to be a major seafaring nation, we have to be smart and build up knowledge, says Per Magne Einang, Smart Maritime's newly appointed leader.
The aim of Smart Maritime is to increase energy efficiency and reduce harmful emissions from vessels. MARINTEK's research partners are Ålesund Regional College and NTNU, and the centre has no fewer than 18 industry and public-sector partners. Major companies such as Rolls Royce, VARD, ABB, DNV GL and Wilhelmsen realise the usefulness of the SFI, and have agreed to contribute, as have the Norwegian Maritime Directorate and the Norwegian Shipowners' Association. "Blue growth in a green future" is the vision for the coming eight years.
Read more about the opening on MARINTEKs home pages