Innovation
Cultivating great ideas
Norway ranks in the top ten worldwide in innovation, according to INSEAD's 2009-2010 Global Innovation Index. Some of the country's best ideas have even been sold through big international acquisitions, such as the USD3.4 billion sale of Norwegian video conferencing company Tandberg to Cisco. The country is working to develop more of this type of innovative competence here - and keep the value creation here - through its scores of research parks and incubator programmes spread across the country.
Oslo Innovation Center (Forskningsparken) is one of the oldest and largest of the nine research parks in the country. It is also one of 29 incubator parks supported by SIVA, the Industrial Development Corporation of Norway, which help commercially viable research results and project ideas develop into profitable enterprises.
There are currently 140 companies in the Oslo Innovation Center, representing mostly life science, ICT and environmental. These consist of small companies, research departments to international companies such as Texas Instruments, Aptina and GE Healthcare, and research institutes and universities.
The centre accounts for about 2,000 workplaces with a value of about NOK 1.9 billion. The greatest value creator so far has been Kelkoo, the European prime comparison service company, based in France, which merged with Norwegian company Zoomit. Kelkoo was later bought by Yahoo for EUR475 million.
There are many entrepreneurial success stories in Norway similar to Tandberg and Zoomit. Microsoft bought Fast Search & Transfer, Trolltech went to Nokia, Texas Instruments took Chipcon, and GE acquired Vingmed Ultrasound.
Source: Nortrade
Generating success with R&D
For the Norwegian business sector, the key to becoming more competitive in the global market may lie in research. The Research Council's new publication Verdiskaping (Generating success with R&D) contains examples of some of Norway's most exciting industry-oriented research and provides an overview of the various funding instruments that the Council can offer to private enterprise.
There are many entrepreneurial success stories in Norway similar to Tandberg and Zoomit. Microsoft bought Fast Search & Transfer, Trolltech went to Nokia, Texas Instruments took Chipcon, and GE acquired Vingmed Ultrasound.
Source: Research Council of Norway
New strategy to produce more scientists
More people have to decide to pursue educational programmes in mathematics, science and technology (MST) if Norwegian society is to develop in the desired direction. The Government is launching a national strategy to promote MST subjects.
Source: Research Council of Norway
Must step up the pace towards 2020
Both the EU and Norway must increase their efforts if they are to succeed in removing all barriers in the European Research Area (ERA) by 2020, said Anneli Pauli of the European Commission when she visited the Norwegian ERA Forum in February.
“To reach the goal of free movement of researchers and knowledge in Europe by 2020, the development of ERA clearly has to be speeded up compared with what we have seen so far," emphasises Ms Pauli, who is Deputy Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research.
At the same time, however, Ms Pauli praised Norway's commitment to a common European Research Area. "ERA is a concept that depends on binding commitment, and Norway's active efforts to promote ERA have been noted by the EU,” she emphasised. ”Not being a member of the EU, Norway gets nothing for free in this context, so it is especially important that you show initiative," said Ms Pauli. She also emphasised that Norway is more active than many EU member states in this connection.
Source: Research Council Norway
A turning point for Norwegian research
Norwegian research must become even more internationally-oriented if it is to expand to a higher level. International perspectives will now be integrated into all aspects of the Research Council's activities.
Over the past several years, the internationalisation of research and research policy has gained momentum. "We don't want to be left standing on the platform when the train pulls out of the station. The new strategy for international cooperation will enable us to take a more proactive approach," says Research Council Director General, Arvid Hallén. He is hoping that the research community at large will respond with input and comments to the document that has now been sent out for consultation.
In the international research context, broad-based cooperation and competition are two sides of the same coin. Applying for research funding in competition with researchers from other countries is a means of measuring the quality of research. The best researchers compete with each other independently of where they come from. Hallén stresses that the new international strategy will give Norway a better basis for participation in the international competitive arena.
"It is the Research Council's job to help to expand and improve Norwegian research. This means that we have to create an even better framework for scientific collaboration with the best researchers in other countries. We are ambitious in terms of what we believe can be achieved through international research cooperation, and we must ask ourselves at every step of the way whether our ties to the global research community are good enough," he states.
An Innovative and Sustainable Norway
Norway has launched its first White Paper on innovation policy.
These are some of the headlines:
- Knowledge and competence
- Innovative undertakings
- Start-up and growth
- Research and development
- Innovation in the public sector
The White Paper sets out the Government's aim of establishing favourable conditions for competitive enterprises throughout Norway and developing a society where we provide for our citizens' needs while maintaining a strong resource base for future generations. The key goal is to have an optimal level of wealth creation, while reducing the strain on the environment. The paper highlights the importance of focusing on innovation in both the private and the public sector.
A short version of the White Paper can be accessed here
Source: Regjeringen
New technology in North Sea test
A new method which simplifies drilling operations in unstable formations and thereby saves time and costs has been tested by Norwegian operator Statoil on the Brage field in the North Sea.
This so-called "liner drilling" solution makes it possible to operate with a well liner attached directly to a steerable drillstring, and represents a global innovation, Statoil states.
In conventional drilling, work has to halt while the string is pulled from the well and a liner set to prevent the borehole walls from collapsing.
"Setting liner while drilling means we don't have to leave the borehole open and minimises the risk of collapse," explains Geir Slora, head of drilling and well at Statoil.
In order to enhance the profitability of mature fields, Statoil is constantly working to improve their recovery factor. Liner drilling can contribute to these efforts.
Source: Norway Post
WindFlip - Making Offshore Wind Power Feasible!
WindFlip is a vessel to transport one or two floating offshore wind turbines from a construction site to an offshore field. At the construction site the wind turbines get loaded on board with cranes. To launch the wind turbines the entire vessel flips 90 degrees and releases the wind turbines in upright position. The vessel flips by filling the aft with ballast. To return to horizontal position the ballast gets blown out by compressed air.
The WindFlip concept presents many challenges to the naval architect. Every part of the vessel's hull and systems are designed to operate in both horizontal and vertical position. Besides, extensive stability and hydrodynamic calculations are done for the flip operation. The choice of concept is inspired by the comparison vessel FLIP.
Source: www.windflip.com