The Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NND) is one of the initiators of the establishment of the Cluster for Decommissioning and Reuse. The cooperation between NND and the cluster is close and good, and there is much for other cluster members to gain knowledge and experience from the decommissioning work that NND is doing and will continue to do for many decades to come.
The illustration shows the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant in very rough outline. Illustration: NND
Sector Director Communications, Martin Andreasson, has an important job in communicating the mission that NND has been given by the Norwegian government. Here he briefly explains the tasks and goals of NND and the value they see in being a member of the cluster.
Tell us briefly about the company's business and your role.
Director of Communications Martin Andreasson. PHOTO: Veronica van Groningen
Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning will decommission Norway's historic nuclear research facilities in a safe and secure manner. The agency will also find solutions for handling the waste, which includes high-level spent reactor fuel.
NND will carry out one of the country's largest sustainability projects. When the job is completed, areas that are currently monitored 24/7 due to the presence of nuclear material will instead be able to be used freely.
As Sector Director Communications, I (along with everyone else in NND) am responsible for NND's reputation.
What goals is NND working towards?
Our goal is to clean up in a safe and good way so that our generation takes responsibility for the choices that we and our parents have made.
Can you tell us about a success story or an exciting project NND has completed?
In our efforts to create an information platform that can handle all the data NND needs for decommissioning and waste management, we are working with international partners who have chosen to establish a company in Norway. This company collaborates with the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), among others, and we believe and hope that they will be able to commercialize all or parts of the system they create.
What is NND's motivation for being a member of the Cluster for Decommissioning and Reuse? What type of collaboration is of interest to you?
We see that there is extensive potential within decommissioning. As a government agency, we have limited tools and opportunities to develop this further. In the Decom cluster, we hope to meet both companies that can deliver services to NND and organizations that can commercialize the services and knowledge we build up.
General Manager Trine Ellingsen says that many people have asked to meet to exchange experiences and discuss current issues.
- The clusters are key to Norway achieving its export and sustainability goals. We want to create an arena for sharing and collaboration,' she says in a press release.
Project Manager Eli Haugerud (left) and FIN's General Manager Trine Ellingsen are excited to host the first gathering of the country's many clusters - "Sharing experiences and knowledge is important," they say. BOTH PHOTO: Arne Inge Solgard
Project manager with extensive experience
Project manager Eli Haugerud works as Head of Communities at Smart Innovation Norway. This means that she is responsible for the innovation company's three clusters, NCE Smart Energy Markets, Cluster for Applied AI and the DECOM cluster, as well as the smart city initiative.
Eli Haugerud is a firm believer in the impact of a good sharing culture.
Knowing the needs of clusters with different levels of maturity and in different areas is useful in facilitating the exchange of expertise and experience for very different clusters.
- Sharing is important. The immature can learn from those with more experience, we can also bring in impulses from outside and facilitate new collaborations," says Haugerud.
- Happy to give something back
This year, one or two meeting places are planned, and work is now continuing on the design of the program.
- We have a dialog with several clusters to understand their needs and what we should do together. Industry Week in Porsgrunn is an example of an arena where we are present, and we would like to hear from more clusters," says the new project manager.
Ellingsen of FIN has great faith in the new offer.
- "The clusters are important to FIN and we are happy that we can now give this back to our members," says Ellingsen.
Businesses can now discuss research ideas with our expert
As a skills broker, Hermund Arntzen Dale has first-hand knowledge of how research can help companies solve their challenges.
Competence Broker is a free tool for developing business in Viken through research-related projects.
For several years, Smart Innovation Norway has represented one of seven brokers in Viken county. Hermund Arntzen Dale has recently taken on the role and is already well underway with both outreach activities and guidance of companies.
- Well suited as a competence broker
Hermund Arntzen Dale. PHOTO: Kjetil Lier Svendsen
The aim is for business to develop through research-based innovation by helping business actors to identify areas where research can contribute to further growth.
Dale gets high praise as a skills broker from Violette Yi Qin, project coordinator for Skills Broker in Viken.
- We believe Hermund is a good fit for the role due to his work experience, educational background and personality. He has worked in various industries within energy and technology and has a good understanding of the public funding system both through academia and work in industry. The fact that he has work experience as an entrepreneur, we think is very positive - then you can forge closer ties with an important part of the companies, which is the main goal of competence brokerage. In addition, he is friendly and motivated, which we think is a success factor for being a good competence broker in Viken," she says.
The key tasks of a competence broker are to help companies identify problems that can be solved with research, find relevant partners and the right expertise in the research community, and find funding schemes that can co-finance the project.
- My background means that I have good knowledge of the public funding system, and that I know the needs and challenges of early-stage companies. I also find it very fun to tackle challenges in the business community and look at the opportunities that exist to develop new solutions while working with my areas of interest, which are technology, climate and the environment," says Dale.
Based on the Research Council's three priority areas of sustainable transition and value creation, commercialization from research, and regional development, competence brokers have been established within urban, urban and regional development, health and care, climate, energy and environment, and technology.
- The service is initially aimed at enterprises with little or no research experience. The premise is that development should take place through research. Together we will identify the problem and potential of the business, with the aim of creating returns and new jobs. We will simply find solutions that are more profitable than they are today," Dale explains.
Skills brokers exist in every county and the community works across municipal and county boundaries.
- I can easily connect them with the right competence broker in the right field and geographical location. The others do the same for me. In this way, we have a nationwide reach and, in practice, no limitations," says Dale.
Need for guidance
Most research and development (R&D) projects rely on funding schemes to be realized. And it is start-up companies that often have the opportunity to try out new ideas in response to changes in the market.
Unfortunately, figures from the Research Council show that small and early-stage companies are the most likely to have their applications rejected.
- Young companies naturally do not have experience in writing project applications, and many do not spend enough time on formulating themselves correctly or responding to what the call for proposals actually asks for. It can therefore be useful to get guidance from a competence broker when writing applications," says Dale.
The offer aims to give companies experience in R&D. The FORREGION Business Project support scheme is therefore central. Under this scheme, companies can receive up to NOK 200,000 for their research project.
Competence brokers also provide guidance on other funding schemes at the Research Council of Norway, the Regional Research Fund and other actors. However, competence brokers do not provide guidance on writing applications to Innovation Norway (IN)'s funding schemes because they have their own supervisors.
- We work closely with IN and can, however, refer to relevant personnel who can be of good help to the company, Dale explains.
Short route to skills and networks
The "competence broker" function was awarded to Smart Innovation Norway since the company already works with business, development, innovation, applied research, technology and clusters.
Read more about Smart Innovation Norway's two other business clusters:
Dale has access to Smart Innovation's entire network and all the knowledge of its employees. This puts him in a particularly good position to assist Viken's business community.
- The way we work on a daily basis at Smart Innovation is not very different from the typical day-to-day work of a competence broker. We share and use methods such as facilitating workshops, uncovering needs, mapping competencies and identifying potential, so I have a short path to competencies other than my own," he explains.
Experience so far shows that the free skills brokerage offer has great potential to become known among business stakeholders.
A large part of Dale's job will therefore be to conduct outreach activities both directly to innovation environments, companies and individuals, and by being present at trade fairs, conferences and other meeting places where these actors participate.
- An important task will be to motivate innovation and development. Not everyone sees their own potential, but with my knowledge and network, I see opportunities where others do not. However, it is crucial that the will to innovate comes from within, and another important part of my job will be to be realistic and make the right recommendations for further development," he says.
Practical information
There is no application process for using a competence broker, nor is there any cost associated with the service.
Interested parties can contact Hermund Arntzen Dale by e-mail or phone +47 909 68 284.
Strengthening Norway's export opportunities
When the National Export Council asked for input to identify possible strategic focus areas, it was natural for the DECOM cluster to get involved and present the capacity, knowledge and potential our cluster partners represent.
In the Hurdal Platform from 2021, the government has stated that it will increase Norwegian exports other than oil and gas by 50 percent by 2030. To achieve this, the country needs new industries and export opportunities, and one of the measures the government has implemented is the establishment of the National Export Council and the export reform Whole Norway Exports.
Through the new initiative, the authorities, the business community and the public funding agencies will work closely to achieve the Støre government's export goals, and Smart Innovation Norway's three clusters provided solid input on future export opportunities.
Strong communities of excellence
Nicholas Richards was involved in preparing the DECOM cluster's input to Whole Norway Exports together with the Institute for Energy Technology and Halden Municipality.
Norway has several actors in business, public agencies, research and academia with expertise in these areas. Many of these actors are partners in the networks of our three industry clusters, and they therefore represent a strong community of expertise in their fields.
The DECOM cluster and Smart Innovation Norway are part of the recognized Halden environment, which includes the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) and Halden municipality. The cluster works to create new jobs and sustainable development so that Norway can take a leading position in decommissioning and reuse, and in their input, the three actors argue why decommissioning should become one of Norway's priority export areas.
The partners in our NCE Smart Energy Markets cluster aim to be world leaders in smart energy and digital technologies. Norway must make the most of this advantage.
In Norway, significant resources are being invested in the digitalization of the energy system. This not only solves national challenges, but creates technologies, services and expertise that can be used in other markets, and the work in NCE Smart Energy Markets has provided solid experience in research and development both nationally and internationally.
Norwegian companies are in a position to become important suppliers of energy solutions on an international market, and NCE Smart Energy Markets works closely with several of these companies. Therefore, the cluster provided input on which export opportunities it can contribute to.
Together with Abelia, NHO's association for technology and knowledge companies, CAAI submitted a submission that, among other things, points out that ICT companies represent a separate industry in itself with the export opportunities it brings with it.
Marianne Jansson Bjerkman, head of the Cluster for Applied AI, is clear that it is important for Norway to take a larger share of the global market and at the same time get a better grip on the data economy. ICT companies can contribute to this.
- To achieve this, it is important to facilitate the export of digital products and services, even though this will require expertise and tailoring. The bonus is that we will then also have the opportunity to get a better grip on larger parts of other value chains," she says.
Whole Norway Exports is the government's export reform where the authorities, the business community and the policy instruments will join forces to make offensive advances abroad. The government's goal is to increase mainland exports by 50%.
From left: Åsmund Bråtekas from Halden municipality, István Szőke from IFE and Nicholas Richards from Smart Innovation Norway representing the Halden community. PHOTO: Henrik Diskerud Meyer
Decommissioning is the dismantling of man-made installations, storage of hazardous waste and reuse of materials. Norwegian nuclear decommissioningcreates room for maneuver with its social mission. It is important that Norway is alert and creates value from this work.
IFE is recognized for its knowledge, research and innovation in decommissioning, primarily for the nuclear industry.
But there is also decommissioning in oil and gas and other infrastructure that has been decommissioned and is to be recovered. Knowledge about decommissioning is therefore necessary and sought after both nationally and internationally.
Nuclear decommissioning in the world is estimated to cost on average NOK 70 billion per year.
Decommissioning costs in the oil and gas industry are estimated at NOK 420 billion until 2024.
At the current rate of decommissioning oil platforms, it takes about 100 years to recover the current elements.
Decommissioning worldwide is estimated to generate 30,000 direct FTEs. In addition, there are employment impacts at suppliers and subcontractors.
Read the full submission from IFE, Smart Innovation Norway and Halden Municipality (in Norwegian):
The specific input concerns the export of technology developed at IFE. The HADRON(HazardAwareDigitalizationand ROboticsin Nuclearand other domain) laboratory integrates IFE's technology-based innovation built up over 70 years. Safety in nuclear physics, combined with 3D simulation and real-time radiation technology, with the application of modern mobile robotics and sensor technology.
It is important that Norway strengthens an already world-leading position with XR-based learning (eXtended Reality), 3D simulation-based planning systems and robots that support and/or replace humans in hazardous working environments.
These are products and services that are already in demand, but the applied research is transferable and can lead to important innovation in many other areas. The input is aimed at the primary need to address nuclear decommissioning, but the technology is directly transferable to oil and gas decommissioning, working radiological laboratories, emergency response training and other hazardous applications.
How can Norway take its share of the decommissioning cake? The Halden community has provided input on this to the Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre and the Whole Norway Exports business reform.
English version:
"DECOM by NORWAY - The whole of Norway exports
Hele Norge eksporterer is the Norwegian Government's export reform where authorities, businesses, and agencies will join forces to make offensive moves abroad. The Government's goal is to increase mainland exports by 50 percent.
From left: Åsmund Bråtekas from Halden municipality, István Szőke from IFE and Nicholas Richards from Smart Innovation Norway represent the Halden Group. PHOTO: Henrik Diskerud Meyer
Decommissioning is the process of dismantling man-made installations, storing hazardous waste, and reusing materials. Norwegian nuclear decommissioning creates room for action with its societal mandate. It is important that Norway is aware and creates value from this work.
IFE is recognized for its knowledge, research, and innovation in decommissioning, primarily for the nuclear industry.
But oil and gas, as well as other infrastructure that has become obsolete, must also be decommissioned and recovered. Knowledge of decommissioning is, therefore, necessary and sought after both nationally and internationally.
Nuclear decommissioning worldwide is estimated to cost an average of NOK 70 billion per year.
Decommissioning costs in the oil and gas industry are estimated to be NOK 420 billion until 2024.
At the current decommissioning rate of oil platforms, it will take about 100 years to recover today's elements.
The decommissioning worldwide is estimated to provide 30,000 direct jobs. In addition, there are employment effects with suppliers and sub-suppliers.
The specific input concerns the export of technology developed at IFE. The HADRON laboratory (Hazard Aware Digitalization and RObotics in Nuclear and other domain) integrates IFE's technology-based innovation that has been built up over 70 years. Safety in nuclear physics, combined with 3D simulation and real-time radiation technology, using a modern mobile robot and sensor technology.
It is important that Norway strengthens its already world-leading position with XR-based learning (eXtended Reality), 3D simulation-based planning systems and robots that support and/or replace humans in hazardous working environments.
These are products and services that are already in demand, but the applied research is transferable and can lead to important innovation in many other areas. The input is directed towards the primary need to handle nuclear decommissioning, but the technology is directly transferable to decommissioning in the oil and gas industry, work in radiological laboratories, emergency preparedness training and other health-hazardous areas.
How can Norway take its share of the decommissioning market? The Halden Group(Institute for Energy Technology,Smart Innovation Norway and Halden municipality) has given input to Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Christian Vestre to the export reform Hele Norge eksporterer.
