Nor-Shipping: Ocean Industries Idea Takes Off

The Ocean Industries concept has been firmly in the spotlight during Nor-Shipping 2013 as Norway’s top three industries came together to attract young talent and share technological know-how.

Norway’s importance to world shipping, in part due to the completeness of its maritime cluster, is well known. Less well known is that these industries belong to a wider cluster known as the Ocean Industries.

Better integration of businesses in the so-called Ocean Industries super-cluster – comprising maritime, offshore energy and seafood – means these sectors are able to draw on each other’s expertise and resources.

Ocean Industries operate within the so-called ocean space, a term that refers to the site of growing industrial activity: on the sea surface, under water or under the sea bed.

With the longest coastline in Europe and the seventh longest in the world, Norway has a vast number of industries operating in the ocean space.

As Professor Torger Reve of the Norwegian BI Business School said during the first Nor-Shipping Ocean Technology Summit: “Things to do with the ocean and technology are what Norway is all about – ever since the Vikings.”

Becoming more merged

The summit showcased the Norwegian maritime cluster’s focus on cutting edge expertise and research and showed how Norway’s Ocean industries work together.

As Maritim21 program manager Erik Dyrkoren said in his welcome address at the summit: “All industries that have to do with the ocean are becoming more merged technology-wise.”

It was with this in mind that companies from across Norway’s Ocean Industries came together at this year’s city centre-based Ocean Talent Camp to connect with young talent.

The recruitment of badly-needed young talent in the country was a key theme at the conferences, forums and summits this year. The realignment of the Ocean Industries into one powerful knowledge hub could a step towards attracting this talent.

It also makes good business sense. The ability to move resources between sectors easily – know-how as well as capital – creates persistent, predictable performance.

A safe environment for investments is attractive both when it comes to financial and human capital. Combined, cost effective growth and reduced risk influence revenue growth, cost control and risk management.