VARD sets up strategic partnership with Norwegian research institute

Norwegian shipbuilder VARD, a subsidiary of Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Norwegian research institute NORCE to cooperate on research and innovation related to subsea technology, among other things.

The strategic partnership will be focused on topics such as design, construction, on-board and underwater maintenance and drone technology for ships and subsea technology, with particular focus on the planned standardized vessels of the Norwegian Navy, as well as remote control solutions for lean-manned vessels, zero-emission energy technologies, and application of AI and cybersecurity solutions for the maritime sector.

“We have experienced fruitful cooperation with NORCE over several years, and we are now very pleased to lift this cooperation to a strategic level. There are many challenges ahead in the maritime sector and NORCE will be an important partner for VARD in the years ahead,” said Håvard Vollset Lien, VP for Research and Innovation at VARD.

NORCE and VARD are also launching the PRESIFUEL project which aims