Energy Valley CEO Vibeke Østlyngen and Chairperson Vilde Bjerknes
You might have noticed there have been a few changes at Energy Valley in the last several months. However, while we announced a shift in CEOs, we haven’t spoken broadly about our new Chairperson of the Board yet. So, we’d like to take the opportunity now to introduce you to our new Chairperson, as well as go a bit more in-depth with our CEO in this interview with the two of them.
In Q3 2025, Vibeke Østlyngen stepped into the role of (interim) CEO after having worked in Energy Valley as the Head of Projects and Administration since 2023. Around the same time, Vilde Bjerknes, who has been a member of the Board for over a year, stepped into the role of Chairperson of the Board.
Now, while it’s human nature to be nervous about change, the latest changes in Energy Valley leadership are not so much massive changes as they are a natural shift with a renewed focus on what the cluster needs to continue to grow and bring additional value to our members.
“For the Energy Valley cluster, I think the role change represents stability and continuity,” confirms Vibeke. “There will be a continuation in the cluster administration, as I have been in Energy Valley since the end of 2023, and worked closely with both the previous CEOs Preben Strøm and Bjørn Ottar Elseth.”
The sentiment was similar from Vilde who said, “I don’t think the change will be jarring, as I will be continuing on much of the work from my predecessors. As Chair of the Board, I have the opportunity to follow the Energy Valley administration closely through Vibeke, and what excites me is the opportunity to support the good work being done among the members and catered for by the Energy Valley team. I truly believe that clusters like Energy Valley play an important role in developing the energy industry, and I look forward to continuing to be a part of it.”
Continuity and collaboration
Having already worked together for some time now, both women see collaboration as one of the key strengths going forward.
“The way I see it, my role is twofold: make sure the Board functions as a place where we can discuss and set a direction for Energy Valley that reflects the needs and expectation of the members,” says Vilde. “In addition, I will support Vibeke in executing the strategy the best I can; I hope to be a valuable sparring partner for her and the team, helping enable Vibeke, together with the administration, in ensuring Energy Valley delivers on the projects and cluster activities from day-to-day.”
“In Energy Valley, we are fortunate to have an active and supporting Board focusing on the future of the cluster, and caring for how we support our members,” confirms Vibeke. “Vilde and I support each other in driving Energy Valley forward – I focus on the operational part and she more so on the strategic side.”
And as Vibeke likes to say, “Cooperation, curiosity, and an open mind will always bring us forward faster.”
What does success look like?
As Vilde points out, the energy business is in the middle of a transformation, presenting both significant opportunities and some challenges for our members.
“Energy Valley has a solid member base and a well-established approach to supporting the members in developing their business accordingly,” she notes. “But funding may be a challenge going forward, and I believe that we must look for extended cooperation and potentially new structures to secure a robust cluster for the future.”
“Success in the cluster is seeing the members and partners being activity involved preparing the energy system for the future,” says Vibeke. “For the cluster administration, that means we are facilitating a good environment for collaboration.”
Part of facilitating that good environment is having a broad understanding of what other organisations in the energy space – and even other nations – are focusing on and continuously developing industry knowledge. Later this month, Vibeke and Vilde are paying a visit to the Danish energy cluster to do exactly that.
“We sometimes work together with Energy Cluster Denmark on projects, such as a cooperation project with Energy Cluster Denmark funded by Viken, and the currently on-going BalticSeaH2 project,” says Vibeke, “and really appreciate the opportunity for knowledge-sharing with them.”
Keeping the members front and centre
No matter who you ask in Energy Valley, the members are always the primary focus for all of us. And if you are a member (or considering becoming one!), we’d like to hear from you.
“To deliver value, we must understand our members’ needs, so I encourage everyone to suggest and promote activities they find valuable. Energy Valley should be defined by its members. The role of both the team and the board is simply to support the community and help it thrive,” concludes Vilde.
During Oslo Innovation Week, Energy Valley held a two-session event, together with Capgemini. Here are some of the key takeaways…
SESSION I
Building the Future of Talent
What does it really take to build global companies out of Norway — and what kind of leadership and talent will define our next chapter? At our “Building the Future of Talent” session during Oslo Innovation Week, Energy Valley’s Preben Strøm explored these questions together with John Markus Lervik (Cognite), Snorre Valdimarsson (Thommessen) and two outstanding Future Energy Leaders — Shipra Mohan and Bielenis Villanueva Triana.
Discussion on what it takes to be successful in the drive for talent
A few takeaways stood out:
💡 “The combination of grit and deep domain competence is crucial for success when building a global tech company.”
John Markus Lervik, reminding us that endurance and expertise matter more than hype – and that life balance, not work/life balance, is what truly counts.
💡 “We should nurture and support business talents the same way we do with sports talents.”
Norway needs to get better at identifying and investing early in people who can scale ideas globally.
💡 “The best and most efficient employees are women with small kids.”
Snorre Valdimarsson highlighted that diversity is not just fair, it’s efficient – and that inclusion is a competitive advantage.
💡 “Norway is a great country to live in – and to build your career.”
As one of our Future Energy Leaders put it.
Panel discussion: Building the Future of Talents
At the core of the discussion was a shared belief: 👉 Talent is Norway’s most important resource, but how we develop, empower and trust that talent will determine whether we stay a local success story or become a truly global one.
SESSION II
The Power of Energy Efficiency in Industry Innovation
Alexander Glowacki (Senior Lead Strategist & People Manager, Strategy, Design & AI, frog, part of Capgemini Invent) had some key takeaways from the second session of the day. Here’s what he had to say…
Most people agree that great collaboration drives innovation. Yet, establishing valuable partnerships remains a challenge.
During Oslo Innovation Week, we tackled this topic through an intimate workshop on energy efficiency collaboration. Together with Simoen Moxnes from Equinor and Gina Arnestad from Statnett, we identified real barriers and actionable solutions for founder-corporate partnerships.
Equinor: the energy transition IS happening!
Three key barriers
Speed mismatch: Startups need to move fast to survive. Industry majors need time to navigate complex decision-making. This creates friction.
Navigation complexity: The sheer size of corporations makes it difficult for younger companies to identify the right entry points for partnerships.
Communication gaps: Misaligned language and expectations create friction. What startups call “partnership” might mean something entirely different to a corporate.
Gina Arnestad, Statnett
The good news…
Don’t worry, in spite of the barriers, it’s not all doom and gloom! Progress IS happening! Equinor is engaging with Innovation Dock and StartupLab. Statnett has built a portal for partnership submissions.
But we need continued dialogue to bridge the existing gaps.
Here’s a perspective shift: innovation in energy efficiency isn’t new. In the early 1900s, whale oil dominated lighting before kerosene took over. Today, LED technology reigns supreme.
So, here’s a question for us all to contemplate: What will be the “whale oil” of our time? What seems essential today but will be obsolete in 20 years?
Tomorrow Show 2025: AI and Collaboration at the Core
Preben Strøm onstage at Tomorrow Show 2025
On Thursday, September 25, Tomorrow Show 2025 brought together leading figures in digitalization, energy, and technology at The Hub. The conference focused on how artificial intelligence, data, and cross-industry collaboration are driving new business models, transforming work processes, and influencing geopolitics and security.
Energy Valley’s CCO, Preben Strøm, gave a presentation on behalf of the cluster, delivering a clear message about the importance of collaboration across value chains. He emphasized the need to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through skills development and partnerships, enabling them to play an active role in the digital and green transition. His presentation was well received and positioned Energy Valley as a key voice in the discussion on how Norwegian players can become part of a global digital ecosystem.
Knut Linnerud, Energy Valley’s EU advisor and project manager for the AI Energy Cluster, was also in attendance and took the opportunity to follow the presentations on stage and network with key representatives from business, technology, and research communities.
AI Energy Cluster: Energy Valley’s AI Initiative
Alongside participation in the conference, Energy Valley is actively working to further develop the AI Energy Cluster—an initiative that brings together energy companies, tech firms, R&D actors, and SMEs in a joint effort to integrate artificial intelligence into the energy system.
The goals:
Create a structured collaboration platform for AI in the energy sector
Build expertise and practical case studies through webinars, workshops, and professional gatherings
Identify concrete project opportunities and connect them to national and international funding schemes
Position Norwegian players in larger European initiatives, such as Horizon Europe and Digital Europe
Currently, we are working with our partners to chart the path forward, with a clear ambition to strengthen collaboration and build an AI and energy ecosystem that delivers tangible results and new opportunities for our members.
The road ahead
Tomorrow Show 2025 clearly demonstrated that AI, data, and digitalization are no longer add-ons—they are the foundation for future value creation, security, and competitiveness. For Energy Valley, this is a strong confirmation that we are on the right track with the AI Energy Cluster—and that collaboration between major players, SMEs, and research communities is the key to unlocking its potential.
Want to get involved?
If you’re interested in joining Energy Valley’s AI Energy Cluster or want more information, reach out to Knut Linnerud (email) or (mobile: +47 922 25 432).
Join us in nominating Bærum’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2025!
Award ceremony from Årets Gründer 2024
Nominate your candidate for Bærum’s Entrepreneur of the Year, and help shine a spotlight on those building the business landscape of tomorrow.
Energy Valley is part of the jury for “Årets gründer i Bærum 2025” (Entrepreneur of the Year 2025) for Bærum Næringsråd and we’d like your input. Do you have any candidates in mind for nomination?
The prize, which will be presented on 20 November, is awarded to companies that stand out for their innovation, drive, and commitment to sustainability. It honours entrepreneurs who have established themselves in Bærum within the past five years. Entrepreneurs are hardworking and courageous individuals with a product or idea they believe in—contributing to innovation and value creation.
If you know someone who deserves to be celebrated, we’d love to hear from you as soon as possible. Please send all nominations to Vibeke Østlyngenno later than 27 October (so we have time to pass those nominations on!)
To learn more about the criteria, take a look at the article (in Norwegian) on Bærum Næringsråd’s website.
The event was focused on “Hydrogen: From ambition to reality” and was aimed at expanding professional networks within the hydrogen space as well as building on NEW members’ understanding of the green hydrogen opportunities and challenges, technology, and value chain.
CEO Vibeke Østlyngen was in attendance and had this to say about it:
It was a powerful afternoon at Worley Rosenberg last week when 80+ women gathered to discuss the green hydrogen opportunities and challenges, technology and value chain.
Main takeaways:
We need common policies and regulations to standardise
The European hydrogen market is growing — slowly but steadily
Cost must come down, and it must be more expensive to pollute – CO2 pricing will be a gamechanger
Special thanks to Oriana Duran and Worley Rosenberg for hosting the event and to the NEW initiative for organizing, together with Women in Green Hydrogen.
➡️ The New Energy Women (NEW) initiative is a cooperation between ABB and some of the energy clusters in Norway: H2Cluster, Norwegian Offshore Wind Cluster, Energy Valley, and Fornybar Norge.
Additional takeaways
H2Cluster also took part in the event and had these key points:
🔺 Trust among stakeholders is critical to mature projects.
🔺 Concerns around the slow pace of project development in Europe.
🔺 Global momentum is strong: Brazil, Australia, North Africa, China, and the Middle East are moving fast.
🔺 Chinese electrolyzer OEMs offering CAPEX benefits that may outweigh European subsidies.
Want to get involved?
Stay tuned for the next New Energy Women gathering coming up as we will visit Rystad Energy in Oslo.
Recap in pictures
Did you miss the event? Here are a few of our favourite pictures from the event:
Event participants ahead of the two panel discussions
Together with Capgemini, Energy Valley was proud to host an event focused on the electricity crisis and its impact on industry at this year’s Arendalsuka.
The problem: Norway’s electricity grid doesn’t have the capacity to meet the demand from new industries, electrification, and the green transition. This is resulting in delayed investments, high prices, and — in the worst cases — power outages.
Multiple reports (including Riksrevisjonen’s “Kapasiteten i strømnettet“) have confirmed: we need more capacity, a better grid, and smarter solutions. But how do we get there?
The hour-long event was split into two panels and took a look at the situation surrounding Norway’s power system, tackling topics such as:
What the authorities are doing to ensure sufficient grid capacity
Whether digital control, local production, and battery technology can give industry greater flexibility
Whether small, modular reactors are part of the solution… or merely a distraction
How software, data, and AI can be used to optimize energy usage
During the lively event, participants delved into what was more than just a debate. It was a conversation about the future of Norwegian industry, technology, and green growth.
Key takeaways
Energy Valley’s Knut Linnerud wrapped up the event with a summary of some of the key points made:
Firstly, the session clearly demonstrated that the challenges in the power system are significant… but they are NOT insurmountable and the solutions are already well known.
Yara emphasized that expanding the grid is absolutely crucial for continued industrial development.
At the same time, Morrow highlighted how battery technology can contribute to power balance and flexibility within the system.
A key starting point for Norway is that we already possess a form of “battery capacity” through our water reservoirs, which is equivalent to millions of car batteries. This gives us a unique opportunity to further balance power in collaboration with Europe, ensuring more stability and affordable access to electricity.
Effective power balancing is the key to succeeding in the transition to renewable energy and securing sufficient electricity. Everything is interconnected (as Gro Harlem Brundtland notably said in the context of climate challenges) and the ability to execute is critical.
Coordinated, concrete plans and actions are required between industry, the energy sector, and government.
We’d like to issue a big THANK YOU to all who participated in the event and those who came out to watch it live. If you missed the event (or would like a reminder of it) take a look at the slideshow below.
Participants
Gry Helene Pettersen – Vice President, Capgemini Invent
As we ramp up for the second half of 2025, we’d like to inform you of changes to the Energy Valley team.
Perhaps the biggest change is that Bjørn Ottar Elseth has decided to pursue new opportunities and will be stepping down as the CEO of Energy Valley from 15 August. Having first held the role as VP Strategy and Operations, Bjørn Ottar has been leading the way at Energy Valley for nearly two years now. He has brought with him a wealth of experience from the aerospace, communications, and energy industries and been instrumental in the cluster’s growth.
In order to ensure a smooth transition, Bjørn Ottar will continue supporting Energy Valley part time through September.
“It has been a true pleasure and honour to have served as the CEO of Energy Valley. As I now embark on new opportunities in the high-tech sector, including exciting energy projects, I look forward to staying in touch with the exciting companies, organisations, and good people in Energy Valley,” says Bjørn Ottar.
Going forward
For the interim period, Head of Projects and Administration, Vibeke Østlyngen, will step into the CEO role. Having been with Energy Valley for over a year and a half, Vibeke has brought with her more than 25 years of experience from within the shipping and maritime industry. She has an extensive background in operations, strategy, and market intelligence, and has played a key role in growing Energy Valley. We’re confident the Valley is in great hands during this transition period!
The chair of Energy Valley, Kathrine Ryengen, emphasizes the importance of a strong Energy Vally to contribute to the success of the members of the network:
“We’d like to sincerely thank Bjørn Ottar for his contributions in driving the Valley’s journey forward and wish him all the best in his new endeavours! The board is very glad to have Vibeke taking the interim CEO role as the recruitment process for a new CEO has already started.”
Comms support
We are also happy to welcome Leila Asdal Danielsen to the team! Leila joined Energy Valley in June as a part-time Communication Advisor. With an extensive background in all things marketing, communication, and brand, Leila brings with her over a decade of experience from the energy industry.
Returning from abroad
Finally, we are pleased to welcome CCO Preben Strøm back to Norway. Preben has been representing Energy Valley from his base in Singapore for the last two years, but will once more be based in Norway from August. Having more than a decade with Energy Valley directly, Preben has been an integral part of the Valley as it’s developed, changed, and grown over the years. We’re looking forward to having him in the same time zone again and the continuation of great collaboration!
On the left: Leila Asdal Danielsen; On the right: Preben Strøm
We are here to make a difference
As always, Energy Valley keeps our members first and foremost in focus. We’re ready to support you, so don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything you’re wondering about or any way we can help. We’re looking forward to an exciting and productive rest of 2025, so keep an eye on our news for more info.
At Energy Valley, we are ramping up our strategic efforts to help members explore and secure EU funding. Whether you’re aiming for Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, or the Innovation Fund, we’re here to guide you from idea to action.
With increasing demand for innovation and green transition, the EU offers major funding opportunities for the energy sector. Energy Valley is strengthening its position as a gateway to these programs – supporting project development, building strong consortia, and preparing members to compete on a European stage.
As EU Advisor, Knut Linnerud provides dedicated support to member companies and partners – from identifying the right calls to building applications and partnerships.
What we’ve done so far this year:
February 28 | Webinar:Positioning for EU Funding in Hydrogen, CCS, and Energy Storage With €3.4 billion available via the Innovation Fund and €184.5 million through the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, we explored the scope, synergies, and success criteria with insights from Enova and Innovation Norway.
April 10 | Workshop:Offshore Wind Collaboration (Copenhagen) Together with Energy Cluster Denmark, we gathered stakeholders from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark to explore EU funding instruments and build consortia for cross-border collaboration in offshore wind.
May 21 | Seminar:Innovation & Funding In partnership with Akershus County, Bærum Chamber of Commerce and others, we held a practical workshop at Aker Tech House on how to access public and private financing, including EU instruments.
Spring 2025 | TechThursday Series:Thematic Deep Dives & Funding Outlooks Through four targeted TechThursday events, we highlighted CCS/CCUS (TT#2), Renewable Energy (TT#3), Energy Carriers (TT#4), and Subsea (TT#5). Each session included insights into relevant EU funding opportunities, with tailored follow-up to help participants identify calls and build initial ideas. By connecting domain-specific knowledge with EU strategy, we aim to stimulate funding-relevant initiatives across the energy ecosystem.
Coming up after summer:
September 25 | Workshop: “EU Projects & Innovation Funding” Focused on Horizon Europe and Digital Europe. We’ll facilitate matchmaking, early-stage idea development, and preparation for a Brussels delegation trip.
Late October / Early November (Week 44/45) | Delegation:Trip to Brussels We are organizing a targeted visit to the EU capital to meet relevant stakeholders, better understand funding programs, and create real matchmaking opportunities.
These events are part of Energy Valley’s broader ambition to strengthen member visibility and competitiveness in the EU funding landscape – and to build lasting partnerships that accelerate innovation.
Interested in EU funding opportunities? Let’s talk!
If your organization wants to explore funding possibilities, get started with proposal development, or join our Brussels delegation, feel free to contact Knut Linnerud (knut.linnerud@energyvalley.com)
Free career mentor program for spouses and partners of international employees
Oslo Business Region (OBR) are excited to offer a free career mentorship program to the international spouses/partners of startup and scaleup employees. The program connects international spouses with the networks and knowledge they need to pursue relevant, enriching careers here in Oslo.
Not only do international spouses and partners bring great value to Oslo, but their integration here can also help your startup retain vital employees.
OBR launched the 3-month program last fall and have seen great results so far. Some of the core components of the workshop series, created in partnership with Jobbreisen®, are:
1:1 mentorship sessions (all mentees are matched with well-established professionals in relevant industries)
CVs and LinkedIn profiles
How to build a network
How to do good presentations/interviews
Norwegian work culture/cultural codes
Self leadership/how to build resilience
Mock interviews in English and Norwegian
Guest speakers
The program is offered at no cost and is open only to spouses/partners of startup/scaleup employees in Oslo. A detailed schedule and curriculum will be sent to qualified participants (space is limited). The first session is on the 26th of March 2025.
Please provide this registration form to your employees and member/portfolio companies so that they can share it with international spouses/partners. Feel free to pass along this information to other startups and prospective participants.
Det er et hav av arrangementer å velge mellom på Arendalsuka i år – faktisk hele 2171 arrangementer! Lurer du på hvilke arrangementer du skal gå på? Her har vi samlet noen tips til arrangementer om energi, grønn omstilling, innovasjon, arbeidsliv, digitalisering og KI.
