Reflections from Oslo Innovation Week

Panel discussion

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?

Other articles

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).

Other articles

Recap: New Energy Women in Stavanger

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:

Other articles

Arendalsuka 2025 recap

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

Annette Gohn-Hellum – Ekspedisjonssjef, Riksrevisjonen

Anne Sagstuen Nysæther – Administrerende direktør, Elvia

Morrow Batteries – Lars Christian Backer, Administrerende direktør, Morrow Batteries

Inga Nordberg – Direktør Energi og konsesjon, NVE

Ole-Jakob Siljan – VP and Head of Yara Technology center and Yara Porsgrunn, Yara International

John Olav Tande – SVP R&D and Innovation, Statnett

Lene Westgaard-Halle – Stortingsrepresentant, Høyre

Sigurd Rafaelsen – Stortingsrepresentant, Ap

Knut Linnerud – EU Advisor, Energy Valley

Recap in pictures

Did you miss the event? Check out our slideshow:

Other articles

Recap from the 2025 Industry-Science Meetup

Energy Valley CEO Bjørn Ottar Elseth sets the stage

Energy Valley was proud to host its Industry-Science Meetup together with SINTEF and the University of Oslo.

The half-day event offered short, engaging talks showcasing cutting-edge research, industrial technology projects, and successful partnerships between academia and business.

Agenda

13:30 Registration and mingling

Welcome to Industry Science Meetup 2025

UIO // Advanced biogas-to-methanol electrocatalysis by Petra Agota Szilagyi

Wind Catching System // Developing Scalable Offshore Wind capacity by Daniel Engelhart-Willoch

SINTEF // Fiber Optics in Geosciences by Marcin Duda

DNV // Industrial AI: Assurance, Risks, and Opportunities for the Energy Sector by Carla Ferreira

UIO // Hydrogen – New Challenges and Emerging Debates by Xi Yang

15:30 Coffee & Mingling

Hystar // Hypilot – Ultraefficient green hydrogen production by Eddy Van Oort

SINTEF // Endpoint AI – some hardware-platforms to consider by Benedikt Andreas Mithassel

UIO // Numerical and physical wave tanks by Atle Jensen

17:00 Finish

Did you miss the event? Take a look at some pictures from the day in our slideshow on LinkedIn!

Other articles

Tilskudd til forskning og innovasjon i bedrift

Små og mellomstore bedrifter i Akershus kan nå søke om tilskudd for å bruke forskning i utviklingen av nye produkter og løsninger. Målet med ordningen er å styrke innovasjonsevnen og konkurransekraften i næringslivet gjennom støtte til forsknings- og innovasjonsprosjekter.

Hvem kan søke?

Ordningen er åpen for små og mellomstore bedrifter organisert som aksjeselskaper, samt foretak registrert i Enhetsregisteret som driver jordbruksproduksjon. Bedriften må ha lønnede ansatte både på søknadstidspunktet og i prosjektfasen, samt være registrert med forretningsadresse i Akershus.

Hva kan dere få støtte til?

Tilskuddet kan dekke inntil 50 % av de totale prosjektkostnadene for forsknings- og innovasjonsprosjekter. En forutsetning er samarbeid med en godkjent forskningsinstitusjon, og forskningen må utgjøre en nødvendig del av prosjektet. Dette må gjenspeiles i budsjettet.

Hvor mye støtte kan dere få?

Bedrifter kan søke om inntil 750 000 kroner per prosjekt. Prosjektperioden kan være opptil ett år. Totalt er det satt av 10 millioner kroner til ordningen i 2025.

Viktige frister

Det er to søknadsfrister i 2025: 2. mai og 1. november. Dersom det gjenstår midler, vil det være mulig å søke på nytt senere samme år.

Hvordan søker dere?

Søknad sendes via regionalforvaltning.no. Før dere søker, er det viktig å lese retningslinjene som gir utfyllende informasjon om søknadskriterier og vurderingsprosessen.

Behandling og utbetaling

Søknader behandles innen én til to måneder. Søkere som får innvilget tilskudd, må returnere akseptbrev og kan deretter be om utbetaling gjennom regionalforvaltning.no.

Hvorfor deler Energy Valley denne informasjonen?

Energy Valley arbeider for å styrke innovasjon og samarbeid i energisektoren. Dette tilskuddet gir bedrifter en unik mulighet til å finansiere forskningsbaserte utviklingsprosjekter, noe som er avgjørende for økt verdiskaping og konkurransekraft.

Other articles

Energy Valley is looking for a Communication Advisor

Do you have a deep passion for communication and want to work at the intersection of energy, innovation, and sustainability?

Energy Valley is looking for a Communication Advisor to help us share impactful stories, engage our network, and drive the energy transition forward.

Apply today

Key responsibilities:

  • Plan and execute operative communication including production of content for our digital platforms, including websites, social media, and newsletters.
  • Be responsible for the Energy Valley brands.
  • Write and edit presentations material, speeches, press releases, articles and other content.
  • Handle media inquiries and build relationships with journalists.
  • Support communication, outreach and mobilization for our projects.
  • Contribute to video and image content for marketing and information purposes.
  • Assist with production of content and marketing for our events.
  • Act as Account Manager for selected members and contribute to Energy Valley’s overall efforts.
  • Work closely with our members and partners.

Qualifications & skills:

  • Minimum 3 years’ experience from a similar role.
  • Preferably a bachelor’s degree in communication, media or journalism.
  • Fluent in both written and spoken Norwegian and English.
  • Experienced with social media, especially LinkedIn.
  • Keen eye for detail and ability to convey complex messages in a simple and understandable manner.
  • Can work independently and as part of a team.
  • Creative, solution-oriented, and with a proactive approach.
  • High work capacity with the ability to prioritize and execute tasks effectively.
  • Knowledge and engagement in the energy industry will be emphasized.

What we offer:

  • A dynamic and innovative work environment at the heart of Norway’s energy transformation.
  • The opportunity to work closely with some of the most exciting energy companies in Norway.
  • A diverse role with the chance to engage with industry, authorities, academia, and other key stakeholders in the energy sector.
  • Competitive salary and benefits.

For any questions regarding Energy Valley or the position, please contact Bjørn Ottar Elseth, bjorn.elseth@energyvalley.com / +47 905 74 985 or Vibeke Østlyngen, vibeke.ostlyngen@energyvalley.com / +47 911 211 61.

Application deadline: 24 February 2025.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

About Energy Valley

Energy Valley is a prominent cluster organization and Norwegian Centre of Expertise (NCE) in Energy Technology. We unify approximately 125 member companies and partners within the greater capital region of Norway, advocating for the energy transition and digitalization of the energy industry. By facilitating infrastructure, collaboration, innovation, knowledge transfer, and new insights, Energy Valley enables its members to adapt, benefit from, and contribute towards a sustainable energy transition. Energy Valley is also representing the national member committee for the World Energy Council Norway. Discover more about our impactful work at www.energyvalley.com

Other articles

AIREL Takes the Stage: Innovating Forestry Management for Norway’s Grid Companies

Frøydis Arntzen Dale, Design Manager at AIREL. Photo: Helena Jensby

This October, Energy Valley sat down with Frøydis Arntzen Dale, Design Manager at AIREL, to discuss their cutting-edge approach to forestry management for grid companies and their opportunity to present at Energirampen’s Pitch Night during the energy industry´s IT conference, “Teknologioptimistene.”

The story of AIREL

“AIREL?” Many first-time listeners struggle with the pronunciation (it’s Air-el), but the name is intentional: AIREL stands for AI, Air, Relations, and Electricity. The company combines these four pillars to provide digital solutions to long-standing challenges in forestry management and energy infrastructure.

As Frøydis explains, AIREL´s founder, Magne Kaspersen, saw first-hand the inefficiencies in grid management when working at Norgesnett in 2019. “With a unique combination of forestry and IT expertise, he spotted areas for improvement that others overlooked, and that’s how AIREL was born,” she shares.

AIREL is set on transforming forest clearing along power lines, estimating an impressive 56 million NOK in savings for their first customer, Norgesnett.

Revolutionizing forest clearing along power lines, AIREL´s Frøydis Arntzen Dale highlights how automation and digitalization can unlock massive savings and boost efficiency. Photo: Agnes Etienne.

What is AIREL´s edge?

“We combine forestry expertise with tech savvy, which is rare. Magne is both a forester and a developer, and that’s why we can bridge the knowledge gap that often exists between these two fields,” Frøydis explains.

“Grid companies could attempt what we’re doing, but having expertise under one roof means we’re a few steps ahead, especially with five years of field testing.”

This industry experience allows AIREL to optimize processes and automate areas of grid management that others hesitate to tackle.

“It is a topic that many may find a bit unsexy. There’s this whole part of the grid that a lot of people don’t want to touch – but there’s a lot to fix there!” Frøydis says with a smile.

“The sector is ripe for digitalization, and there’s a lot of savings to be made through automation and AI,” she adds.

Pitching in front of Norway’s energy IT decision-makers

Through our partnership with Energirampen, Energy Valley worked closely with Nicolai Kirkeng Vennerød, founder of Energirampen, to select three startups to pitch in front of 450 people at the energy industry´s IT conference. Our Head of Innovation and Ecosystem was invited to introduce Frøydis Arntzen Dale on stage.

Energy Valley’s Head of Innovation, Ola Jacobsen, introduces AIREL´s Frøydis Arntzen Dale at the energy industry´s IT conference. Photo: Agnes Etienne.

Just hours before the event, Frøydis reflected on the aim of their pitch: “We’re not trying to win over investors; we’re looking for partners and customers. The secret to a good pitch is to tailor the message and maybe even provoke a little. You want to grab attention, but in a way that shows we’re bringing something different,” Frøydis shares.

“It’s not influencer-style provoking,” she laughs. “But more about daring to ask the real questions that matter.”

“In a tough competition with a lot of impressive companies, Frøydis and AIREL early stood out as a favorite with their well-thought-out pitch, clear value proposition, and exciting team! It was a true pleasure to introduce AIREL on stage in front of 450 potential stakeholders,” Ola shared after the event.

Looking to the future

For AIREL, digitalization, AI, and security are front and center in their vision. “AI, LiDAR data, and smart data models drive our approach, and it’s great to see that this shift in focus is a priority at this year’s conference,” Frøydis concludes.

Photo: AIREL.

Learn more about Airel

Other articles

Vi tok pulsen på energibransjen med live podcasts under ONS: Hør samtalene her

Preben Strøm i Energy Valley (t.v.) og Ole Erik Almlid (t.h.) i NHO diskuterer norsk energipolitikk med Jan M Moberg i Teknisk Ukeblad under live-innspilling av Teknisk Sett. Foto: Helena Jensby.

Under årets ONS (Offshore Northern Seas) i Stavanger tok Energy Valley og Teknisk Ukeblad pulsen på energibransjen med live podcasts. Episodene, som er en del av Teknisk Sett, tar for seg bransjens utfordringer og muligheter, med innsikt fra sjefene i NHO og Fornybar Norge. Preben Strøm, CCO i Energy Valley, deltok også i samtalene ledet av teknologiredaktør Jan M Moberg.

Norsk energipolitikk, rammevilkår og gründere

I den første episoden diskuterer Ole Erik Almlid (NHO) og Preben Strøm (Energy Valley) viktigheten av forutsigbarhet og langsiktige perspektiver for å håndtere dagens energipolitiske utfordringer. Almlid understreker behovet for å “gå tilbake til det grunnleggende” i politikken. Blant NHO-sjefens kjepphester er at vi som nasjon er i ferd med å miste en hel generasjon gründere.

Hør episoden her og bli oppdatert på Almlids syn på fremtidens teknologi-Norge.

Live fra Energy Valleys stand på ONS. Teknologiredaktør Jan M Moberg snakker med sjefen i Fornybar Norge, Åslaug Haga (t.v) og CCO i Energy Valley, Preben Strøm. Foto: Helena Jensby

Norges fremtid som energinasjon

I den andre episoden gir Åslaug Marie Haga (Fornybar Norge) oss status på utviklingen innen fornybar energi og perspektiver på Norges fremtid som energinasjon. Hun påpeker at energiskiftet er nødvendig – selv om det kommer med en kostnad. Et av hennes hovedpoeng er at vi må endre fokus fra at det grønne skiftet er krevende til å se på de mange mulighetene det bringer.

Lytt til episoden her og få med deg Fornybar Norge-sjefens kommentarer til årets «oljemesse.»

Podcastene er tilgjengelige på Teknisk Ukeblad, Spotify og Apple Podcasts.

Other articles

Kunstig intelligens (KI) i energibransjen: skal vi lede an eller følge etter?

Se arrangementet fra Arendalsuka her

I en tid der digitale løsninger og muligheter raskt endrer landskapet i alle industrier, står energibransjen ved en kritisk skillevei. Regjeringens visjon, som uttrykt i “Nasjonal strategi for kunstig intelligens” (2020), er at Norge skal kapitalisere på innovasjonspotensialet som kunstig intelligens (KI) tilbyr. Med en sterk kunnskapsbase innen olje og gass, samt en voksende fornybar energisektor, har Norge en unik mulighet til å lede an i integreringen av KI-teknologier for å forbedre effektivitet, bærekraft, sikkerhet og produktivitet. 

I september 2023 kunngjorde statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre en investering på én milliard kroner i forskning på KI og digital teknologi.  

Med fokus på februar 2024s annonsering, er målet å kanalisere denne “KI-milliarden” til opprettelsen av flere KI-sentre, en strategi som har møtt både applaus og kritikk. 

Kritikere peker på utfordringer med fragmentering og siloarbeid som kan hemme nasjonalt og internasjonalt samarbeid, samt utfordringer ved å kunne tiltrekke seg global ekspertise. Dette står i kontrast til Sveriges WASP-program, som bl.a. med nesten 5 milliarder kroner (SEK) i støtte fra Wallenberg-familien, har satset stort på en mer sentralisert tilnærming.   

Innenfor energisektoren reiser dette viktige spørsmål: Har Norge, med sine svært gode forutsetninger og allerede etablerte sterke miljøer, det som kreves for å ikke bare følge, men også lede an i KI-utviklingen?  

Hvordan kan vi best utnytte KI innen bl.a. smart grids, prediktivt vedlikehold, værprognoser for fornybar energiproduksjon, trading, CCUS etc.? 

Og hvordan kan vi sikre at Norge ikke bare holder tritt, men setter standarden for innovasjon og anvendelse av KI i energibransjen? 

Disse spørsmålene står sentralt i vår diskusjon, og vi inviterer ledere, eksperter og innovatører fra både energibransjen og KI-feltet til å utforske veien fremover.  

Sammen kan vi kartlegge en kurs som sikrer Norges posisjon som en ledende nasjon i den globale energiovergangen, drevet av de mulighetene som kunstig intelligens tilbyr. 

Arrangementet innledes av Silvija Seres, en fremtredende KI-ekspert og strategisk rådgiver med bakgrunn fra Oxford og Silicon Valley.

Se klippet her

Please accept marketing cookies to view this video.

Other articles