Norwegian shipowners, maritime service companies and knowledge centers have committed to sponsor eight professorships at institutions of their choice, at a total of NOK 48 million over five years, making it the largest private investment in maritime research and education in Norway’s long maritime history. Private capital will be reinforced by 25 % additional public funding, bringing the total to roughly NOK 60 million.
Donors thus far are Det Norske Veritas (DNV) with two professorships, and Kongsberg Maritime, IM Skaugen, Wilh. Wilhelmsen, MARINTEK, Tschudi Shipping, and Leif Höegh with one each. The ultimate goal is 20 professorships at institutions around Norway. International recruiting of both professors and students to the various programs will be key to the success of the ambitious initiative. The first professorships are to be in place by the start of the school year 2009.

In his opening address at the launching, Oslo Maritime Network head Morits Skaugen said that the concept was initiated in Oslo, but has a clear national and international foundation, adding that the area of study for each chair will be determined by donors and institutions together, but that maritime environmental issues will be given high priority.

A maritime Super-Cluster
The initiative to construct a Global Knowledge Hub for maritime Norway was taken by professor Torger Reve at the Norwegian School of Management BI, who is already the recipient of the Wilh. Wilhelmsen chair and heads up the Knowledge Development working group in OMN. Reve sights such examples as Boston in biotech and Silicon Valley in computer sciences when outlining his vision for Norway’s future position as a maritime knowledge hub. The Norwegian maritime industry with shipping at its core can be transformed into a Super-Cluster when R&D and education, supported by smart capital, begin to feed the cluster with cutting edge innovation and a highly educated, international workforce, Reve maintains.

Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Mr. Dag T. Andersen and Minister of Higher Education and R&D Ms. Tora Aasland were among the speakers at the launching, along with recently appointed head of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association Mr. Sturla Henriksen.