The Norwegian government has officially given the Norwegian Maritime AI Centre the status of national research centre for applied artificial intelligence in shipping, with the organisation set to receive some $10 million (NOK 100m) over five years to support innovation across the maritime sector.
Led by NTNU, the centre is a collaboration between industry, academia, public authorities, and international partners, with participation from companies including Kongsberg, Equinor, DNV, Vard, Ulstein, Corvus Energy, and Inmarsat.
The new AI centre adds to the six national research centres for AI announced this year, aimed at strengthening research across sectors, and follows on from the Norwegian Research Council’s November 2024 funding call for a maritime AI centre, which set the groundwork for the initiative now being launched.
“The Norwegian maritime industry is among the best in the world, and we must quickly adopt new technology to maintain our position,” said Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Marianne Sivertsen Næss (translated from Norwegian).
“Artificial intelligence will revolutionise many areas of society, including the maritime industries that are highly competitive and in constant transition.”
