Launching a historic initiative for Norway as a technology nation

A leap for quantum technology in Norway

Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, announced a NOK 1 billion investment in quantum technology over the next five years. The important initiative was presented at KONGSBERG’s facilities in Trondheim, together with the Minister of Research and Higher Education Sigrun Gjerløw Aasland and Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance of Norway Karianne Tung.

  • Text:Charlotte Gjone

    Photo:Even Halle Dragsten / KONGSBERG

Prime Minister Støre visited Trondheim and Kongsberg Discovery, one of KONGSBERG’s business areas, at Pirsenteret on 27 August. Støre emphasised the importance of Norway being able to assert itself in the international race for quantum technology. 

"Today, we are launching a historic initiative for Norway as a technology nation. We know that quantum technology will be of great importance for Norwegian competitiveness and national security. Norway must develop expertise and capacity in critical technologies, which are important for our national sovereignty," says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. 

Innovative as value creation

CEO Geir Håøy hosted the big announcement and emphasised KONGSBERG's role as a leading technology company actively preparing to apply quantum technology. KONGSBERG has for several years focused on quantum technology, as innovation is an important part of our value creation.

“As a large Norwegian technology group with an international footprint, KONGSBERG has a well-developed network. We collaborate on projects with other industry players, educational institutions and research environments. We welcome this investment, not only due to the business-critical issues related to the importance of innovation with new, emerging technologies, but also for security reasons. Quantum technology will disrupt today's technology and change the way we think about future product development," Håøy said.

Demonstrating capabilities and introducing quantum technology

The Prime Minister, Ministers and guests were invited to the autonomy lab at Pirsenteret. Here, they were introduced to our highly advanced navigation and motion gyro compass, in addition to other products for positioning and communication.

“We are constantly improving our products by evolving our core technologies. With the introduction of quantum technology into our technology backbone, we will achieve true ‘quantum leaps’ in performance—far beyond the incremental improvements possible with traditional approaches,” explained Erlend Vågsholm, Vice President Technology and Operations at Kongsberg Discovery.

“This breakthrough significantly enhances the performance of our gyro compass, setting a new benchmark in Resilient Navigation. It enables highly accurate navigation in GNSS-denied environments and supports reliable long-distance underwater voyages,” he continues.

Must develop competence across sectors and nations

Terje Nilsen is the Director of Disruptive Technologies at Kongsberg Discovery. He has been focusing on quantum technology over the past years. 

“Quantum technology has the potential to disrupt existing markets. This technology is extremely complex and difficult to understand without formal education. It is therefore essential that we, as a company, and Norway as a nation, develop competencies within this technology and examine potential use cases. The industry needs to identify product opportunities and build supply chains, preferably within the Nordic countries, such that we can continue to stay at the forefront within our existing markets and create new ones. Quantum technology is about manipulating and sensing single atoms and photons’ motion and states, to achieve performance and speeds that are impossible with classical technology within computing, communication/security, and sensing,” Nilsen said.

The ambition of  this initiative is to mobilise major driving companies like KONGSBERG, capable of building and leading an industry-based technology community for business-oriented quantum technology. The Research Council of Norway will administrate the initiative and invite cross-sector partnerships and projects between the industry, academia and scientific institutions.

Images from the event:

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