Norway's leading experts in artificial intelligence have established a new competence center, and Smart Innovation Norway is a natural partner.
The new national competence center has been named Nemonoor. The aim is to help enable private and public sector organizations to adopt artificial intelligence (AI).
- Artificial intelligence is referred to as one of the most important technological developments of our time. To maintain a competitive business sector in the future, it is important to use artificial intelligence for the benefit of customers, says Kjell Reidar Mydske.
He is the CEO of Smart Innovation Norway, which has built up Norway's largest business cluster in artificial intelligence, the Cluster for Applied AI. This is an industry cluster for companies that use AI (artificial intelligence) in a business context.
Giving business access to the experts
Mydske is proud of the position that Smart Innovation Norway has built up in AI in a national and international context, which makes them a natural part of the Nemonoor initiative.
- Here, companies get access to the national team in artificial intelligence, he says, pointing out that it is easier for companies to test the potential of their business in AI when you have a competence center that is closely linked to the business community.
- "Because we have a broad European network and good knowledge of clusters, the public funding system and key players at home and abroad through our work in the Cluster for Applied AI, Smart Innovation Norway is responsible for the network and ecosystem in Nemonoor," explains Mydske.
The establishment of the new competence center is also a further reinforcement of the renowned Halden environment. One of the knowledge companies in the network is the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), which is also one of the initiators of the new center.
Nemonoor is a service provider that will find funding and support businesses with very specific resources. The center will also connect actors at both national and European level who can benefit from each other.
- AI has never been more talked about, discussed or utilized than now. Therefore, it is increasingly important for companies, organizations and businesses to understand and exploit the potential of the technology, says Nemonoor coordinator Eirik Andreassen in Digital Norway, one of the other actors behind the competence center.
See photos from the launch at Rebel in Oslo (click on the images for a larger version):
The launch of Nemonoor took place at Rebel in Oslo on March 23, 2023. PHOTO: Dan-Børge Pedersen 
Morten Dalsmo from SINTEF Digital and Inga Strümke from NTNU's Norwegian Open AI Lab. 
Eirik Andreassen from Digital Norway leads Nemonoor on behalf of the eight initiators. 
From Smart Innovation Norway, Head of Communities, Eli Haugerud, presented smart cities and communities as part of Nemonoor's areas of expertise. 
Pål Haugen from Furtuno Norge AS will present their view on machine learning and how they build expertise and experience through collaboration and sharing culture. 
Nemonoor's logo contains a compass needle as a symbol that the competence center wants to help companies find their path to growth through the use of artificial intelligence. Eirik Andreassen from Digital Norway heads the center. 
Signe Riemer Sørensen (with her back turned) from SINTEF talks with Bjørn Axel Gran (center) and Amin Moazami from SINTEF. 
Klas H. Pettersen from NORA - Norwegian Artificial Intelligence Research Consortium is one of the people behind Nemonoor. 
From left. Liv Dingsør from Digital Norway, Rebekka Borsch from NHO, Håkon Haugli from Innovation Norway, Morten Dalsmo from SINTEF Digital and Inga Strümke from NTNU during the launch of Nemonoor at Rebel.
- The timing is good
Machine learning models cut emissions on construction sites. Computer vision streamlines maintenance and improves the quality of Norwegian road fences. Image recognition technology gives fish farmers better tools to monitor activity in cages.
These are just some examples of applications of artificial intelligence in Norwegian business today.
- There has never been such a short path from research to application in any field. So much is happening, and it's exciting. Now everyone can use a little bit of artificial intelligence, even if they don't know how to program.
So says Inga Strümke. She is a researcher at the Norwegian Open AI Lab at NTNU and SimulaMet with artificial intelligence as her field of expertise.
- We are still at an early stage of development. No one knows the extent of how technology will affect society and the world we live in. It presents many opportunities, but also a number of challenges," she points out.
Strümke believes the timing for Nemonoor is good.
- In Norway, we have a high level of trust, a high degree of digital maturity and lots of data. There are many opportunities to learn from each other and build bridges. It is important to have openness and more collaboration across the board to do this in a good way," she says.
- AI could cut global emissions by a fifth
The consortium behind Nemonoor consists of some of the leading artificial intelligence communities in Norway;
NORA/UiO, Norway Health Tech, NTNU, SINTEF, Digital Norway, Smart Innovation Norway, Institutt for Energiteknikk (IFE) and Ålesund Kunnskapspark (ÅKP).
Morten Dalsmo is Executive Vice President of SINTEF Digital. He points out that there is a crying need in the business community for access to resources that deal with artificial intelligence.
- The business community has a lot to offer when it comes to sharing data and expertise across industries and sectors," he begins, adding:
- Artificial intelligence has the potential to reduce global emissions by a fifth by 2030. At SINTEF, we are committed to connecting industry to the research front and ensuring that artificial intelligence is adapted to multiple application areas.
Håkon Haugli, Director of Innovation Norway, is also clear that the potential for sharing in Norwegian business is huge.
- Nemonoor is a fantastic connection box between different businesses and industries. Then it's up to participants to go into it with the good questions and willingness to share. If they do, then this is a great initiative," he says.
Closer to European developments
Nemonoor is a European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH, pronounced "eddi") and is partly funded through Norway's membership in the EU's seven-year DIGITAL program. This means that the services are provided free of charge or at a reduced price.
According to Andreassen, Europe is currently undergoing a major resource boost when it comes to artificial intelligence. The EU has currently committed to the creation of 136 EDIHs in all EU Member States.
Andreassen explains that Europe has the world's highest density of researchers, but the world's lowest proportion of start-ups.
- This is an indication that we are failing to transfer the knowledge that exists in research environments and clusters to industry," Andreassen says and adds:
- The technology should be made so accessible that everyone can use it. That's where we need to go.
Haugli also highlights the importance of being connected to the European arena:
- It provides enormous added value if we are able to make use of this position. That we manage to position Norway internationally as an exciting country when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence.
Strümke is clear that understanding and knowledge of what artificial intelligence actually is and how it can be used will be particularly important if Norwegian businesses are to be good at using the technology.
- I also wish we had more political leadership in this field, but now there is actually self-coordination. It's an attempt to solve problems together - and that's fantastic," she concludes.
FACT BOOK:
Nemonoor is a brand new national center that will build the competence and capacity of private and public enterprises to use artificial intelligence.
Nemonoor consists of eight partners from research, academia, innovation, networks and test centers:
- Digital Norway
- NORA - Norwegian Artificial Intelligence Research Consortium/UiO
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
- Norway Health Tech
- SINTEF
- Institute for Energy Technology (IFE)
- Ålesund Kunnskapspark (ÅKP)
- Smart Innovation Norway
Due to its broad European network and its good knowledge of cluster operations and public funding, Smart Innovation Norway's business cluster Cluster for Applied AI will be a key contributor to Nemonoor.
The center offers its services to businesses in the fields of:
- Production
- Health
- Communities
- Energy
Nemonoor is a European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) and is funded by the EU.
European Digital Innovation Hubs (pronounced "eddi") are a key instrument of the EU's new seven-year DIGITAL program.
Norway has been granted two EDIHs, Nemonoor and Oceanapolis.