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The report, prepared by Skagerak Consulting on behalf of Future Defense Industry South (Fremtidens Forsvarsindustri Sør) and Agder Business Alliance (Næringsalliansen i Agder) in collaboration with Kristiansand Municipality and Agder County, examines Agder’s opportunities within the defence industry. It highlights the need for clearer and more coordinated collaboration around the following priorities:

• Defence industry clusters built around Kitron and Umoe Mandal, with a focus on standardized vessels and autonomous maritime systems.
• A national drone testing and training arena at Evjemoen and Lista, supporting operations on land, at sea, and in the air, while laying the foundation for a future drone industry anchored in the expertise of GCE NODE and Umoe Mandal.
• A National Centre for Energy Security, with Agder serving as Norway’s pilot region for resilient and secure power supply.
• Production of strategic and critical minerals, developed in close cooperation with the neighboring county of Telemark.
• A national platform for digital collaboration in crisis and wartime, positioning Agder as a pilot region for civil-military cooperation and the application of artificial intelligence in geospatial analysis.

STRONG COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
According to the report, Agder possesses a unique combination of industrial capabilities, energy resources, infrastructure, and expertise that provides a strong foundation for future growth in defence and preparedness.

Key strengths include:

• A surplus of renewable power and a central role in Norway’s electricity system, including approximately 73 percent of the country’s international HVDC transmission capacity.
• A world-class process industry producing several metals classified by the EU as critical and strategic raw materials.
• Established defence suppliers such as Kitron and Umoe Mandal with proven positions in international defence markets.
• Access to training areas, maritime infrastructure, and highly specialized competence environments.
• The presence of national agencies such as the Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom) and the Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket), supported by strong industrial clusters and collaborative networks.

At the same time, the report highlights an important challenge.

“Agder receives limited attention in the Long-Term Plan for the Norwegian Defense Sector 2025–2036,” note report authors John Salve Sigridnes and Svein-Tore Kristiansen.

A CALL FOR REGIONAL ALIGNMENT
The report was presented during the Agder Defense Industry Dialogue in Kristiansand Monday, where more than 200 representatives from industry, public authorities, and academia gathered to discuss the region’s role in strengthening Norway’s defense capabilities.

The report’s central recommendation is clear: if Agder is to realize its potential, stakeholders across the region must coordinate more closely, communicate a shared vision, and engage national decision-makers with a unified message.

“With Kitron and Umoe Mandal, Agder already has strong industrial stongholds within the defense sector. The opportunity now is to build on this expertise and develop new value chains, particularly in standardized vessels and autonomous maritime systems,” said Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE.

“Modern defense is as much about data and digital infrastructure as it is about platforms and equipment. In times of crisis, the armed forces, public agencies, and industry must be able to exchange information quickly and securely. With Kartverket and Nkom located in the region, coupled with a strong IT ecosystem, Agder has all the prerequisites to become Norway’s pilot region for civil-military collaboration and the use of artificial intelligence in geospatial analysis,” said Cathrine Stien, Managing Director of Digin.

“This report is part of a broader effort to unite industry clusters, business associations, LO Agder, and NHO Agder behind a common agenda. We have identified defense and preparedness as one of three strategic priorities for the region, alongside energy and transportation infrastructure. The report provides both a roadmap and a clear call to action. The opportunity is here, and the time to act is now,” said Ingrid Michalsen, CEO of the Kristiansand Chamber of Commerce.

CEO of Umoe Mandal, Tom Fidjeland (right), announced a new agreement with GOT Marine, represented by its CEO, Kjetil Kleven.

A true story.

One that raises the big question: “How on earth?!”

AI is changing how customers find, evaluate, and choose businesses. This means that simply being visible in search engines is no longer enough; we must also be understood, cited, and selected by both humans and AI.

On 27 October, GCE NODE, Knowit, and Fædrelandsvennen invite you to a breakfast meeting that connects AI, the customer journey, and organizational strength.

The meeting features Henrik Ebbesen from Geelmuyden Kiese, one of the Nordic region’s most compelling voices on practical AI adoption and digital transformation. He explores what it actually takes to create value, rather than just increasing efficiency.

“I heard Henrik speak during Arendalsuka, and it was perhaps the best AI presentation I’ve ever heard. That’s why we’re delighted to have booked him for this breakfast meeting, so that more people in Southern Norway can hear him speak,” says Arnt Aske, Director of Strategic Business Development at Knowit.

He believes the answer to the Canada-Otechos mystery isn’t all that mysterious.

“Small technology companies can compete with larger players by making their technical proximity to the customer’s problem visible. The engineers’ strength lies not in advertising jargon, but in precision, experience, and credible choices. The optimization engines will yield more relevant answers, and that comes from the engineers,” says Aske.

“GCE NODE-companies are full of skilled engineers. Now, it is a matter of giving them the insights and tools they need to harness the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. This will be crucial for future innovation and value creation,” says Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE.

Read more and sign up for the breakfast meeting

Together with project manager at Fremtidens Havvind, Kristian Johnsen, and a delegation of political representatives, Mjåland visited Hamburg recently for Europe’s largest wind expo. WindEnergy Hamburg drew more than 45,000 visitors.

“The event was first and foremost a reminder of how large and important wind power has become, both in Europe and globally. But it also made even clearer what Norway must do to succeed in this industry, where we are still struggling to get properly started,” says Mjåland.

“Furthermore, it is an excellent arena for starting a dialogue with potential partners and participants in our Sørlige Nordsjø II Supplier Network and Wind Turbine Blade Production projects,” says Johnsen.

While Norway has held two licensing rounds (Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord), other countries have multiple projects moving simultaneously through every stage of development — from licensing and awarding to planning, construction, and grid connection.

“It’s crucial to have a pipeline of projects moving through all stages. In Norway, we have only two projects underway, and none following behind them. This a major weakness which makes it difficult to build a new industry. Also, Norway seems to have a more time-consuming approval process than countries that are already familiar with offshore wind,” says Johnsen.

Norway’s long-term ambition is to allocate 30 GW wind power by 2040. Yet the roadmap for how to reach that goal remains unclear. The long-awaited tempo plan, meant to outline progress and originally scheduled for release in 2026, now appears postponed until 2027.

“It looks like we will lose even more time before we can move forward,” says Mjåland.

Meanwhile, Europe is accelerating its wind investments, and Chinese turbine technology is rapidly advancing.

“We need to learn from others. Europe has stable framework conditions and a steady supply of new projects. That allows the industry to invest in technology and expertise that drive down costs and make wind power more competitive,” says Johnsen.

Norwegian companies generated revenues of NOK 64 billion from offshore wind last year. Yet the domestic market remains absent.

“We can’t afford to wait to build a home market. It represents an enormous industrial opportunity with thousands of jobs and high value creation. Also, Norway needs more power and offshore wind provides plenty of it. When Sørlige Nordsjø II is completed, it will be Norway’s largest power plant,” says Mjåland.

“Europe is moving full speed ahead. Norway needs to find a common ground and tag along,” says Johnsen.