GCE NODE and the University of Agder (UiA) have formalized a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening collaboration between industry and academia in the Agder region through 2030.
The agreement, signed today on UiA’s Kristiansand campus, commits the two parties to closer cooperation on education, research, innovation, and competence development. The ambition is to reinforce Agder’s position as one of Norway’s leading regions for technology and energy.
“By linking world class industrial environments with strong academic expertise, this agreement creates new opportunities for innovation, access to the right competence, and continued development of the regional business sector,” says Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE.
The partnership outlines several areas of collaboration, including:
student internships and placements in NODE companies
bachelor’s and master’s theses connected to industry challenges
continuing education tailored to industry needs
joint research and innovation projects
development of larger national and international initiatives
Rector at UiA, Sunniva Whittaker, emphasizes the importance of strong ties between the university and the regional business community.
“GCE NODE represents a key industry in our region. The university wants to stay close to the business sector, not only by supplying skilled graduates, but also through research collaboration and innovation. We also aim to strengthen NODE companies through continued education,” says Whittaker.
Running until 2030, the agreement is intended to bolster Agder’s position as an attractive region for knowledge driven industrial development.
Sunniva Whittaker, Rector at University of Agder, and Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE, signed the agreement on the university’s campus in Kristiansand.
During a large security forum at Evje, Vice President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Kyrre Lohne, presented eye-opening figures about Norway’s defense economy.
“Most of Norwegian defense investments go abroad. Last year, just NOK 7 billion was spent on Norwegian suppliers. Kongsberg alone accounted for 5 billion, while the entire market available to small and medium sized Norwegian companies amounted to only 1 billion,” said Lohne.
At the same time, Kongsberg exports roughly 90 percent of its production and purchases several billions worth of goods and services from 1,500 Norwegian suppliers.
“In Agder alone, Kongsberg bought products and services worth NOK 1.1 billion, that is more than the Norwegian Armed Forces purchased from all Norwegian SMEs,” said Lohne.
Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE, gave an update on the Fremtidens Forsvarsindustri Sør project.
Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE, took the stage to give an update on the Fremtidens Forsvarsindustri Sør project, outlining how regional industry is positioning itself to meet national defense needs through collaboration, competence building, and long term industrial development.
CTO at Kitron, Stian Haugen, described how the company navigates new opportunities and challenges in defense and aerospace. Kitron operates 13 factories in 11 countries. As a contract manufacturer, it owns no products but builds scalable capacity for customers across industries.
“Among 2,200 European electronics manufacturers, Kitron ranks as the eighth largest, with our biggest factory located in Arendal,” said Haugen.
“Out of 13 factories in 11 countries, Kitron’s largest factory is in Arendal, Norway,” said CTO Stian Haugen.
He emphasized the complexity of global supply chains, the need for rapid technological adaptation, and the importance of training. During a recent surge, Kitron hired over 500 employees in less than three months, many of whom were trained internally. The company now has 300 engineers and more than 3,000 employees without formal trade certificates.
Tom Fidjeland, CEO of Umoe Mandal, highlighted the company’s sharp focus on high speed and large composite vessels. With nearly 200 employees, Umoe is expanding rapidly, currently hiring one new employee per week, and aims to quadruple its turnover between 2024 and 2028.
Tom Fidjeland, CEO at Umoe Mandal, adds a new employee every week.
Sikkerhetsforum Sør brought together voices from Norway, the Nordics, Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, and several allied nations. An impressive lineup of ambassadors, defense industry leaders, and security specialists from across Europe came to Evje last week to attend the security forum.
Among the international guests at the security forum was Liliya Honcharevych, Chair of the Nordic Europe Hub in Kyiv. She stressed that modern warfare rewards those who adapt faster than the battlefield changes. In Ukraine, 500 dollar drones can destroy multimillion dollar systems, revealing a dramatic gap between real time battlefield innovation and the slow pace of European defense procurement.
Her message underscored the urgency of closer civil military cooperation and faster industrial response.
Left-right: Tom Fidjeland (Umoe Mandal), Stian Haugen (Kitron), Knut Mjåland (GCE NODE), and Kyrre Lohne (Kongsberg) during a panel debate at Sikkerhetsforum Sør at Evje.Sikkerhetsforum Sør gathered and impressive group of people.
Sevan Deepwater Technology has been accepted as a new participant in the GCE NODE cluster, adding specialized competence in floating offshore structures to the region’s technology ecosystem.
Sevan is known for its cylindrical hull designs used in FPSOs, drilling units, and other offshore installations operating in harsh environments. Its engineering services span concept development, naval architecture, and life cycle support for advanced floating units.
“The addition of Sevan strengthens our position as a leading arena for offshore innovation and collaboration. We are happy to have them onboard,” says Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE.
