On behalf of the supplier industry, SLB, Nymo and GCE NODE voiced their concerns and outlooks during a dialogue meeting at Kristiansand City Hall Thursday.

Hosted by Offshore Norge, the meeting brought together industry leaders and elected officials for a conversation on the future of oil and gas and offshore wind.

More than 30 participants from business and politics, the purpose was to share outlooks, raise concerns, and give politicians direct insight into company needs in the energy landscape.

Anstein Jorud, Managing Director at SLB Kristiansand, highlighted the company’s growing role in the region: “In the SLB group we are proud of what is happening in Kristiansand. We are 70 technology companies globally, but the headquarters for rig equipment is placed in Kristiansand.”

From Nymo, CEO Jan Børre Sannæs warned of tougher times ahead: “Politicians must spend more with the industry. We are entering a difficult two to three year period after some very busy years. We need tempo and predictability.”

The message was echoed by Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE: “The industry needs predictable, long term framework conditions. Our message to politicians is simple: gain more insight into industry needs. Talk to us before you make important decisions.”

Offshore Norge pointed to long term structural challenges, citing the Norwegian Offshore Directorate’s expectation of a 60% decline in activity on the Norwegian shelf toward 2050. Today, the Norwegian industry employs 210,000 people, of which 7,750 live in Agder.

The political delegation at the meeting included – among others – Mathias Bernander (Mayor of Kristiansand), Amalie Gunnufsen (Member of Parliament), Charlotte Beckmann Finnestad (Deputy Mayor of Kristiansand; Gro Bråten (Agder County), Torunn Høyum Eriksen (Agder County), Torbjørn Klungland (Mayor of Flekkefjord), and Unni Nilsen Husøy (Mayor of Lyngdal).

Industry speakers also included Marius Menth Andersen (Offshore Norge), Rannveig Storebø (Aker BP), Roger Pedersen (Offshore Norge), and Høye Høyesen (NHO Agder).

Anstein Jorud, Managing Director at SLB Kristiansand.
Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE.
Roger Pedersen, Offshore Norge.

The FFS project (Future Defense Industry South) has a great line-up of events this fall.

“Agder is a capable and attractive region for defense related opportunities. We will continue to strengthen competence, collaboration and industrial readiness in our region,” says Tina McDougall, Project Manager at GCE NODE.

She is leading the FFS project during Stephen Sayfritz’s temporary leave.

FFS will host or co-host some key events in Agder this fall:

And a breakfast meeting focused on procurement processes, offering companies practical insight into how defense acquisitions are structured and evaluated. Date and venue to be determined.

Beyond regional activities, FFS is participating in a study trip to Denmark, where academic and research environments from Agder will meet their counterparts in Aalborg.

FFS representatives will also take part in several national events:

  • At the Polish-Norwegian Dual Use Business Seminar, Jon Arne Rasmussen from Digin will join discussions on cross border cooperation and dual use technology opportunities.
  • At the Army Drone Program Industry Day, Rune Schlanbusch from NORCE Research will represent the region in conversations about land based drone capabilities and future needs.
  • And Tina McDougall will attend the Nordic Defense and Security Conference, where defense strategy, industrial development and Nordic cooperation are on the agenda.

Future Defense Industry South (Fremtidens Forsvarsindustri Sør – FFS) is a three-year program (2026–2028) to build a lasting ecosystem for competence, innovation, and growth in defense and dual-use deliveries in Agder.

Key partners include GCE NODE, Digin, UiA, NORCE, Mechatronics Innovation Lab (MIL), Future Materials NC (FMNC), Motion Mandal and Næringsalliansen i Agder.

As the Norwegian government prepares its national offshore wind timeline, GCE NODE has delivered clear industry-friendly recommendations.

The long-awaited roadmap will define when new offshore wind areas are opened, when auctions take place, and how Norway intends to reach its target of 30 GW awarded by 2040. The timeline is seen as a crucial step toward creating predictability for developers and suppliers.

Kristian Johnsen, Project Manager for offshore wind at GCE NODE, says the top priority is volume and momentum.

“We need to award 5 GW by 2030. That level of activity is necessary to keep the supplier industry engaged and to maintain continuity between the first rounds and what comes next,” he says.

Johnsen also points to the areas identified in NVE’s strategic impact assessment as the next logical step for development. “Sørlige Nordsjø B, C, D and an extension of F have the best technical and commercial potential, and they should be built out next,” he explains.

But volume alone is not enough. The industry needs long-term predictability.

“A clear and binding timeline toward 2040 is essential. Companies are ready to invest, but they need to know when auctions will take place and which areas will be opened,” says Johnsen.

Infrastructure is another critical factor. Offshore wind requires large-scale port facilities, assembly sites, and logistics hubs – assets that take years to develop.

“We’re asking for earmarked funding in the 2027 national budget for industrial areas with quay fronts dedicated to offshore wind. If Norway wants to build 30 GW, we need the physical infrastructure in place,” Johnsen says.