Sayfritz will be responsible for driving innovation and strengthening collaboration across industry, academia, and public stakeholders.
“We are delighted to have Stephen join our team. He brings extensive experience from various industries and from research and innovation. He is also well familiar with the funding opportunities available for the industries we serve,” says Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE.
Sayfritz has more than two decades of experience at the intersection of industrial development, research, and strategic project execution. He has held senior roles in both industry and research-driven environments in the Agder region, including as Vice President Supply Chain at Morrow Batteries and as former Research Leader at Eyde Cluster, as well as Senior Researcher at The Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), and Researcher at Institute for Energy Technology (IFE).
With a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Oslo and extensive experience leading complex innovation programs – including the launch of “Battery Coast”, management of the National IOR Centre of Norway, and the development of the national platform “Battery Norway”, Sayfritz is well positioned to advance GCE NODE’s strategic focus on knowledge-building, sustainable growth, and technology-driven competitiveness.
“I’m very excited to contribute to GCE NODE’s mission of industrial transformation through innovation. My background in securing R&D funding, building cross-sector collaborations, and scaling strategic initiatives aligns closely with the goals of this role and the cluster’s ambitions for the future of Norwegian industry,” says Sayfritz.
He will assume his role at GCE NODE no later than September 1.
