The collaboration will contribute to new standards for advanced underwater networks and accelerate the transition to renewable energy solutions for European naval vessels.
The European Defence Fund (EDF) recently awarded more than EUR 56 million to three research projects in which SINTEF is a partner. EDF is the EU programme for coordinating the European defence industry and financing joint development of defence equipment and technology.
“The EDF is an important platform where military and civilian research and technology communities can work together to strengthen Europe’s defence capability. We are glad the government has ensured Norwegian participation in this programme,” says Vegar Johansen, CEO of SINTEF Ocean.
“It is important for the government to support Norwegian participation in the EDF, and Norway is the only participating country that is not an EU member. Taking part gives Norwegian companies and research communities access to funding and collaborative arenas, and helps us access the EU market. Together with European actors, we contribute to developing national and European defence capabilities and to strengthening NATO,” says Norwegian Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik.
A new standard for advanced underwater systems
Europe’s coastal areas are facing increasing security challenges. To address these, the SHIELD project will develop a new system for unmanned underwater surveillance. The project will link underwater vehicles, divers, surface vessels and various sensors into a shared system that enables monitoring, cooperation and effective operations underwater.
The result will be an “Unmanned Underwater Supersystem”, in which underwater platforms, sensors and digital services interact within a common, standardised architecture and operate as one coordinated system.
“We will use the Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre in Trondheim and its research infrastructure for full-scale testing and underwater research,” says Emlyn Davies, Research manager for Marine modelling and autonomous systems at SINTEF Ocean.
The Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre enables rapid prototyping of new technology. SINTEF will contribute its simulation expertise and software for analysing complex systems, in addition to specialist knowledge in behaviour and navigation for underwater robotics.
“Advanced underwater networks and systems of systems are highly relevant for Norwegian conditions, where our complex ocean areas place high demands on our understanding of the underwater situation,” says Davies.
The SHIELD project highlights Norwegian research expertise and infrastructure as important contributors to solutions that strengthen national and European capabilities in this field.
Infrastructure at ultra-deep water
The DEEP TECH project aims to develop technology specifically for monitoring infrastructure in ultra-deep water. The project will make it easier to detect problems early, understand how they emerged, and manage them effectively at water depths down to 6000 metres.
“Having the role of technical coordinator, involving overall leadership and follow-up of all technicalities, is extremely exciting,” says SINTEF Ocean Senior researcher, Sveinung Ohrem.
This involves coordinating underwater robotics, autonomy, sensor systems and energy systems. In addition, SINTEF Ocean’s numerical ocean modelling system will be used to simulate physical and acoustic processes at high resolution deep beneath the sea surface.
“Norway has a great deal of critical underwater infrastructure. Being entrusted to lead and coordinate the development of ground-breaking technology to monitor and protect this infrastructure is a vote of confidence,” says Ohrem.
Energy solutions for European naval vessels
The MINERVA project will explore the transition to renewable and hybrid energy solutions for European naval vessels, while simultaneously increasing military capability, robustness and operational freedom. The project aims to support the objectives of the EU Green Deal and reduce dependence on energy from other countries.
“We will contribute analyses of available fuels, assess new machinery components, and study various propeller and propulsion solutions that can reduce energy consumption and noise,” says SINTEF Ocean Senior researcher, Kristine Bruun Ludvigsen.
Ludvigsen is responsible for coordinating the efforts on designing new propulsion systems, with parts of the testing carried out at SINTEF’s new laboratory for maritime energy systems.
MINERVA will help strengthen Norwegian and European defence capabilities, providing military vessels with increased operational robustness, flexibility and endurance.
“At the same time, the project builds national expertise and can make us less dependent on fossil energy sources and vulnerable supply chains,” says Ludvigsen.
“It is clear that the Norwegian defence industry is at the global forefront in certain areas, for example when it comes to underwater technology,” says Norway’s Minister of Defence Sandvik.
In the 2025 call, Norway is participating in 16 of 57 projects. In total, the EDF has launched 279 projects since 2021, and Norway takes part in 82 of them. Kongsberg Gruppen, Nammo and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment are the largest Norwegian actors in the EDF. SINTEF is involved in a number of projects, and many small and medium-sized Norwegian companies are also participating.
