SINTEF Helgeland Turns 10: Research Close to Industry

1. July marks ten years since SINTEF Helgeland was established. Since its founding in 2016, the research environment has worked closely with industry in the region to develop new knowledge, technology, and solutions.

“We started with one employee. Today we are around ten, and over the years we have built a strong professional environment that works closely with industry here in the region,” says Managing Director Stein Espen Bøe.

The anniversary will be marked through several events during the year, with a main celebration planned after the summer.

“We have already started marking the occasion on a smaller scale, but the largest celebration will probably take place in early autumn,” says Bøe.

Created from a Regional Need

The establishment was driven by a clearly identified need for more research and innovation in Nordland.

“Around 2014, several regional strategies from the county council showed that the level of research activity in the region was low compared with other industrial regions. At the same time, there was a growing recognition that research and innovation are essential for maintaining competitiveness in industry,” says Chairman Jack Arild Ødegård.

The initiative to establish a SINTEF office in the region came through Kunnskapsparken Helgeland. Following a preliminary project and internal processes within SINTEF, the company was established in 2016 with several local stakeholders as owners.

Today, the company is owned by SINTEF as the majority shareholder, together with Mo Industripark AS, Kunnskapsparken Helgeland, and Nord University.

“Local co-ownership has been important. It creates both engagement and a close connection to the environments around us,” says Ødegård.

Part of a Larger Research Environment

Although the Helgeland office is small, it forms part of one of Europe’s largest independent research institutes.

“SINTEF has around 2,200 employees and a broad range of professional environments. When we work on a project here, we can draw on experts from across the organization,” says Bøe.

He describes the Helgeland office as a gateway to a major research environment for industry in the region.

“Through the SINTEF system, we can connect companies with the expertise needed for each individual project.”

Research That Is Put into Practice

Over the past ten years, SINTEF Helgeland has been involved in numerous projects together with industrial companies in the region.

“One of the things we have received particularly positive feedback on is that we understand industry and its challenges. We work closely with the companies, and many of the solutions we develop are implemented quickly,” says Bøe.

One highlighted project is the development of carbon capture technology from ferrosilicon production in collaboration with industrial partners.

“There we demonstrated a solution on an industrial scale, which was a world first,” he says.

Other projects have focused on the safe handling of industrial waste and new ways of using slag from industry in concrete production.

“Slag used to be considered a waste product. Now it can be used to replace parts of the cement in concrete, significantly reducing the climate footprint,” says Ødegård.

Research Is an Investment

According to SINTEF Helgeland, there is still major potential for more research and innovation work in the region.

“Many companies are naturally focused on the urgent issues of daily operations. But research often involves a longer-term perspective. If you raise your sights and consider where you want to be in five or ten years, research can be an important tool for getting there,” says Bøe.

He also believes that the way research is discussed matters.

“Research and innovation should not be viewed as a cost item, but as an investment in future competitiveness. In many cases, public funding mechanisms can also help reduce the risk through co-financing of projects.”

Ready for the Next Phase

Ten years after its establishment, the research environment is looking ahead.

“We have now gained several years of experience and built a solid foundation,” says Bøe. “With determination, youthful curiosity, and energy, we are now entering our teenage years — and as we know, that is an exciting time when many new and important relationships are formed.”

At the same time, he emphasizes that cooperation with industry and surrounding research environments remains crucial for further development.

“The most important thing for us is still the close collaboration with companies and the ecosystem here in the region. Together, we can develop new solutions and create value for industry in Helgeland,” adds Ødegård.

Throughout the anniversary year, SINTEF Helgeland plans to host several events where partners and other interested parties can gain insight into the organization’s work.

“There will be celebrations throughout the year. So just stay tuned,” says Bøe.

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