Why Cluster

GCE Ocean Technology receives clear feedback about our ability to induce collaboration within the cluster, as well as bridging our partners and members with the global business environment.

This article was first published 1 July 2020.

International research shows that business clusters lead to higher employment, greater economic growth and improved productivity.

Innovation in terms of new technology, new products and services more often takes place inside an industry cluster than outside.

To secure the cluster work, we perform a comprehensive survey annually, to make sure that we are on the right path and to find the pain points in to where we can channel our efforts.

Cluster Survey

In the latest survey performed among our partner and members, we received the following results regarding evaluating the cluster effects.

• 73% of the respondents answered that GCE Ocean Technology has provided national and international relationships or networks that they would not otherwise have.
• 80% of the respondents answered that GCE Ocean Technology has contributed to a sense of community in the business environment - cluster identity - that they did not have before.
• 89% of the respondents answered that GCE Ocean Technology has contributed to increased interaction and cooperation between the players in the cluster, and between the cluster and external players.
• 67% of the respondents answered that GCE Ocean Technology has contributed to increased innovation capacity and innovation activity in the cluster, through collaboration between industry players and R&D environments.
• 47% of the respondents answered that GCE Ocean Technology has contributed to making the research and development organisations (in the cluster) becoming more business oriented.
• 62% of the respondents answered that GCE Ocean Technology has contributed to increased international involvement in the cluster, in the form of expansion in international markets, increased cooperation with foreign competence environments, foreign investments etc.
• 80% of the respondents answered that GCE Ocean Technology has contributed to increased focus on entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship in the cluster.

What’s in it for You

A membership with our cluster offers a number of benefits to help your business or organisation grow and be in the forefront of the market development.

We show you the way into relevant partnerships, profile your business and keep you updated on the latest technology and expertise through our events, matchmaking, projects, funding, and business development programmes.

Learn more about how to become a member of our cluster.

Cluster Insight

In our column Cluster Insight, we ask our partners and members six questions about their work. Here are samples of their answers when being asked how they value being part of a cluster:

– Since uSEA became a member we have discussed ideas and projects with the cluster staff, we have been introduced to companies and R&D organisations in Norway and abroad, we have participated in fantastic events, we have co-exhibited at the cluster’s stand and we have received funding for a pre-project. All these interactions with the cluster have been extremely constructive, no exception. But what all these good reasons have in common is: the cluster connects us with other players, it brings the industry together, Felipe Lima, CEO in uSEA.

– The COVID-19 situation has really shown us the strength of working together in the cluster. As a small company, there is not always time to keep an overview of what is going on in all relevant areas and the support we have had in keeping up to date in such areas as financing opportunities has been invaluable to us, Hege Hammersland-White, CEO in Scantrol Deep Vision.

– GCE Ocean Technology played an important role in establishing our CHEOP (Clean Highly Efficient Offshore Power) project and has contributed greatly to our success within clean power. The cluster administration is very supportive and great at creating arenas for networking and cooperation between the member companies. The cluster also played an important role in establishing the Ocean Innovation Catapult Center where we are very much involved through Additech AS, our 3D printing company, Bernt Skeie, CEO of Prototech.

We invite all companies who operate within the ocean industries to join our cluster.