An important role as strategic partner

As a major local player with extensive international activity, OneSubsea has an important role to play as a strategic partner in GCE Ocean Technology.

– GCE Ocean Technology is an excellent forum for collaboration and knowledge exchange from which we benefit. At the same time, as a large, international player and part of Schlumberger, the world's largest oil service company, we have a responsibility to contribute as a strategic partner into the cluster, says CEO Mads Hjelmeland of the underwater technology company OneSubsea.

The company he leads has a long history as an active contributor to GCE Ocean Technology. The development from NCE Subsea to a cluster that embraces more than just oil and gas has run parallel to OneSubsea's own development.

The company has grown from being a smaller system supplier for oil and gas production to becoming a leading player in future solutions for renewable energy production. OneSubsea has also been represented for several years by having both a chairman and board members within GCE Ocean Technology.

Mads Hjelmeland, CEO in OneSubsea.

A nice dynamic

– Our involvement and relationship have changed over time. As a major international supplier of seabed technology, we serve the global market from Bergen, and obtain experience, information and knowledge from Brazil, West Africa and Asia. We capture market needs and technology development needs which we gladly take home to our Norwegian subcontractors, many of whom are also members of GCE Ocean Technology. Within the cluster, we acquire knowledge from small and medium-sized players and entrepreneurs. When you bring something into the network, you also get something back. It's a nice dynamic that we appreciate, says Hjelmeland.

Among other things, One Subsea has also contributed to the work of organizing the major international conference, the Underwater Technology Conference, which is one of GCE Ocean Technology's main arenas, and Hjelmeland emphasizes that the company he leads wants to contribute because the cluster is an important driving force for businesses that operate above and below the surface and close to the ocean.

High value

Hjelmeland also highlights the importance of GCE Ocean Technology’s role in connection with the transition to a fossil-free future and new energy markets.

GCE Ocean Technology is also at the cutting edge when it comes to programmes aimed at extracting minerals on the seabed, and the cluster has also proven to be specialists in government funding for major projects.

– For our part, we received assistance to apply for support for a technology development project for alternative operating and construction methods for our market-leading underwater installations. It was a good experience that has great value for us, states Hjelmeland.

Works with green solutions

OneSubsea still has one foot firmly planted in conventional offshore activities, but is increasingly working with technology that can enable alternative forms of low-carbon or zero-emission solutions.

- We have a clear idea that the ocean and what exists below the surface has an important role to play in the energy transition. We work with various solutions for power distribution, but primarily how we can make use of offshore wind energy to operate our underwater production systems. It will be a powerful contribution to reducing carbon emissions, and in this context the contacts and network we gain through GCE Ocean Technology becomes important, says Mads Hjelmeland.