Sintef and Kongsberg Discovery Sign New Forward-Looking Agreement

When technology is to create value for society, business and industry, research and solutions must meet where decisions are made.

Good partners expand the collaboration
Sintef and KONGSBERG have, for several years, found together precisely where research and solutions meet business and industry. The parties have a wide range of different research and collaboration projects. Now the two parties are entering into a new agreement. Senior Business Developer Ralph William Bernstein of Sintef Digital and Executive Vice President Anders Rønningen of Kongsberg Discovery emphasise the importance of the agreement.

"The agreement is strategically important, not only for Kongsberg Discovery and SINTEF, but also for Norway. We will work together to develop commercially groundbreaking sensors for the next generation of inertial navigation. We both have strong research and development environments, with global leaders in their fields, who work together in this project," says Rønningen.

Bernstein points out that the cooperation agreement is forward-looking and is important from a security policy perspective.

"In an increasingly turbulent geopolitical time, it is important to ensure control over the entire value chain and have access to the critical elements we need when developing the technology of the future. Here we can achieve more together than we do individually," he says.

About the project
This collaborative project between SINTEF and Kongsberg Discovery will take place over several phases. Initially, the parties will evaluate whether it is possible to produce sensors used in the current inertial solutions in Kongsberg Discovery at SINTEF's MiNaLab. Furthermore, the parties will together try to disrupt existing solutions with the help of improved processes and component compositions. In the longer term, the parties will also evaluate how inertial sensors based on hemispheric resonators and quantum technology can be commercialised.

Gyroscopes and accelerometers are basic sensors for inertial navigation solutions that measure the movement of a device from a known position. This is used in several applications for consumers, such as mobile phones and smartwatches, and for industry, such as advanced navigation solutions for various platforms.

"The diverse range of applications for this technology is expected to grow significantly in the future. This agreement will contribute to accelerated growth and increased understanding of commercial applications for inertial technology," says Rønningen.