VARD & SINTEF Sign Strategic Partnership to Advance Maritime Innovation

28 August 2026
Edited By: Ed Freeman

SINTEF and VARD have signed a strategic partnership agreement to strengthen research, technology development, and innovation in future maritime solutions. The aim is to meet the industry's needs in the energy transition and accelerate the development of more energy-efficient, digital, and competitive vessels and maritime systems.

From the left, Håvard Vollset Lien og Cathrine Kristiseter Marti from VARD, Alexandra Bech Gjørv and Trond Vikan Johnsen from SINTEF. (Credit: VARD)

VARD is one of the world’s leading designers and builders of specialized vessels, with strong positions in offshore energy, defense, and other advanced vessel segments. Together with its owner Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, VARD aims to lead the technological and sustainable development of the maritime industry.

SINTEF is one of Europe’s largest independent research organizations, with broad expertise in maritime technology, energy, digitalization, and industrial systems.

The agreement formalizes a long-term partnership between these two leading organizations that share an ambition to contribute to a more sustainable, digital, and competitive maritime industry.

Joining Forces for the Maritime Transition

Norway’s maritime sector is facing major changes driven by the need to reduce emissions, develop new energy solutions, increase digitalization, and accelerate technological development. Through the partnership agreement, the parties intend to strengthen the link between industry needs and research-based knowledge.

“For VARD, innovation and the ability to think differently are essential to maintaining and further developing a competitive and sustainable maritime industry. It is important to us that the research we conduct with SINTEF builds on our extensive experience and expertise in shipbuilding, and that it takes place in close collaboration with shipowners, technology suppliers, energy companies and public authorities. The agreement with SINTEF is therefore a fundamental factor, both for VARD and for the continued development of the maritime industry,” says Cathrine Kristiseter Marti, CEO of VARD.

“SINTEF has expertise and research infrastructure that are highly relevant to the green and digital transition under way in the maritime sector. It is therefore natural for us to work closely with the largest companies in one of Norway’s biggest export industries. When the Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre, operated by SINTEF, is completed in the near future, the partnership can be taken to the next level,” said Alexandra Bech Gjørv, President and CEO of SINTEF.

Five Strategic Areas of Collaboration

The partnership will help identify and realize new research and innovation projects in areas of strategic importance to both organizations.

At the signing of the agreement, the following strategic areas were identified as priorities:

Ship design
Maritime energy and control systems
Shipbuilding, outfitting, and commissioning
Cranes, gangways, launch and recovery systems, and deck machinery
Artificial intelligence applied to vessel data

These areas represent an overlap between VARD’s and Fincantieri’s technology initiatives and SINTEF’s multidisciplinary research expertise. They will be further developed in line with market needs and technological advances.

A Partnership Built Over Many Years

For many years, SINTEF and VARD have collaborated on research, innovation, and commercial product development through a range of projects with different technological focuses and time horizons. The partnership has resulted in numerous innovations that can now be seen sailing the world’s oceans.

“For us at SINTEF, working with VARD on an eight-year research program is just as exciting as carrying out a month-long model-testing assignment. With mutual respect and trust as our foundation, we challenge one another and do find new solutions that drive technology development forward,” said Trond Vikan Johnsen, Chief Market Developer at SINTEF Ocean.

“Through the agreement with SINTEF, VARD aims to help accelerate the transition to renewable energy in the maritime sector. Innovation and development are among our core pillars, and together with SINTEF we believe we can make a difference through our focus areas, including digitalization, electrification, energy-efficient design, and zero- and low-emission technology,” said Håvard Vollset Lien, Head of Research and Innovation at VARD.

Initially, the partnership agreement will safeguard and formalize the existing collaboration between the parties. The next objective is to realize the potential for cooperation between new entities within the respective groups.