VARD sets up strategic partnership with Norwegian research institute

December 18, 2025, by Nadja Skopljak

Norwegian shipbuilder VARD, a subsidiary of Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Norwegian research institute NORCE to cooperate on research and innovation related to subsea technology, among other things.

The strategic partnership will be focused on topics such as design, construction, on-board and underwater maintenance and drone technology for ships and subsea technology, with particular focus on the planned standardized vessels of the Norwegian Navy, as well as remote control solutions for lean-manned vessels, zero-emission energy technologies, and application of AI and cybersecurity solutions for the maritime sector.

“We have experienced fruitful cooperation with NORCE over several years, and we are now very pleased to lift this cooperation to a strategic level. There are many challenges ahead in the maritime sector and NORCE will be an important partner for VARD in the years ahead,” said Håvard Vollset Lien, VP for Research and Innovation at VARD.

NORCE and VARD are also launching the PRESIFUEL project which aims to improve fuel measurement systems used on VARD’s vessels, providing reliable real-time insight into fuel consumption. The Norwegian shipbuilding company sees this as a key component in enabling the further development of energy optimization solutions for its customers.

The companies are also collaborating on the Ocean Charger project, led by VARD, where NORCE has analyzed how different charging concepts affect operations, energy use and costs for offshore vessels and assessed business models for how offshore charging can be implemented in practice, including cost allocation and electricity pricing.

Furthermore, Vard Electro is a partner in the NORCE-led Horizon Europe project MARINER, involving 14 partners from across Europe and starting in 2026, which will develop and test 1 MW PEM fuel cells for long-duration operation of large vessels.

“This marks an important step in our collaboration with VARD. VARD has been a key partner in our research efforts to enable a greener maritime future, and we are pleased to further strengthen our partnership. Together, we can create new knowledge and develop solutions that will help address the major challenges facing the maritime sector in the years ahead,” said Kristin Flornes, CEO for Energy and Technology at NORCE.