In the Vestfold & Telemark-region you will find an extensive network with "buddies and helpers". That is, business clusters and knowledge centers that facilitate the sharing of knowledge and expertise, for mutual inspiration and success.
See the full list here.
We would like to take some time to introduce them properly to you, as we are very thankful for our cooperation and all the synergies it provides for our clients and partners.
Granted Norwegian Center of Expertise status in 2006
Electronic Coast (EC) is an independent industry association and competence cluster working on arena and network building. Their main goal is to strengthen value creation and innovation in electronics and IT-based companies around the Vestfold region.
Electronic Coast was formally established as an association in 2003 with its own managing director. Project collaboration among the association's members dates back to the 1980s. Most of the members then were based in Horten, Vestfold however now they are spread all over the country, even in Denmark.
In 2006, the cluster was designated as a Norwegian Centre of Expertise and received support for the ten-year project Norwegian Centre of Expertise in Micro- and Nanotechnology (NCE MNT). The NCE MNT brand is still in use for the Electronic Coast environment.
Curious minds with great ambitions
Members of Electronic Coast possess a diverse array of interests within the realm of IT. They engage in research, prototype development, and maintain close partnerships with key stakeholders in both academia and industry. Collaborative ties are particularly strong with entities such as USN, NTNU, UiO, and SINTEF. The imperative of maintaining tight-knit collaboration between universities, research institutes, and industry cannot be overstated. Universities play a pivotal role in educating future professionals for the business sector, while also offering opportunities for research engagement and case studies.
Nanocaps AS is a great example of a start-up, bringing research know-how from the university into physical products. Their unique technology of applying CNT (Carbon NanoTubes) onto a carrier material, to manufacture state-of-the-art supercapacitors, with the highest energy density. This may show to be a disruptive game changer in the battery domain and electrification of transport.
Read more about Nanocaps
Another example of this is Salico AS. The company is based on a new technology that is a result of many years of research and cooperation between the electronic industry in Horten and USN. Salico AS has the vision to become a global actor with leading solutions within molecular control of environment and health.
An important role in developing microchips for AI purposes
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow, and becomes a bigger and bigger part of our life, the need for microchips and hardware that makes AI works also increases, and today 90 percent of the world's most advanced microchips are produced in Taiwan.
Needless to say Norway as a highly technologically advanced country should be in the forefront of this topic, and as the EU recently has committed to increase its focus on microchip production, by the European Chip Act, Norway will follow.
There is a production environment for advanced sensors and electronics with a long history in Horten. Among these is Safran Sensing Technologies, the only company producing its own microchips in Norway. Hopefully this production will only continue to blossom, and EC with their members will contribute and follow the development closely.
Provides fundamental building blocks for business development in our region
Electronic Coast focuses on competence development, recruitment, and resource sharing among its members. They engage in active profiling, network building, and advocacy on behalf of member companies. Electronic Coast aims to strengthen regional research and development activities at the University of South-Eastern Norway, campus Vestfold.
Read more about Electronic Coast and all their initiatives here
