I am the Research Director at NORCE Energy for the Energy Modelling and Automation group. The group is internationally recognized and at the forefront of automated drilling technology. Over the years, the group has developed several cutting-edge systems that have been widely adopted by the industry. One major milestone achieved by the group in 2026 was the test and demonstration of the Drilling and Wells Interoperability Standard (DWIS) platform combined with Autonomous Drilling at the Ullrigg test facility. It successfully validated the feasibility of using the DWIS architecture as a common interoperability layer for drilling automation systems.
Our next goal is to test this offshore together with Aker BP.
A cornerstone of our research is OpenLab, our virtual environment that is part of the Norwegian roadmap for research infrastructures. Over many years, the group has developed several groundbreaking systems that have been widely adopted by industry. OpenLab HIL (hardware‑in‑the‑loop) continues to expand into new application areas and has recently been used for OT cybersecurity testing.
Our group also hosts the SFI DigiWells centre, where I serve as Assistant Manager. This eight‑year research centre focuses on optimizing the drilling process with respect to value creation, safety, and environmental impact. Digitalization and automation are key components of this work, including interoperability and new concepts for improved measurements to support automated systems. In 2024, the DigiWells Innovation Program was launched with six funding operators, enabling research from SFI DigiWells to be adopted more rapidly by commercial actors.
Building on expertise in automation, modeling, AI, and other advanced technologies, the group has expanded its portfolio to include hydrogen and integrated energy systems. As an example, we host the EU project MARINER, which focuses on the validation of a maritime multi‑megawatt fuel cell system. Digitalization, automation, and autonomy also introduce new security challenges, and we will continue to strengthen our work in cybersecurity.
I am proud to lead a research group known for strong collaboration, deep expertise, creativity, and a consistent ability to deliver valuable results.
