Center for Defense, Security, and Preparedness

NORCE is establishing a center that will serve as a national platform for research, innovation, and collaboration in the fields of defense, societal security, and emergency preparedness.

The goal is to develop knowledge, solutions, and capacities that strengthen total defense and respond to the needs of public and private actors within defense, societal security, and civil preparedness.

The need for such coordination and knowledge development is clearly expressed in the government’s strategies, in the recent restructuring of the portfolio boards in the Research Council of Norway, and in the proposal for the next EU framework program for research and innovation.

At the center, we will:

• Connect civilian and military R&D across technology, society, and operational needs
• Contribute to the realization of goals in the Long-Term Plan for the Defense Sector and the Total Preparedness Report
• Develop and coordinate applications to funding bodies such as the Research Council of Norway, the EU, EDF, and NATO
• Support the development of Norwegian supplier industries through industrial cooperation agreements triggered by major defense investments
• Establish NORCE as a leading knowledge actor in defense and civil preparedness
• Build toward an annual project portfolio of NOK 100 million by 2030

Operational Support Through Technology – We develop and test solutions in autonomy, drones, sensor systems, cyber, and artificial intelligence that can enhance situational awareness and operational capability. For example, we have a close and long-term collaboration with the Norwegian Coastal Administration on developing their drone capacity. We also work with industry partners to develop energy-efficient, infrared-based heating for ship windows.

Wave Prediction – Our RIMARC system, developed in collaboration with MIT USA and tested on three offshore vessels in partnership with Kongsberg Maritime, predicts large waves and vessel movements to enable safer execution of critical operations such as helicopter landings and deployment/recovery of small boats—even in significantly rougher sea conditions. A new physics-based machine learning method from MIT will also enable the development of safe remote-controlled and autonomous operations in waves.

Societal Security and Preparedness – NORCE contributes with analyses and models for robust logistics, preparedness planning, and total defense, which can strengthen the Armed Forces’ endurance and cooperation with civilian actors.

Social Digital Twins enable systematic what-if analysis where the same scenario can be varied in scale, location, and timing, and combined with simultaneous stressors, with visualization of consequences for the population, services, and critical functions. We can run simulations forward and backward to analyze which measures and decisions most effectively reduce the extent of damage. This opens up possibilities for developing and training on large-scale scenarios that have previously been very difficult to realize in practice.

Underwater Technology – We have expertise in underwater communication and sensors relevant to the Armed Forces.

Remote Sensing – We are a national leader in developing airborne sensor systems with integrated AI. For example, an anomaly detector for identifying cold targets using hyperspectral optical sensors. NORCE also holds a leading position in Norway in developing various services based on radar satellites. For instance, we are building the processor for Norway’s SAR satellite.

Test and Laboratory Infrastructure – We offer unique testing facilities at sea, on land, and in laboratories to develop, validate, and demonstrate technology relevant to the new fleet plan. Among other things, we operate an energy laboratory in Bergen for testing prototype technology with access to flammable and inert gases.

Fuel and Route Optimization – By combining observational data, models, and machine learning, we develop tools to reduce fuel consumption and plan routes more efficiently. This can contribute to lower emissions, greater operational endurance, and cost-effective sailing patterns. We are developing fuel-flexible energy systems based on fuel cells for maritime use, as well as closed energy systems based on fuel cell technology for use in, for example, underwater drones or other demanding environments where high energy density is crucial.