The Global Maritime Knowledge Hub annual conference 2011
The 2nd annual Global Maritime Knowledge Hub conference took place at the Marine Technology Centrein Trondheim at October 25th, 2011. 25 participants from industry and academia, from all corners of Norway, as well as the board of the Hub, discussed
future strategies of the GMKH, including professorates and research centers and their contribution to national research programs. The GMKH chair, Lars Erik Hilsen, emphasised the need to ensure the continuation of the strong Norwegian maritime cluster, including driving and nurturing clusters that offers more results than the sum of results of each member within defined core competencies (Maritime21). As for the GMKHs long-term focus the focus is now getting academia, Industry and Government to cooperate towards long term targets and through long term development of tools and to strengthen cooperation.
The first part of the conference was set aside to present research by of some of the GMKH professors, sponsored by the industry. Professor Stein Haugen, professor at NTNU funded by the Foundation Kristian Gerhard Jebsen, asked “Can we predict and avoid major accident?”, and concluded by stating that accidents in the future cannot be totally prevented, but some of them can be avoided. Professor Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett from NTNU (sponsored by Det norske Veritas) presented “Projects within Marine System Design”, while “Maritime human factors” was the theme for Sashidharan Komandur, professor at Ålesund University College, sponsored by Havila Shipping, Island Offshore, Farstad and Det Norske Veritas.
The second part of the conference was set aside to discuss the venues for development of the knowledge base. Professor Harald Ellingsen from NTNU presenting the newly established cooperation between NTNU and Ålesund University College, which was followed up by professor Hans Petter Hildre from Ålesund University College, which presented details from the groundbreaking Trondheim-Ålesund cooperation in the maritime field. The GMKH members are welcoming this partnership as it is in the core of the GMKH strategy. Nils Albert Jenssen, Vice President for Business Development from Kongsberg Maritime, highlighted why the industry give priority to research, and emphasised that close cooperation between academia and the industry will bring fertility to innovation, increase the competence level in the industry, provide the best heads for the industry, provide more industry attitude to academic world and make the research agenda even more thrilling.
A number of parallel sessions took place during the Annual conference. The GMKH Working group communication had their first meeting were they started the rather vital discussion regarding the “state of the hub” and what the hub is today, and is supposed to be in the future. The professors and donors had separate meetings discussing “what are the expectations the professors/donors have to themselves in adding value in 2012?” They were given the task of presenting the GMKH Board with a prioritized action list for 2012. The donors provided two suggestions: 1) Arrange a conference in connection to Oslo Maritime Week 2012. The theme suggested is “Maritime innovation and Business Development”. 2) Arrange a conference in 2013 that awards publication points during Nor-Shipping. Among the suggestions from the professors were arrange workshops (including students, external partners, industrial stakeholders etc.), increased efforts to make the hub to be an attractor, more effective branding to become a global player and making Norway even more attractive as a research nation.
An important discussion that was initiated at the Annual conference was the relationship between GMKH and other relevant initiatives, such as Maritime 21, and the board will take this discussion further.
The GKMH board will have their next meeting in Oslo at 15th of December 2011.