Can smart cities save the world? This was the title of Abelia's conference "Smart citizen, smart city", which was held on 26 May in the capital. Some of the speakers included Oslo City Council leader Raymond Johansen, Transport Minister Ketil Solvik-Olsen, State Secretary Paul Chaffey in the Ministry of Local Government and Modernization and Ole Gabrielsen in Smart Innovation.
In Smart Innovation and the NCE cluster, we have already worked for a long time with the concept of Smart cities, and we have delivered and initiated many concrete projects for municipalities in Eastern Norway. The Smart Energy Hvaler project is a good example of a Smart City project that has functioned as a good arena for city and rural development, and which has laid the foundation for the effective start-up and scaling up of other Smart City projects in several municipalities.
In addition to the Smart Hvaler project, Ole Gabrielsen also highlighted the ground-breaking project around the virtual short-term department , which is a one-year R&D collaboration between Halden municipality, Smart Simulations, eSmart Systems and NCE Smart Energy Markets. The project will look at the possibilities of having patients on a virtual short-term ward using an IT platform provided by eSmart Systems, and is an important step the municipality is taking towards a smarter and more flexible everyday life for its citizens.
The Cluster for Applied AI and NCE Smart Energy Markets offer free continuing education to their members.
- Managers without knowledge of artificial intelligence miss out on many opportunities
Having a conscious relationship with artificial intelligence and understanding the potential of the technology can take companies to new heights.
Valeriya Naumova is the general manager of Simula Consulting and one of those who have prepared the free further and continuing education course that members in the Cluster for Applied AI and NCE Smart Energy Markets are offered. - It is important that company managers understand what artificial intelligence is and how they can use the technology strategically in their company, she says. PHOTO: Private
Compared to the traditional industry that arose in the 19th century, artificial intelligence is a new type of technology. But the truth is that the term "artificial intelligence" arose in the 1950s, and the dream of creating intelligent machines can be traced all the way back to the ancient Greeks, according to an article from Teknisk Ukeblad .
Nevertheless, it is a challenge for many of today's managers to understand how to use artificial intelligence in a strategic way in their company.
- It is important that company managers understand what artificial intelligence is, and not least that they understand what this technology can do for them and how they can use it strategically. If not, they miss out on many opportunities, says Valeriya Naumova, general manager at Simula Consulting.
- Huge potential
Simula Consulting is a company that builds a bridge between research environments and businesses within the public and private sector, and which, among other things, works to train managers in artificial intelligence. The company is also a member of Smart Innovation Norway's business cluster Cluster for Applied AI (CAAI). It is therefore natural that Simula is among the contributors to the continuing and further education scheme offered to the cluster members at CAAI and NCE Smart Energy Markets in the autumn.
- If you are to be successful with innovation for sustainable growth, working with in-house skills development is essential. Artificial intelligence is a technology that has enormous potential for businesses in the years to come, and the beauty of this course is that the training takes place on the premises of the businesses, says Marianne Bjerkman, head of CAAI.
Gain better understanding
The training course in artificial intelligence is intended for managers and middle managers from different businesses and domains. The training takes place in September and October and is carried out with physical meetings at various locations in Eastern Norway.
After completing the training course, the participants should understand, among other things, what artificial intelligence is, what kind of problems the technology is suitable for solving, what role data plays and how to secure a good enough data base to work with artificial intelligence, what dangers arise from using data mistakes, how artificial intelligence should be implemented in the company's business model, and what kind of competence is required in the business.
Several partners
- There is a big difference between traditional technology and artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is an interactive technology that is constantly being developed and improved by adding new data. But it's not just about getting started with using artificial intelligence. The company's infrastructure, data base and employees must go through adaptation and training to get the best possible benefit from the technology, says Valeriya Naumova.
The further and continuing education course offered by the clusters of Smart Innovation Norway is supported by Viken County Municipality. This means that the offer is free for the cluster members. The aim of the county council's support scheme is increased economic value creation, strengthened competitiveness and more jobs in Viken through the realization of business development projects.
The training is developed and delivered by experienced technologists from Simula Consulting and the Institute of Energy Technology, and Digital Norway and Smart Innovation Norway contribute with their broad expertise related to training, networking and facilitation.
Questions?
Contact Marianne Jansson Bjerkman on +47 924 14 854 or by e-mail .
Contribute to a new national centre that will speed up the use of artificial intelligence
Smart Innovation Norway is one of the partners behind the new venture Nemonoor. The scheme will give businesses in production, health, smart cities and communities, as well as energy systems/carriers access to knowledge about applied artificial intelligence (AI). - Having a center like Nemonoor so close to business will make it easier for companies to test AI, says managing director Kjell Reidar Mydske. PHOTO: Anja Lillerud/Mari Kristine Buckholm .
Business gets an even shorter route to some of the country's best players in artificial intelligence when Smart Innovation Norway and seven other strong national players join forces and establish the Nemonoor initiative.
In recent years, Smart Innovation Norway has been heavily involved in artificial intelligence (AI). Among other things, the company has built up the Cluster for Applied AI, a business cluster where companies with expertise in AI can develop further and test out the technology with new partners.
Together with a number of strong players within AI, including Digital Norway, Smart Innovation Norway has now been granted a major EU application. They will form a so-called European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) which will accelerate the use of artificial intelligence in Norwegian businesses throughout the country. The center will be called Nemonoor.
- This is a prestigious assignment and a fantastic opportunity for Norwegian companies to increase their investment in artificial intelligence through access to both the best resources in the country and a close link to strong professional environments in the EU, says Eirik Andreassen, head of Nemonoor.
Provides access to knowledge
The scheme is aimed at private and public enterprises throughout the country. The purpose of the scheme is to give businesses access to the knowledge about applied artificial intelligence (AI) that has been built up on the basis of many years of research, development and innovation.
By accessing the knowledge, the test centers and the network, the aim is for them to succeed in adopting AI as an integrated part of the business.
- Having a center like Nemonoor so close to business will make it easier for companies to test this out. AI is referred to as one of the most important technological developments of our time. In order to maintain a competitive business life in the future, it is important to use artificial intelligence for the benefit of the customers, says managing director at Smart Innovation Norway, Kjell Reidar Mydske.
Initially, Nemonoor will contribute to businesses that work in production, health, smart cities and communities, as well as energy systems/carriers. Application will primarily focus on solutions based on prediction, machine vision and language models.
- We look forward to working closely with the other national and European innovation hubs to ensure that businesses get access to the very best and most relevant services they need, says Andreassen.
EDIHs in all EU member states
European Digital Innovation Hubs (pronounced "eddi") are a central instrument in the EU's new seven-year DIGITAL programme. The purpose is to ensure that private and public enterprises are equipped to adopt advanced digital technologies.
As of today, the EU has committed to the establishment of 136 EDIHs distributed among all EU member states with the aim of ensuring that the knowledge found in each individual country is made available to businesses in other EU countries.
Norway was granted two EDIHs, Nemonoor and Oceanapolis.
Nemonoor consists of DigitalNorway, Institute of Energy Technology (IFE), NORA.ai/UiO, Norway Health Tech, NTNU, SINTEF, Smart Innovation Norway and Ålesund Knowledge Park (ÅKP), and the activities will start in autumn 2022.
Smart Energy Systems with an exciting battery project
- The goal is to reduce people's electricity expenses
Energy Bank can help reduce private households' electricity bills by at least 20 per cent. That is the goal of the AI Battery Optimizer project that Alexander Finn (tv) and Fred Martin Langøy at Smart Energy Systems are working on together with Smart Innovation Norway. - Our battery solution is a solution for efficient storage of electricity, and storing electricity contributes to reduced grid rent and lower electricity bills, says Langøy. PHOTO: Smart Energy Systems
20 percent lower electricity bill. Fred Martin Langøy of Smart Energy Systems believes that it is possible to achieve this with their battery solution Energy Bank. They will develop the technology together with Smart Innovation Norway.
Solar panel on the roof and battery in the shed. These two elements are all that is needed to turn private households into small independent power plants that produce and store their own electricity.
The Fredrikstad company Smart Energy Systems will work until October next year to develop technology that makes it profitable for the private market to install the solution.
- Our aim is for people to reduce their electricity bill by at least 20 per cent through our battery Energy Bank, says general manager Fred Martin Langøy.
Regionale forskningsfond Viken (RFF Viken) has approved the entire application of NOK 3.13 million, and Langøy is pleased that more people have faith in the project and see the usefulness of the technology to be developed.
Several advantages of storing electricity
According to the website solenergi.no , the number of solar panels in Norway has increased enormously in recent years. But one of the challenges is that there are no storage options for excess electricity. Thus, the power that the panel produces, but which is not used, disappears into the local power grid.
- Surplus power from solar panels is usually more profitable to store in batteries than to be delivered to the grid. Our battery solution is a solution for efficient storage of electricity, and storing electricity contributes to reduced grid rent and lower electricity bills, says Langøy.
FACTS ABOUT AI BATTERY OPTIMIZER
Project Name: AI Battery Otimizer
Purpose of the project: Develop AI technology to make optimal use of the battery Energy Bank and commercialize the battery technology
Project participants: Smart Energy Systems and Smart Innovation Norway
Project support: 2 million
Project period: 2 years
In the Energy Bank, you can store self-produced excess electricity as well as electricity that you buy from the grid when prices are low. This electricity can be used when electricity prices are high or to avoid high network rent.
- You can set the battery so that it takes over the power supply when the consumption crosses a certain power limit. That way, each individual household can control their electricity expenses in a better way, explains Langøy.
By power is meant the amount of electricity that is used at the same time. The electricity rent is calculated based on how much electricity the household uses, and the introduction of power tariffs will make customers use electricity in a smarter way for better utilization of the electricity grid. An even consumption throughout the day is more profitable than using a lot of electricity at the same time.
Environmentally friendly and cost-saving
Society is facing extensive electrification, and Langøy sees Energy Bank as part of the solution. The more households that can provide part or all of their own electricity consumption, the less the need for development of the local electricity grid.
A feature of social development that causes a large part of the need for electricity is the proportion of electric cars on Norwegian roads. Figures from Statistics Norway show that in 2021, two out of three new passenger cars in Norway were electric cars. Charging an electric car is one of the things that require the most electricity in Norwegian households, and Langøy believes that it will mean big savings for the grid companies if more private individuals adopt battery technology.
- If, for example, "everyone" in a residential area has an electric car, this leads to an increased demand for electricity and, in most cases, a requirement for more and larger cables into the houses. With Energy Bank, the need for the development of a local power grid is reduced, he says.
Langøy also highlights the environmental perspective of utilizing modern battery technology. The CO2 footprint is smaller when there is no need to expand the electricity grid.
- Together with Smart Innovation Norway, we have been working on developing AI-based technology for a few months already, and we are looking forward to the continuation. By commercializing the Energy Bank through this EU project, we save private individuals and grid companies costs and the environment from CO2 emissions, summarizes Fred Martin Langøy.
