Newly elected head of the NCE Smart Energy Markets cluster, Mette Fritsch, enters the summer with clear thoughts about what the cluster can achieve in the months ahead. - We have put an exciting year behind us and are continuing to work hard to strengthen the cluster, she says.
She has a long track record both with cluster partner Communicate and as an active contributor to NCE Smart Energy Markets. At the annual meeting in June, Mette Fritsch was elected acting head of the steering group, and the experienced business developer from Communicate is ready to stay on course during the period she has her hands on the helm.
- One of the most important things for us going forward is to get off to a good start with new, exciting projects and to complete the projects we have going on. We will also continue to work systematically to acquire new cluster partners and build the cluster stronger and safer, she says.
Seeking partners and synergies
NCE Smart Energy Markets has had an exciting year behind it. The financial plan had to be changed when it became known that the funds from Innovation Norway were less than budgeted, but the development of the cluster over the past year shows that the partnerships and membership are maintained, and that there is an influx of new partners as expected.
- We had to throw ourselves around to get the economy going, and we managed to do that thanks to skilled employees. In addition, the steering group has been involved in acquiring new cluster partners. I had two years as deputy chairman behind me when I agreed to be acting chairman, and an important task for the board members is to have an active role towards potential members, says Fritsch.
Active is also a keyword for cluster activities. The steering group leader is clear that one of the unique things about NCE Smart Energy Markets is that the cluster focuses on the end users. The aim is to contribute to energy-saving measures by gaining control over and managing electricity consumption.
- Smart buildings are the future, and here we can achieve great synergies with the AI cluster of Smart Innovation Norway, Cluster for Applied AI. If we succeed in this, I am sure that all the cluster partners and our projects will get a lot of attention, notes Fritsch.
AI cluster with big ambitions
The first half of 2022 ended in good cluster spirit when NCE Smart Energy Markets together with the Cluster for Applied AI invited all cluster members to annual meetings and a workshop followed by a summer gathering.
Cluster for Applied AI is still a relatively young cluster, but with great ambitions and a highly topical and important focus. Besides a number of exciting projects and activities, the conference AI+ can be highlighted as an important event for the cluster in the first half of the year.
- Here we were able to create an arena not only for cluster partners, but also for the national and international ecosystem for applied artificial intelligence, says cluster leader Marianne Jansson Bjerkman.
During the workshop session, Harald Nitavskis from cluster partner NMBU gave an academic presentation with high relevance for several of the members across domains and areas of expertise. At NMBU, work is being done on a larger project called "Smart Campus". The aim here is to facilitate more efficient use, as well as to reduce power consumption, energy consumption and environmental emissions from the buildings using smart technology.
- We would like to contribute to ensuring that the clusters can act as accelerators for the project, and to identifying current issues where several actors can collaborate, points out Bjerkman.
- It is important to meet face to face
There was also time to carry out an engaging and social collaborative task using the game app Wittario. Wittario delivers a solution to make learning and interaction more engaging and fun, and is used both for training, workshops and social purposes in several businesses today.
The day ended outdoors together with startup companies from the incubator Venture and other employees from Smart Innovation Norway.
- It was a very nice arrangement. We got to mingle with people, eat good food and be outside in the summer weather. It is important to meet face to face. Through such meetings, opportunities often open up that you don't get through lectures or websites. In general, one should become even better at arranging physical meetings and time for mingling, says Mette Fritsch.
CONTACT PERSONS:
Inge Michael Bilet,
Business developer NCE Smart Energy Markets
Email
Telephone: +47 474 61 228
Marianne Jansson Bjerkman,
Leads Cluster for Applied AI
Email
Telephone: +47 924 14 854