More than 100 companies and organizations form GCE Subsea: a cluster, representing a near complete cross-section of the subsea life of field supply chain. When coupled with the innovation ecosystem in the region of southwest Norway, it becomes even stronger.
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GCE Subsea members are at the center of Norway’s subsea industry. Images from GCE Subsea. |
The GCE (Global Centre of Expertise) status is the highest level in the Norwegian Innovation Clusters program (see fact 1). The cluster members and partners in GCE Subsea, comprise a near complete subsea life-of-field supply chain. Approximately half of the members are system and equipment suppliers, including the three leading subsea engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors: Aker Solutions, FMC Technologies and OneSubsea.
The second largest segment is inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR), technical services and yard services, which account for approximately 20% of the members. Support services is also a significant segment, and includes non-technical support services such as financial and legal services, transport and logistics services, insurance and other consultancies.
Size-wise, GCE Subsea has the full range; from the large multinationals with thousands of employees, to one-man-bands.
Capital
Among their sponsors (Innovation Norway and the Research Council of Norway, and some of their members and associates), GCE Subsea has actors providing pre-seed and seed funding, pre-project and project funding, business start-up grants and risk loans. Although they do not have equity and venture capital actors as members, they make a point of keeping up to date with this sector as well, to be able to advise their members on which funding is best suited for the different stages in the life of a company.
International Efforts
The export of Norwegian subsea technology has grown considerably, and with it the cluster members’ international ambitions and engagement. Small- and medium-sized enterprises often have limited resources, and it is important to learn from each other, and customers, to succeed in new markets. Bigger companies are eager to get Norwegian sub-suppliers to join them internationally.
GCE Subsea works closely with its members and help them join forces towards international markets and have increased the collaboration with related ocean industries to help their members expand into new subsea related markets.
One part of its plan has been to hire an EU (European Union) Advisor in collaboration with the NCE Seafood Innovation Cluster. The EU Advisor will especially contribute in strengthening research, development and innovation (RDI) cooperation in the ocean industries on themes where the subsea and seafood clusters are world leading and complement each other.
Their main goal is to mobilize to increased participation in international RDI projects, which will strengthen the knowledge base and competitiveness of the cluster companies. The EU research and innovation programs are key instruments in achieving this.
Exhibitions and Conferences
To form new ties with international business partners and RDI environments, GCE Subsea is actively present at several international conferences and exhibitions every year. As in 2016, this year it is organizing a joint Norwegian delegation, called Norway2OTC, for OTC Houston 2017. Furthermore, it is an organizing partner of the Underwater Technology Conference in Bergen, in June.
Cluster-to-Cluster Collaboration
Benefits do not only arise within clusters; there is also much to be gained by more work across cluster boundaries in order to spark cross-industry innovation. The Houston-based Pumps & Pipes initiative is a good example of this, where medicine, oil and gas and space industries innovate together.
In Norway, GCE Subsea has several joint projects with GCE NODE and GCE Blue Maritime. They are all a part of the global MIT REAP program on regional entrepreneurial acceleration and scale-up. Furthermore, they collaborate on a project regarding the fourth industrial revolution, commonly labelled Industrie 4.0. They, also have several initiatives with other ocean space clusters.
Why Cluster?
Research has shown that companies in business clusters typically have higher value creation, productivity and growth than the industry in general. It is also easier to generate change, entrepreneurship and innovation within clusters, with the cluster management playing an important role as facilitator.
Through participation in typical cluster events, companies increase their networks and even find new market opportunities among other cluster members. Cluster initiated business acceleration programs help overly technology focused companies in improving their business orientation. Cluster theory and experience have shown that it is very important to stimulate increased collaboration within the innovation ecosystem between industry, government, finance, academia and research and development (R&D) institutions. GCE Subsea have therefore enrolled many of the major universities, university colleges and R&D institutes, along with county and municipal authorities.
Clusters program
The Norwegian Innovation Clusters is a federally funded three level cluster program (Arena, NCE and GCE) that contribute to value creation through sustainable innovation. Each program extends over 10 years.
The program aims to trigger and enhance collaborative development activities in clusters. The goal is to increase the cluster dynamics and attractiveness, the individual company’s innovativeness and competitiveness. The program is organized by Innovation Norway, and supported by Siva (The Industrial Development Corporation of Norway) and the Norwegian Research Council.
GCE Subsea
Services and Benefits
GCE Subsea strengthens innovation and knowledge collaboration in the subsea cluster. Increased innovation and internationalization is the main goal. All our activities and services will target six focus areas, where we aim to:
Go to www.gcesubsea.no to read more about membership.
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