Norce

What Norce does

NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS is one of Norway's largest independent applied research institutes, operating across six research domains — climate, environment, technology, society, health, and energy. Formed in 2019 through the merger of Christian Michelsen Research, Uni Research, and other Norwegian research institutes, the organization serves Norwegian government research councils, EU framework programmes, municipalities, and industry partners in maritime, offshore, energy, and aquaculture. It is headquartered in Bergen with regional offices across at least 10 Norwegian cities including Stavanger, Kristiansand, Grimstad, and Tromsø, and is led by CEO Camilla Stoltenberg.

NORCE's technology portfolio reflects more than 40 years of cumulative measurement science development. Hardware capabilities include fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and distributed temperature sensing (DTS) with ranges up to 40 km and centimeter resolution, autonomous surface vehicles (Seilbøyen sailbuoy) commercialized through Offshore Sensing, IoT-enabled smart sensors, GNSS-Reflectometry for Arctic observation, and electromagnetic instruments such as the NISEP two-phase separator (nearly 50 systems delivered worldwide), Fangstmåler catch meter, and KelvinProbe corrosion detection system. Software products include LSSS, SEAT, and DABGRAF for marine acoustic analysis used in sustainable fisheries management, alongside operational systems including a U-Space drone airspace platform developed with AirDodge. The institute operates specialized test centres, laboratories, and competence centres, notably CARM for automated critical raw materials recovery in partnership with University of Agder and Mechatronics Innovation Lab, plus sub-brands RKBU Vest and NKLM in health and social welfare research.

NORCE's revenue model centres on commissioned research projects, research grants and institutional funding from Norwegian research councils and EU frameworks (including EERA and European Turbomachinery Network participation), and laboratory and testing services. Distribution is sales-led, with direct engagement of industry partners and public sector clients. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. A June 2026 reorganization reduced headcount by 76 employees through exit agreements to ensure financial balance, while establishing six research divisions and three new strategic centres focused on defence/security/emergency preparedness, aquaculture, and analysis — reflecting a deliberate pivot from research breadth toward prioritized domains during a restructuring phase.

Name

Norce

Legal name

NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS

Website

https://norceresearch.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

NORCE Norwegian Research Centre is a Bergen-based independent applied research institute conducting commissioned research across energy, climate, environment, health, society, and technology. It serves Norwegian and EU public sector clients alongside maritime, energy, and aquaculture industry partners through proprietary measurement instruments and scientific software platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied Research and Innovation Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Leak Detection, Emissions & LDAR Testing (OGI, methane, fugitive emissions) (EUAEAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

In-Service Inspection (ISI) & NDE (ASME Code, Ultrasonics, Eddy Current) (EUAKABAF), Nuclear Materials Testing, Assay & Characterization Services (NDA/NDE, radiochemistry, materials analysis) (EUAKAIAL)

Keywords

• Applied research institute
• Commissioned research services
• Measurement technology
• Energy and climate research
• Marine acoustic software

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergen

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Public Funding: Core funding from Norwegian government research councils and EU research frameworks including EERA and European Turbomachinery Network partnerships
2. Commissioned Research Projects: Industry-sponsored research projects for maritime, energy, aquaculture, and technology sectors
3. Testing and Laboratory Services: Test centers and laboratories providing specialized measurement and analysis services

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NORCE is one of Norway's largest independent research institutes, delivering applied research, innovation, advisory and testing services across energy, climate, environment, society, health and technology. It conducts commissioned and grant-funded research projects and develops specialized measurement instruments, sensing technologies and scientific software for industry, academia and the public sector.

Product overview

NORCE is a Norwegian research institute (Forskningsinstituttet NORCE) that delivers research and innovation across energy, health, climate, environment, society, and technology sectors. The organization operates as a research service provider rather than a product company, offering specialized measurement instruments, software platforms, and technology solutions developed through research activities. Key offerings include marine acoustic analysis software (LSSS, SEAT, DABGRAF) for sustainable fisheries management, autonomous ocean measurement platforms (Seilbøyen, USV), specialized measurement instruments (NISEP, Fangstmåler, KelvinProbe), and various research technologies for environmental monitoring, aquaculture, and industrial applications. The institute also provides testing facilities, laboratories, competence centers, and educational programs across its focus areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NORCE Energy: Research division focusing on sustainable energy systems and system integration
• RKBU Vest
• CARM
• NKLM

Products and services

• LSSS (Large Scale Survey System) Scientific software platform developed with the Institute of Marine Research for advanced analysis of marine acoustic data to map pelagic and demersal resources, used widely in fisheries research.
• SEAT Software Acoustic data analysis software that categorizes multifrequency acoustic data into species and conveys information to skippers via color-coded echograms to reduce by-catch by targeting clean species schools.
• DABGRAF Software Wideband acoustics software that estimates fish size distribution, enabling more precise fisheries management and sustainable fishing operations.
• Seilbøyen (Sailbuoy) Autonomous 2-meter wind-driven sailing buoy capable of operating on the open sea for months at a time for ocean measurements, commercialized through Offshore Sensing.
• NISEP Instrument Complete instrument for measuring permeability in core samples from oil reservoirs, certified for 700 bar and 150C, with nearly 50 systems delivered to customers worldwide across three generations from 1993 to 2019.
• Fangstmåler (Catch Meter) Electromagnetic instrument derived from oil-and-gas multiphase measurement technology to measure fish catch in water, providing real-time accuracy to ensure fish quotas are not exceeded.
• KelvinProbe (Field Kelvin Probe) Corrosion detection system providing direct and indirect detection of hidden corrosion for quality control of metals, inspection under paint, and corrosion inside pipes and cavities.
• Harbor Fence Electric fence technology using electromagnetic fields to create barriers around salmon net pens, operating at 20 pulses per second to immobilize sea lice during their free-swimming planktonic stage; developed with Harbor AS.
• U-Space Drone Operations System Automated airspace coordination system for unmanned aviation developed with AirDodge, enabling scalable drone operations through software-based air traffic management and real-time drone position broadcasting.
• Testsentre og laboratorier (Test Centres and Laboratories) Specialized test centers and laboratories providing measurement, analysis and testing services across NORCE's research domains for public and private sector clients.
• Commissioned Research Projects Industry- and government-sponsored applied research projects across energy, maritime, aquaculture, climate, health and technology sectors delivered through direct collaboration.
• Kunnskaps- og kompetansesentre (Knowledge and Competence Centres) Specialized competence centers such as RKBU Vest (children's mental health and child welfare), CARM (automated critical raw material recovery) and NKLM (emergency primary care medicine) delivering applied knowledge and advisory services.
• Kurs og arrangementer (Courses and Events) Conferences, courses and events such as Barn- og ungekongressen and Nordic Algae Symposium offered to professionals and the public, with paid registration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25 Harbor fence installations for sea lice prevention across Norwegian farms
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2026Research supported by ESA generated Arctic-wide sea ice freeboard maps using GNSS-Reflectometry data captured by Spire Global's satellite constellation. The study led by Technical University of Munich and NORCE shows strong alignment with established altimetry datasets including ESA's CryoSat mission.
• Spire GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2026Spire Global provides multipurpose listening satellite constellation data for GNSS-Reflectometry research on Arctic sea ice mapping conducted by NORCE and Technical University of Munich, validating the complementary role of commercial satellite data alongside government missions.
• WindracerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2026Windracers is collaborating with NORCE for Arctic climate studies as part of their civilian program development. NORCE participates in their expanding partnerships with Ukrainian technology and maintenance companies while leveraging combat-proven drone experience for NATO military interest alongside Antarctic research with British Antarctic Survey.
• VARDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025VARD and NORCE signed an agreement to collaborate on research and innovation in maritime technology, focusing on ship design, underwater maintenance, drone technology, and energy solutions. The partnership supports projects like Ocean Charger and PRESIFUEL, which aim to develop electrified vessels and improve fuel measurement systems.
• Harbor AScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025NORCE Norwegian Research Centre and Norwegian equipment supplier Harbor AS are collaborating on trialing electric fence technology called the Harbor fence, which uses electromagnetic fields to create electric barriers around salmon net pens and immobilize sea lice during their free-swimming planktonic stage.
• EERA (European Energy Research Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNORCE participates in European research networks including EERA and the European Turbomachinery Network, collaborating with industry partners and academia on sustainable energy systems integration.
• University of Agder (UiA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARM center collaboration between NORCE, University of Agder, and Mechatronics Innovation Lab (MIL) to develop automated solutions for recycling critical raw materials from electronic waste, batteries, vehicles, and landfill materials.
• Mechatronics Innovation Lab (MIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARM center collaboration providing robot technology and test facilities alongside NORCE and UiA expertise for automated recycling solutions development.
• Institute of Marine ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration since 1980s on advanced analysis of marine acoustic data leading to software development including LSSS for pelagic and demersal resource mapping.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SINTEF: SINTEF is Norway's largest independent research institute, operating across energy, marine, health, and technology with similar applied research model and Norwegian/European customer base. Both serve Norwegian petroleum, maritime, and aquaculture sectors with comparable measurement and testing capabilities.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: VTT is Finland's state-owned applied research organization operating across bioeconomy, energy, Industry 4.0, and health with similar commissioned research and IP commercialization model. Both serve Nordic industries and participate in EU research framework programmes.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): TNO is the Netherlands' independent applied research organization focused on defense, energy, circular economy, and digitalization. It shares NORCE's multi-domain research institute structure, government funding model, and emphasis on societal transitions.
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: RISE is Sweden's state-owned research institute operating across energy, mobility, built environment, and digital systems. Both are Nordic applied research organizations with similar commissioned research models, government-industry funding mix, and focus on sustainability transitions.
• Institute for Energy Technology (IFE): IFE is Norway's energy research institute specializing in nuclear, renewable energy, and radiation technology. It directly overlaps with NORCE's energy research activities and shares Norwegian funding sources and petroleum sector clients.
• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation): CSIRO is Australia's national science agency operating across energy, marine, health, and digital with similar commissioned research model. Both serve as national R&D platforms with diversified revenue from government grants, industry contracts, and IP commercialization.
• National Research Council Canada: NRC Canada is Canada's largest federal research organization operating across aerospace, energy, health, and ocean technologies. It shares NORCE's national research institute mandate, government-industry partnership model, and emphasis on technology commercialization.

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Institute: Fraunhofer is Europe's largest applied research organization with 76 institutes covering energy, ICT, defense, life sciences, and manufacturing. It shares NORCE's commissioned research model, public-private funding mix, and technology commercialization approach at significantly larger scale.
• Technical University of Denmark (DTU): DTU is Denmark's leading technical university with significant applied research activities in energy, ocean engineering, autonomous systems, and wind. It shares NORCE's Nordic positioning and overlap in marine autonomous systems and energy transition research.

Emerging players

• IFREMER: IFREMER is France's marine research institute specializing in oceanography, fisheries, and marine technology. It directly overlaps with NORCE's marine acoustics (LSSS/SEAT software), autonomous ocean measurement (Seilbøyen), and aquaculture capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NORCEresearch
• Facebookfacebook.com/norceresearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/norce
• Instagraminstagram.com/norce_research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Norce