That is the conclusion drawn by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries in its proposal for the 2019 Government budget. The ministry confirms that the government will now choose a development concept and clarify the framework for the project. 

— It is very positive that the ministry has expressed itself in such a way in the budget proposal.  After we delivered the revised concept in March, we have had a very productive dialog with the ministry and the quality control, and we are very happy to learn that they think the project is ready for further development, says CEO of SINTEF Ocean, Vegar Johansen.

The head of the Department for Marine Technology at NTNU, Sverre Steen, says that this confirmation is something that he and the department have been waiting patiently for.

— We are looking forward to completing the laboratories and teaching facilities of tomorrow. NTNU and SINTEF are already leading the international field in marine technology, and Ocean Space Center is vital in order to preserve and strengthen this position.

NTNU and SINTEF have not yet been informed about the details of the cost benefit analysis by the minisstry, but are expecting to learn more soon.

The revised concept for Ocean Space Center contains flexible solutions that are suitable for a wider market, and it managed to cut the costs of the project considerably. The cost is now estimated to be 4.7 billion NOK.

Read more about the revised concept here (document in Norwegian). 

NTNU has previously received positive assessments of their planned laboratories, but the university supports the process of revising the concept in order to make it more suited to a rapidly changing world.

— The Norwegian Government’s commitment to the Oceans and corresponding technology are important if we are to maintain our position internationally. In order to develop further, we need facilities that increase the quality of the teaching and scientific work that is in demand. As of today, we do not have that. The project that now is greenlit will maintain the necessary development in knowledge for both students, science and business, says Olav Bolland, dean at the Faculty of Engineering at NTNU.