GCE Ocean Technology and SICA formalised partnership at ONS 2026
GCE Ocean Technology has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Subsea Innovation Cluster Australia, opening a two-way route for Norwegian and Australian companies into each other's subsea markets.
The agreement was formally signed at ONS in Stavanger this week, formalising a relationship that goes back several years.
Owe Hagesæther, CEO in GCE Ocean Technology has earlier, advised on Subsea Innovation Cluster Australia's (SICA) initial framework alongside NERA, and later shared information on Norwegian hyperbaric facilities when SICA set up its Hyperbaric Test Chamber at Henderson.
A two-way route into new markets
The MOU has two main aims: to share information on strategic topics, and to give Australian and Norwegian companies a route into each other's markets by partnering with local firms.
Australian companies will enter the North Sea through Norwegian partners, while Norwegian companies will enter the Australian market through Australian partners.
Year 1 priorities: electrification and decommissioning
Both areas carry strong commercial relevance.
Australia is heading into a significant decommissioning wave on the North West Shelf, where Norway holds globally leading expertise, while Australian operators have live demand for subsea electrification, an area where Norwegian suppliers and operators have directly transferable know-how.
Next steps
The collaboration will be activated through quarterly meetings, reciprocal sector briefing papers, and reciprocal member pitching events where companies from each cluster present to the other's network.
The first in-person meeting took place in Bergen on 21 August, when a Western Australian trade delegation visited GCE Ocean Technology's headquarters.
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Contact Information
About
- Signed: ONS, Stavanger, August 2026
- Parties: GCE Ocean Technology and the Subsea Innovation Cluster Australia (SICA, Western Australia)
- Aims: Share information on strategic topics; give Australian and Norwegian companies a route into each other's markets via local partners
- Year 1 priority themes: Subsea electrification; decommissioning and asset life extension
- First in-person meeting: Bergen, 21 August 2026
- Collaboration mechanics: Quarterly meetings, reciprocal sector briefing papers, reciprocal member pitching events
