Host Country Open Stage

Summary

This discussion featured presentations from several Norwegian organizations showcasing digital innovation and infrastructure developments across different sectors. Francis de Silva from the Brønnøysund Register Centre opened by discussing Norway’s national registry system, which serves as critical digital infrastructure for transparency and governance. He outlined three key focus areas: sustainability reporting as a catalyst for societal transformation, digital sovereignty through national collaborative platforms, and the use of digital credentials to strengthen governance through verifiable data.

Steiner Bjørnstad from Tampnet demonstrated how existing fiber optic communication cables can be repurposed as sensors using distributed acoustic sensing technology. This innovation allows for the protection of critical subsea infrastructure by detecting approaching vessels or objects that might damage cables, while also enabling environmental monitoring such as seismic activity detection and ocean current analysis. The technology has proven valuable for early earthquake and tsunami detection, potentially saving lives.

Christian Sørby Larsen from the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities addressed digital privacy and security in education. He emphasized the importance of protecting students’ fundamental rights while embracing digital tools in classrooms. His organization has developed comprehensive national data privacy impact assessments for major educational platforms like Google Workspace and integrated AI systems, significantly reducing the compliance burden on municipalities and schools.

Finally, Øystein Eriksen Søreid from Abelia and Lars Grimstad from Saga Robotics presented Norway’s economic transition challenges and technological solutions. They highlighted how Norway must diversify beyond its traditional oil-dependent economy, with the tech sector playing a crucial role. Grimstad showcased Saga Robotics’ autonomous UV-light robots that treat crops without chemicals, demonstrating how Norwegian companies are solving real-world agricultural problems while supporting sustainable practices. The discussion collectively illustrated Norway’s comprehensive approach to digital transformation across governance, infrastructure, education, and industry.

Keypoints

## Major Discussion Points:

– **Digital Infrastructure and National Sovereignty**: Francis D Silva emphasized Norway’s approach to building sovereign digital infrastructure through national registers and platforms, balancing domestic control with international collaboration while maintaining democratic values and data integrity.

– **Sustainability and ESG Reporting Transformation**: Discussion of how digital tools are revolutionizing environmental, social, and governance reporting – moving from manual, fragmented processes to automated, real-time systems that enable transparency and accountability for societal transformation.

– **Protecting Critical Digital Infrastructure**: Steiner Bjørnstad presented innovative fiber optic sensing technology that can protect subsea communication cables (which carry 90% of intercontinental traffic) by detecting approaching threats like ships or anchors, while also enabling environmental monitoring and earthquake detection.

– **Student Privacy and Digital Education Security**: Christian Sorby Larsen addressed the critical challenge of protecting students’ privacy rights in increasingly digital educational environments, highlighting Norway’s national strategy and collaborative approaches to managing data privacy with major tech platforms.

– **Technology-Driven Economic Transition**: Øystein Eriksen Soreide and Lars Grimstad discussed Norway’s need to diversify beyond oil and gas dependency, showcasing how innovative tech companies like Saga Robotics are solving real-world problems (reducing agricultural chemical use through autonomous UV-light robots) while contributing to economic transformation.

## Overall Purpose:

The discussion appears to be part of a conference or forum showcasing Norway’s comprehensive approach to digital transformation, emphasizing how technology can address societal challenges while maintaining security, sovereignty, and democratic values. Each speaker demonstrated different aspects of Norway’s digital ecosystem – from government infrastructure to private innovation.

## Overall Tone:

The tone was consistently professional, optimistic, and forward-looking throughout. Speakers maintained an informative, presentation-style delivery focused on showcasing successful implementations and future possibilities. The atmosphere was collaborative and solution-oriented, with each presenter building on themes of trust, security, and responsible innovation. There was no notable shift in tone – it remained constructive and educational from start to finish.

Speakers

– **Francis D Silva**: Senior advisor at Brønnøysund Register Centre (Norway’s national agency responsible for core registers such as company register and accounting register)

– **Steiner Bjørnstad**: Representative from Tampnet (company with subsea fiber optical network connecting offshore facilities and data centers)

– **Christian Sorby Larsen**: Representative from the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS), working on digital strategy for education and privacy/information security in schools

– **Oystein Eriksen Soreide**: CEO of Abelia (trade association for tech companies and knowledge-based companies in Norway, part of the Norwegian Confederation of Enterprise)

– **Lars Grimstad**: CTO and co-founder of Saga Robotics (company that delivers electric self-driving robots as a service to farmers, particularly for strawberry and wine grape growers)

Additional speakers:

None identified beyond the provided speakers names list.

# Norwegian Technology and Digital Governance Presentations

## Introduction

This report summarizes five presentations delivered by Norwegian leaders showcasing different aspects of the country’s digital transformation and technology landscape. The speakers represented government agencies, industry associations, and technology companies, each presenting their organization’s work in areas ranging from digital infrastructure to agricultural robotics.

## Presentation Summaries

### Francis D Silva – Brønnøysund Register Centre

Francis D Silva opened with a presentation on Norway’s national registry system and digital infrastructure, organizing his remarks around three strategic pillars.

**Sustainability Reporting as Societal Transformation**

D Silva emphasized the transformative potential of sustainability reporting, stating that “transparency is not just about compliance, it’s also about creating conditions for trust, innovation and accountability.” He advocated for moving beyond manual, fragmented reporting processes toward automated, real-time systems that make sustainability data accessible and actionable. His vision involves transitioning from batch processing to near real-time reporting that can drive genuine societal change rather than mere compliance.

**Digital Sovereignty Through Collaboration**

Addressing digital sovereignty, D Silva presented a nuanced perspective: “Sovereignty doesn’t mean isolation. On the contrary, we believe that sovereignty implies collaboration.” He described Norway’s approach as maintaining control over core values and data governance while participating in strategic international collaborations, including European projects such as a cancer plan initiative. This approach positions digital sovereignty as requiring interoperability and cooperation rather than isolation.

**Digital Credentials and Verifiable Data**

The third pillar focused on digital credentials as tools for strengthening governance while reducing bureaucracy. D Silva advocated for systems that “enhance security and privacy while operating invisibly in the background,” emphasizing that effective digital governance should be seamless and unobtrusive while maintaining robust security frameworks.

### Steiner Bjørnstad – Tampnet

Bjørnstad presented Tampnet’s work on repurposing existing fiber optic communication cables for sensing applications, demonstrating innovative dual-use infrastructure capabilities.

**Distributed Acoustic Sensing Technology**

He explained how existing subsea fiber optic cables, which carry approximately 90% of intercontinental internet traffic, can simultaneously serve as sensors to detect approaching vessels or objects that might damage the cables. This technology transforms communication infrastructure into a comprehensive monitoring and protection system without requiring additional physical infrastructure.

**Environmental and Safety Applications**

The sensing capabilities extend beyond infrastructure protection to include seismic activity detection, ocean current analysis, and early warning systems for earthquakes and tsunamis. Bjørnstad noted that “this subsea cable infrastructure was for communication. But now it can also additionally be used for environmental sensing. So, this is really a great thing also for the humanity.”

The technology also enables monitoring of carbon dioxide capture and seafloor stability, supporting environmental protection efforts and demonstrating how telecommunications infrastructure can serve multiple critical functions simultaneously.

### Christian Sørby Larsen – Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities

Larsen addressed the challenge of protecting student privacy while embracing digital tools in educational settings, focusing on Norway’s national strategy for managing data privacy with educational technology platforms.

**National Privacy Impact Assessments**

His organization has developed comprehensive national data privacy impact assessments (DPIAs) for major educational platforms, including Google Workspace for Education and integrated artificial intelligence systems. This collaborative approach reduces compliance burden on individual municipalities and schools by providing centralized expertise and standardized assessments that cover approximately 80% of privacy requirements while allowing for local customization.

**Digital Citizenship and Empowerment**

Larsen’s approach extends beyond compliance to encompass digital citizenship education. He argued that “we cannot close off the digital world from our children, nor should we attempt to. Instead, we must prepare them for it, through cooperation, precaution, and purpose.” His philosophy emphasizes empowering students as “informed, active digital citizens rather than passive consumers” through education in digital literacy, resilience, and critical thinking skills.

### Øystein Eriksen Søreid – Abelia

Søreid provided context on Norway’s economic transformation challenges, articulating what he termed the country’s “double transition challenge.”

**Economic and Environmental Transformation**

He explained that “Norway has a double transition challenge. Not only do we… have to go through a climate transition, we need to reach net zero within very few years. At the same time, Norway has an economy which is heavily reliant on non-renewable resources.” This dual challenge requires simultaneous environmental leadership and economic diversification.

Søreid positioned the technology sector as increasingly important in Norway’s economic transformation, with growing employment and value creation in knowledge-based industries serving as crucial drivers of economic diversification while contributing to environmental sustainability goals.

### Lars Grimstad – Saga Robotics

Grimstad, CTO and co-founder of Saga Robotics, presented his company’s agricultural robotics solution as a practical example of Norwegian technological innovation addressing environmental and commercial challenges.

**Electric Autonomous Agricultural Robots**

Saga Robotics delivers electric autonomous robots that use ultraviolet light to treat crops without chemical pesticides, particularly for strawberry and wine grape growers. The company treats “20% of all strawberries grown in the UK” and operates robots that drive “9,000 kilometers per week” across various agricultural operations.

**Commercial and Environmental Impact**

Grimstad’s presentation demonstrated how the technology addresses multiple challenges simultaneously: reducing environmental impact through elimination of chemical pesticides, providing farmers with effective crop treatment alternatives, and creating a scalable business model. The solution illustrates how Norwegian companies are developing commercially viable businesses that support both environmental and economic transformation goals.

## Key Themes

Several themes emerged across the presentations:

**Infrastructure Innovation**: Multiple speakers demonstrated how existing infrastructure can serve dual purposes, from D Silva’s vision of using national registers for sustainability reporting to Bjørnstad’s fiber optic sensing technology.

**Practical Problem-Solving**: Each presentation showcased solutions to real-world challenges, whether in governance, education, infrastructure protection, or agriculture.

**Balancing Innovation with Responsibility**: Speakers consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining security, privacy, and democratic values while pursuing technological advancement.

**Economic and Environmental Alignment**: The presentations collectively illustrated how technological innovation can simultaneously address economic diversification and environmental sustainability goals.

## Conclusion

These presentations showcase the diversity of Norway’s approach to digital transformation and technological innovation. From national digital infrastructure and educational privacy to subsea cable sensing and agricultural robotics, the speakers demonstrated how Norwegian organizations are developing solutions that address practical challenges while maintaining focus on security, sustainability, and social responsibility. The range of applications and approaches presented illustrates the breadth of Norway’s technology landscape and its efforts to address both economic transformation and environmental sustainability through innovation.

Francis D Silva: Please welcome to the stage, from Brnoisund Register Centre, Francis de Silva. Good morning. We are the national agency responsible for the core registers in Norway, such as the company register and the accounting register. These aren’t just databases, these are critical tools for transparency, trust and legitimacy in our society. Our mission is to simplify compliance, enable cooperation across sectors and ensure trustworthy information forms the backbone of how we govern and innovate. Put simply, Brnoisund Register Centre is a cornerstone of Norway’s digital infrastructure. Thank you for joining me on this open stage. My name is Francis de Silva, I am a senior advisor at Brnoisund Register Centre and it’s my privilege to be able to speak to you. I have three topics I would like to speak to you on. Sustainability reporting as an accelerator for societal transformation, digital sovereignty as enabled through national collaborating platforms and data as evidence, strengthening governance through digital credentials. So let me start with sustainability reporting. Sustainability reporting has been called for since the 70s and the urgency is greater now than ever before. As Norway’s collection agency for sustainable reports, BRC plays a key role in turning big ideas like the UN’s sustainability development goals and the EU’s Green Deal, transforming them into operational reality. So we are digitalising ESG reporting in a way that makes it simpler, more integrated and ultimately more useful for people that need that data. Instead of manual fragmented processes, we are working towards automated structured reporting through a national ecosystem of registers. We start with batch data, that’s the way some of the systems exist, but our goal is to go for near real-time reporting. So why does this matter? It matters because transparency is not just about compliance, it’s also about creating conditions for trust, innovation and accountability. It empowers civil society, it empowers policy and informs policy and gives companies a way to demonstrate their real commitment. So when sustainability data becomes accessible and actionable, it becomes a catalyst for transformation and not just a checkbox. The next topic is digital sovereignty. What does that mean? In today’s interconnected world, and there are a lot of talks about trust, control of our digital infrastructure, we consider that to be paramount. So national sovereignty is paramount. For Norway that means ensuring that our platforms, tools, registers reflect our values and that we retain control of how data is managed and shared. BRC, we are evolving our register-based traditions and solutions into a platform that enables other national platforms to integrate so that collectively we form a national digital infrastructure. This platform-based approach actually enables secure data sharing, it protects privacy, confidentiality and ultimately preserves data integrity. But sovereignty doesn’t mean isolation. On the contrary, we believe that sovereignty implies collaboration. We have a long tradition for public-private partnership and we intend to build on it and scale that partnership. We participate actively in European projects, essentially embracing transnational collaboration and supporting interoperability that is essential to make that happen. So when we use seamless data exchange across borders, it is about strengthening governance, it is about supporting trade, but it is also about generating innovation in many of the missions that the EU has talked about. I can mention Europe’s cancer plan as one of the cross-border initiatives that has immense impact and potential for impact. So this is about secure, values-driven digital infrastructure, sovereign but also transnational. One that works for people and not just software and systems. The third point I want to make is about data as evidence. Data as evidence is about strengthening governance with digital credentials. So what does that mean? It’s not about securing data, but securing the value and the integrity of the data itself in such a way that even though data is available everywhere, not all data is equal. It’s not secured equal, its provenance is not identified and secured. So we need data that is verifiable, secure and can be trusted, especially in governance. That is why BRC, we at Bernaysen are investing in digital credentials, verifiable data packages that act as evidence, that help public agencies and businesses to reduce their data duplication, data minimization. We limit the exposure to data through credentials so that people can operate more efficiently. Most of Norway’s businesses are small businesses that are digitally enabled and we need to help them be even better in competing across the board. The nature of digital credentials is primarily about enhancing security, privacy, confidentiality and this is a governance that operates quietly in the background. That’s the way we like to view it. It’s there, it’s invisible, but it’s there. To digital trust frameworks that reduce bureaucracy but increase transparency, that’s why we think credentials and sovereignty can help it. In a data-driven society that I consider Norway to be one of, this shift from information to evidence is crucial because it calls upon our institutions to act in that way. Digital credentials is a key part of enabling that or making that shift possible. In conclusion, our work at Bernaysen Register is ultimately about building trust, building institutional trust, building trust among different players and in society in general. Through sustainability reporting, digital sovereignty and trustworthy credentials, these three elements that I’ve just talked about, we believe we are laying the foundations for digital infrastructure that supports democratic values, increases sustainability and regenerative futures, and it also builds economic resilience. That’s what we think and that’s how we intend working with our partners. We are not doing this alone, we are doing this in collaboration and I think a lot of the speakers after me will be talking along the same lines. We believe that digital tools should not only be functional, they should be aligned with values. That’s the kind of infrastructure we want to build, one that is open, secure, interoperable and above all, trusted. Thank you.

Steiner Bjornstad: Please welcome to the stage, from Tampnet, Steiner Bjørnstad. So, what is this? It’s an optical fiber and we can hear sound when we put a loudspeaker on top of the fiber. So what does this have to do with optical fiber communication? In Tampnet, we have a subsea fiber optical network connecting offshore facilities, also connecting to data centers. These cables, fiber optical cables, carry more than 90% of all the intercontinental traffic in the world. The global network of optical fiber cables. So these cables carry a lot of very critical traffic, so it’s critical infrastructure. And it’s important to protect this infrastructure. So by actually using these cables as sensors… We can sense if anything impacts on the cable, or even if anything is approaching the cable. So, it’s fiber sensing. And there are different technologies for this. This illustrates one technique called distributed acoustic sensing. And we can sense things approaching, even whales. They can also be used for geophysical purposes, like seismic. So, it’s really an important tool. And this is the communication cable, so we don’t need to do anything with the cables as such. We can use the cables for this purpose. And this shows how we can protect our cable. You see the red dots up there, and this line. This line is the fiber cable, and the red dots is a trawler approaching the cable. And when it crosses the cable, you see a small spot there, the dark spot. That is so-called AIS information. So, this is an information sent out by the vessels about their activity and their position. But it turns it on after having crossed the cable with the trawl. And there is a risk of dragging trawls and anchors across cables. We have recently seen fiber cuts in the Baltics caused by anchors being dragged over the cables. And by using this type of system, you can actually see any object approaching the cable, so that you can be able to stop it. And even if you don’t stop it, you have a better situational awareness, so you know what has actually happened if you get a cable break. So, we can use existing fiber optic communication infrastructure for sensing. And as mentioned, this is a great tool for protecting the infrastructure. You can see if anything approaches, and you can see if anything hits the cable. It also enables a whole lot of other applications, like seismic sensing. For example, for CO2 capture, you are pumping CO2 down in old oil wells. And you need to monitor if the seafloor is stable or if something happens during this injection. And by using existing fiber optic infrastructure, you can actually sense small earthquakes offshore. So, it’s very usable for that purpose also. And also for environmental sensing, you can sense ocean currents, for example. So, it’s also a tool that can be used for having a better understanding of the ocean currents, and also storms and different climate effects. So, it’s really a very interesting thing that this subsea cable infrastructure was for communication. But now it can also additionally be used for environmental sensing. So, this is really a great thing also for the humanity. You can do early detections of earthquakes, for example, and tsunamis. And you may be able to save a lot of lives with this. Okay, so thank you very much.

Christian Sorby Larsen: Please welcome to the stage, from the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities, Christian Serby Larsen. Good morning to all of you. And now for something completely different. A quote from a TV series from way back then. And I hope the main takeaway from this introduction is that you get a better understanding of the student perspective on privacy, information security, which is of core vital importance. My name is Christian Serby Larsen. And I will do a quick lecture on Beyond Devices Securing Students’ Future in a Complex Digital Sphere. In an increasingly volatile digital realm where technology evolves at an unprecedented pace, we find ourselves navigating challenges far beyond anything we previously imagined. Norway were relatively early adopters on bringing devices into the classroom. The pandemic catalyzed and further accelerated this digital shift in education. Overnight, schools were filled with new tools and platforms. Opening a world of opportunities for students. These solutions continue to offer creativity, inclusion, flexibility, adaptive training, and access in ways no analog tool can ever possibly manage to achieve. However, while the tools remain compliant and the structures to govern them, particularly in relation to children’s rights to privacy and safety, have seriously lagged behind. Now we’re facing one of the most critical tasks. To safeguard each and every student’s fundamental rights to freedom, privacy, and private lives. And to this purpose, we got to do it together. Digital technologies hold incredible promise, but they also inherently risk reinforcing social divides. Without proper stewardship, we may unintentionally widen the gaps between groups, cultures, and individuals. Resilience, resistance, and digital literacy must become vital core pillars of our educational systems. From an early age, children must be empowered to critically engage with and in the digital world. Not as passive consumers, but as informed, active, and more secure digital citizens. To that end, the Norwegian Ministry of Education, with KS, the Association of Local and Regional Authorities, has authored a comprehensive national digital strategy for education, stretching from 2023 up until 2030. This strategy emphasizes on well-governed digital resources, robust risk assessments, continuous professional development, and a clear responsibility for safeguarding digital infrastructure across the digital sector. KS has, over the last five years, made significant strides forward in these areas. Particularly through the Skolesek project, we’ve taken on some of the most complex issues in privacy and information security. Standing unified in dialogue with both hyperscalers, big providers, and local vendors. Through this collaborative approach, we’ve delivered pioneering outcomes. Among our key contributions is the National Data Privacy Impact Assessment, also known as DPIA, for Google Workspace for Education. Produced on initiative from Bergen Municipality and in collaboration with a handful of other municipalities and regional authorities. This has been hailed, even by Google, own global privacy lead, as the best material ever seen when it comes to guidance. We’ve got to do things differently. Additionally, we’ve developed a National DPIA for integrated AI in educational platforms, along with several regions and municipalities. By doing 80% of the work centrally, we’ve significantly reduced the burden on data controllers, which is to say municipalities and school owners. Looking ahead, our next challenge is already underway. A National DPIA for Microsoft 365, along with a pay-per-use model on digital learning materials. And, a closing note to all of you, we cannot close off the digital world from our children, nor should we attempt to. Instead, we must prepare them for it, through cooperation, precaution, and purpose. By applying precautionary principles, early and solid introduction to the digital sphere, and embracing opportunities, and by taking this approach, we can support students today, tomorrow, and far beyond. At KS and through Skolesek, we’re proud to contribute to this mission, and we’re more than happy to share what we’ve already learned. And I dare say, we’ve done it with flying colors. Thank you.

Oystein Eriksen Soreide: Microsoft Mechanics www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com Please welcome to the stage, from Abelia, Oystein Eriksson Soraide, and Lars Grimstad from Sage Robotics. Thank you, thank you. What an exclusive, but friendly crowd. That’s a good start. Thank you so much. My name is Oystein, I’m the CEO of Abelia, part of the Norwegian Confederation of Enterprise and HOO among friends. So we have our slides, and I’m going very shortly to also introduce my friend Lars Grimstad from Sage Robotics. He will actually be the main hero on the stage, but I will give a short introduction about Abelia first. And we will also introduce our common good friend Torval, so just wait for it. Alright, so Abelia is the trade association for tech companies, knowledge-based companies in Norway. And we represent companies within the spheres of ICT, consultancies, research, education, and so on. And as you can see, we have some very well-known logos there, and some you may not know, but who are also equally important tech and consultancy companies. Now we are, of course, in IGF, so I also want to just underline that we are also signatories of the Paris Call for Trust and Security and Cyberspace, and of course see the important role it plays in our transition in the digital world. So this is important. But speaking about transition, one of our key topics in Abelia is that we are focusing on the need for Norway and the Norwegian economy to transform. As this slide illustrates, Norway has a double transition challenge. Not only do we, as the whole world, have to go through a climate transition, we need to reach net zero within very few years. At the same time, Norway has an economy which is heavily reliant on non-renewable resources. As you all know, oil and gas, this will naturally go down in the years to come, although for many years we’ll still need it, and Norway will have a huge income from it. But as the world manages this big transition, Norway will also have to find new legs to stand on, so to speak, and that’s important. And we illustrate this by talking about the canned sardines economy. Norwegian economy is actually made up of, as you see, fish, oil, and aluminum or metals. So we need to find new legs, and luckily there are some good news. We need to diversify. And if you look at the tech sector in Norway, it is not huge, but it is important. It has, for instance, a value creation which is bigger than the Norwegian travel industry or the Norwegian seafood industry. As you can see from these slides, we have about 110,000 employees and a value creation annually of 213 billion NOK. And another important point is that this sector, this industry, is growing in number of employees more than other sectors in the Norwegian industry. So we believe that technology and knowledge-based companies are playing a very important role in this transition that Norway needs to go through. And what I find very motivating in working with our members and working for Abelia is that they’re actually solving big and real-world problems. Just next to our stand down here, you will find AIBA, which is a very interesting company working with the safety of children on the Internet. I encourage you to meet them and learn more about their services. But now I’m going to turn to Lars from Saga Robotics, and I also hinted on an introduction of Thorvald. So you have to introduce us to Thorvald.

Lars Grimstad: I will. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, so I’m Lars, CTO and co-founder of Saga Robotics. Often we just go by the name Thorvald, which is the name of our robot, because we are a company that delivers electric self-driving robots as a service to farmers. Predominantly we deliver our services to strawberry growers in the UK and wine grape growers or vineyard management companies in the US. So we started back in 2016, spent the first few years mainly making robots for research projects and so on. But in 2020 we figured it was time to start targeting kind of actual farmers as customers. So today we’re about 50 employees, we’re in the middle of a scaling journey. This year we are treating 20% of all strawberries that are grown in the UK, and that’s up from 10% last year. We started a bit later in the US, but we’re growing a bit faster. So we have roughly the same amount of robots in the UK as in the US. And we never lost a customer and all our existing customers are scaling with us, which we are very grateful for. So what is the problem that we’re trying to solve? I’m sure all of you know that the agricultural sector uses a lot of chemicals to fight disease and pests. Here are some numbers from California. So basically 25% of all pesticides used in California are used on strawberries and grapes. And also like 16 times more fungicides than used on an average crop, with total fungicide volumes doubling since the 1990s. So what are we doing? How are we getting rid of the chemicals? Well, we have these small self-driving robots, our fleet of Thorvalds. And what do they do? Well, they have UVC light that they shine on the plant, and that has the effect of killing fungus, basically. So it’s super effective against mildew, which is a major issue across a lot of crops, but it also has positive effects on a few other diseases. And obviously if you use UV light, you don’t have all the drawbacks of chemicals. You don’t have drift, you don’t expose your workers to chemicals, you don’t have to shut down a field after each treatment, as you have to do if you use chemicals. Robots are electric, so that’s less CO2 emissions, no chemical runoffs, as I mentioned, and makes it easier for our customers to comply with regulations. So what does this look like? Now I hope my video is working. Let’s see. Oh, yes. That’s good to see. So here you can see some of our robots. This is a vineyard in California. You can see the robots are driving themselves autonomously to a field. We have these vast areas. Our robots drive thousands of thousands of kilometers. Actually every week we drive about 9,000 kilometers autonomously. So these are our daytime shots. The thing about UV is that it’s more effective at night. So this is what it actually looks like, as you see here. This is the actual treatment. So it’s kind of completely dark, and you will see the robot driving along, shining this light on the crop. And it’s pretty cool to see this huge area, and you have all these tiny little blue dots driving around. It looks very sci-fi. Again, it’s completely autonomous, so you can see when it gets to the end of the row, it will just go to the next row and continue, and will drive like that through the night. Usually on a farm there will be like a little fleet of robots, and then there’s like one guy that’s kind of the operator who’s responsible for the fleet. Since the robots drive themselves, that person is just there to kind of keep an eye on operations. But everything else is kind of automatic. So this is our main service. As I mentioned, we drive about 9,000 kilometers a week. The thing about this treatment is that you have to do it quite often. You do it basically twice a week. So what we also have done is that we put some cameras on the robots, so our robots see every plant basically twice a week. So with these cameras, we’ve developed systems to kind of count the number of fruit, the number of flowers, to provide kind of extra insight to our customers on how their crop is doing. So again, we’re in the middle of a scaling journey. For now, we’re targeting the UK strawberry market and the US wine. But we’re excited to continue this growth journey, and obviously hope to move into more crops and more geographies in the years to come. So yeah, that’s us.

Oystein Eriksen Soreide: So quite impressive, isn’t it? I just want to urge you that next time you eat strawberries, especially if you do it in London, you can be pretty sure Torvald has been involved. So no wonder we in Abelia are proud of members like Saga Robotics and other very interesting state-of-the-art companies that solve real-world problems in various sectors. So thank you for the attention. Thank you. Thank you.

Francis D Silva:

Agreement points

Digital infrastructure serves as critical foundation for societal transformation and governance

Speakers

– Francis D Silva
– Steiner Bjornstad

Arguments

National registers serve as critical tools for transparency, trust and legitimacy in society

Fiber optic communication infrastructure can be repurposed for sensing and protection capabilities

Summary

Both speakers emphasize that digital infrastructure goes beyond basic functionality to serve as foundational elements for societal operations, governance, and protection of critical systems

Topics

Infrastructure | Cybersecurity | Legal and regulatory

Technology solutions must address real-world problems while maintaining security and trust

Speakers

– Francis D Silva
– Christian Sorby Larsen
– Lars Grimstad

Arguments

Data as evidence requires verifiable, secure credentials to strengthen governance and reduce bureaucracy

Comprehensive national data privacy impact assessments are essential for educational technology platforms

Agricultural robotics demonstrates how technology companies solve real-world problems while scaling commercially

Summary

All three speakers advocate for technology implementations that solve practical problems while maintaining robust security, privacy, and trust frameworks

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Human rights | Development

Collaborative approaches are essential for effective digital governance and implementation

Speakers

– Francis D Silva
– Christian Sorby Larsen

Arguments

Digital sovereignty requires control over digital infrastructure while enabling collaboration and interoperability

Collaborative approaches to privacy assessments reduce burden on individual data controllers

Summary

Both speakers emphasize that effective digital governance requires collaborative frameworks that balance sovereignty/control with cooperation and shared responsibility

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Infrastructure | Human rights

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers advocate for leveraging existing digital infrastructure for environmental monitoring and sustainability purposes, emphasizing the dual-use potential of technology systems

Speakers

– Francis D Silva
– Steiner Bjornstad

Arguments

Existing subsea cable infrastructure can additionally serve environmental sensing and early warning systems

Sustainability reporting should be digitalized for real-time, automated structured reporting rather than manual processes

Topics

Infrastructure | Development | Sustainability

Both speakers demonstrate how technology companies are driving economic transformation while solving environmental challenges, showing the dual benefit of technological innovation

Speakers

– Oystein Eriksen Soreide
– Lars Grimstad

Arguments

Technology sector plays crucial role in economic transformation with growing employment and value creation

Electric autonomous robots can replace chemical pesticides in agriculture, reducing environmental impact

Topics

Economic | Development | Infrastructure

Both speakers emphasize the importance of empowering users with secure, privacy-respecting digital systems that enable active participation rather than passive consumption

Speakers

– Francis D Silva
– Christian Sorby Larsen

Arguments

Digital credentials enhance security and privacy while operating invisibly in the background

Students must be empowered as informed, active digital citizens rather than passive consumers

Topics

Human rights | Sociocultural | Legal and regulatory

Unexpected consensus

Dual-use infrastructure for both operational and environmental purposes

Speakers

– Francis D Silva
– Steiner Bjornstad

Arguments

Sustainability reporting should be digitalized for real-time, automated structured reporting rather than manual processes

Existing subsea cable infrastructure can additionally serve environmental sensing and early warning systems

Explanation

Unexpected consensus emerged around the concept that existing digital infrastructure can and should serve dual purposes – both operational/commercial and environmental/safety functions. This represents a sophisticated understanding of infrastructure optimization that wasn’t necessarily predictable from their different organizational backgrounds

Topics

Infrastructure | Development | Cybersecurity

Technology as solution to traditional industry challenges while maintaining sovereignty

Speakers

– Francis D Silva
– Oystein Eriksen Soreide
– Lars Grimstad

Arguments

Digital sovereignty requires control over digital infrastructure while enabling collaboration and interoperability

Norway faces a double transition challenge requiring diversification from oil-dependent economy

Electric autonomous robots can replace chemical pesticides in agriculture, reducing environmental impact

Explanation

Unexpected consensus around the idea that Norway can maintain digital sovereignty while simultaneously using technology to transform traditional industries (oil, agriculture) and address environmental challenges. This sophisticated balance between national control and technological innovation wasn’t necessarily predictable

Topics

Economic | Infrastructure | Development

Overall assessment

Summary

Strong consensus emerged around the themes of digital infrastructure as foundational to society, the importance of collaborative approaches to governance, the dual-use potential of technology systems, and the role of technology in solving real-world problems while maintaining security and trust

Consensus level

High level of consensus with significant implications for digital policy and governance. The speakers, despite representing different sectors (government registers, telecommunications, education, business associations, and robotics), shared remarkably aligned views on the strategic importance of digital infrastructure, the need for collaborative governance frameworks, and the potential for technology to address both economic and environmental challenges simultaneously. This consensus suggests a mature understanding of digital transformation challenges in Norway and points toward integrated policy approaches that balance sovereignty, collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.

Different viewpoints

Approach to digital sovereignty and control vs. openness

Speakers

– Francis D Silva
– Christian Sorby Larsen

Arguments

Digital sovereignty requires control over digital infrastructure while enabling collaboration and interoperability

Students must be empowered as informed, active digital citizens rather than passive consumers

Summary

Silva emphasizes national control over digital infrastructure and data management as key to sovereignty, while Sorby Larsen advocates for empowering individuals (students) to actively engage with digital technologies rather than controlling their access to them.

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory | Infrastructure

Unexpected differences

Role of automation vs. human agency in digital systems

Speakers

– Francis D Silva
– Christian Sorby Larsen

Arguments

Digital credentials enhance security and privacy while operating invisibly in the background

Students must be empowered as informed, active digital citizens rather than passive consumers

Explanation

Silva advocates for systems that operate ‘invisibly in the background’ with minimal user interaction, while Sorby Larsen emphasizes the need for active, informed engagement. This represents an unexpected philosophical divide about whether good digital systems should be transparent and engaging or seamless and invisible.

Topics

Human rights | Sociocultural | Legal and regulatory

Overall assessment

Summary

The speakers show remarkable alignment on the importance of digital transformation, sustainability, and technology’s role in solving real-world problems. The main areas of disagreement center on governance approaches (centralized control vs. individual empowerment) and system design philosophy (invisible automation vs. transparent engagement).

Disagreement level

Low to moderate disagreement level. The speakers are largely complementary rather than contradictory, representing different aspects of digital transformation (infrastructure, education, economic, environmental). The disagreements that exist are more about approach and emphasis rather than fundamental opposition, suggesting a healthy diversity of perspectives within a shared vision of digital progress.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers advocate for leveraging existing digital infrastructure for environmental monitoring and sustainability purposes, emphasizing the dual-use potential of technology systems

Speakers

– Francis D Silva
– Steiner Bjornstad

Arguments

Existing subsea cable infrastructure can additionally serve environmental sensing and early warning systems

Sustainability reporting should be digitalized for real-time, automated structured reporting rather than manual processes

Topics

Infrastructure | Development | Sustainability

Both speakers demonstrate how technology companies are driving economic transformation while solving environmental challenges, showing the dual benefit of technological innovation

Speakers

– Oystein Eriksen Soreide
– Lars Grimstad

Arguments

Technology sector plays crucial role in economic transformation with growing employment and value creation

Electric autonomous robots can replace chemical pesticides in agriculture, reducing environmental impact

Topics

Economic | Development | Infrastructure

Both speakers emphasize the importance of empowering users with secure, privacy-respecting digital systems that enable active participation rather than passive consumption

Speakers

– Francis D Silva
– Christian Sorby Larsen

Arguments

Digital credentials enhance security and privacy while operating invisibly in the background

Students must be empowered as informed, active digital citizens rather than passive consumers

Topics

Human rights | Sociocultural | Legal and regulatory

Key takeaways

Digital infrastructure must balance national sovereignty with international collaboration and interoperability

Existing infrastructure can be repurposed for multiple functions – fiber optic cables can serve both communication and sensing/protection purposes

Real-time, automated data reporting systems are more effective than manual, fragmented processes for sustainability and governance

Digital credentials and verifiable data are essential for strengthening governance while reducing bureaucracy

Educational systems must prioritize digital literacy and empower students as active digital citizens rather than passive consumers

Collaborative approaches to privacy assessments and data protection can significantly reduce administrative burden on individual organizations

Technology companies are solving real-world problems while contributing to economic diversification and environmental sustainability

Agricultural robotics demonstrates successful commercial scaling of environmentally-friendly alternatives to chemical-intensive practices

Norway faces a critical economic transition requiring diversification from oil-dependency through technology and knowledge-based industries

Resolutions and action items

Continue development of national digital infrastructure platforms that enable integration across sectors

Advance from batch data processing to near real-time sustainability reporting systems

Expand collaborative privacy impact assessments to cover Microsoft 365 and other educational platforms

Scale agricultural robotics services to additional crops and geographic markets

Implement fiber sensing technology for infrastructure protection and environmental monitoring

Unresolved issues

How to effectively balance digital sovereignty with necessary international collaboration and data sharing

Specific mechanisms for ensuring digital tools align with democratic values while remaining functional

Methods for preventing technology from reinforcing social divides and widening gaps between groups

Strategies for managing the timeline and scale of Norway’s economic transition from oil-dependency

Technical challenges in scaling real-time sustainability reporting across all sectors

Suggested compromises

Digital sovereignty through national platforms while maintaining active participation in European projects and transnational collaboration

Centralized privacy impact assessments that handle 80% of the work while allowing local customization for individual data controllers

Gradual transition from manual to automated reporting systems rather than immediate wholesale changes

Transparency is not just about compliance, it’s also about creating conditions for trust, innovation and accountability… when sustainability data becomes accessible and actionable, it becomes a catalyst for transformation and not just a checkbox.

Speaker

Francis D Silva

Reason

This reframes sustainability reporting from a bureaucratic burden to a transformative tool. It challenges the common perception that ESG reporting is merely regulatory compliance by positioning it as an enabler of societal change and innovation.

Impact

This comment established the foundational theme for the entire discussion – that digital infrastructure and technology should serve broader societal purposes beyond mere functionality. It set the tone for subsequent speakers to discuss how their technologies solve real-world problems rather than just technical challenges.

Sovereignty doesn’t mean isolation. On the contrary, we believe that sovereignty implies collaboration… This is about secure, values-driven digital infrastructure, sovereign but also transnational.

Speaker

Francis D Silva

Reason

This paradoxical statement challenges the typical understanding of digital sovereignty as protectionist or isolationist. It introduces a nuanced view that true sovereignty requires strategic collaboration and interoperability while maintaining control over core values and data governance.

Impact

This redefinition of digital sovereignty as collaborative rather than isolationist provided a conceptual framework that influenced how subsequent speakers approached the balance between local control and global connectivity in their presentations.

We can use existing fiber optic communication infrastructure for sensing… this subsea cable infrastructure was for communication. But now it can also additionally be used for environmental sensing. So, this is really a great thing also for the humanity.

Speaker

Steiner Bjornstad

Reason

This reveals how existing infrastructure can be repurposed for entirely different but critical applications – from communication to environmental monitoring and disaster prevention. It demonstrates innovative thinking about dual-use technologies and infrastructure efficiency.

Impact

This comment shifted the discussion from building new infrastructure to maximizing the potential of existing systems. It introduced the concept of infrastructure convergence and multi-purpose technology deployment, influencing how the audience might think about resource optimization.

We cannot close off the digital world from our children, nor should we attempt to. Instead, we must prepare them for it, through cooperation, precaution, and purpose.

Speaker

Christian Sorby Larsen

Reason

This challenges the protective instinct to shield children from digital risks by advocating for empowerment through education instead. It reframes the debate from restriction to preparation, emphasizing digital citizenship over digital abstinence.

Impact

This comment introduced a philosophical shift in approaching digital safety for children, moving from a defensive to an empowering stance. It influenced the overall narrative toward building resilience and capability rather than creating barriers.

Norway has a double transition challenge. Not only do we… have to go through a climate transition, we need to reach net zero within very few years. At the same time, Norway has an economy which is heavily reliant on non-renewable resources.

Speaker

Oystein Eriksen Soreide

Reason

This articulates the complex intersection of environmental and economic transformation, specifically highlighting Norway’s unique position as an oil-rich nation that must simultaneously lead in climate action and economic diversification.

Impact

This comment provided crucial context for understanding why technological innovation and digital transformation are not just opportunities but necessities for Norway. It connected all previous discussions about digital infrastructure, sustainability reporting, and innovation to a national imperative.

Overall assessment

These key comments collectively transformed what could have been a series of disconnected technical presentations into a cohesive narrative about purposeful digital transformation. Francis D Silva’s opening redefinition of transparency and sovereignty established a values-driven framework that influenced subsequent speakers to position their work within broader societal contexts. Bjornstad’s insight about dual-use infrastructure and Larsen’s empowerment-over-protection philosophy reinforced the theme of maximizing positive impact from existing resources and capabilities. Finally, Soreide’s framing of Norway’s double transition challenge provided the economic and environmental urgency that justified the entire discussion. Together, these comments created a progression from philosophical foundation (values-driven technology) through practical innovation (infrastructure optimization and digital citizenship) to national imperative (economic transformation), making the discussion more than the sum of its parts.

How can the transition from batch data to near real-time reporting in sustainability reporting be effectively implemented across different sectors?

Speaker

Francis D Silva

Explanation

This represents a significant technical and operational challenge that requires further investigation to understand the infrastructure, standards, and coordination needed for real-time ESG data collection and reporting.

What are the specific mechanisms and protocols needed to ensure secure data sharing while maintaining digital sovereignty in cross-border collaborations?

Speaker

Francis D Silva

Explanation

This addresses the complex balance between national control over digital infrastructure and the need for international cooperation, particularly in European projects like the cancer plan mentioned.

How can digital credentials be standardized and implemented across different sectors to ensure interoperability while maintaining security?

Speaker

Francis D Silva

Explanation

The implementation of verifiable digital credentials requires technical standards and governance frameworks that need further development and research.

What are the most effective early warning systems and response protocols when fiber sensing detects threats to subsea cable infrastructure?

Speaker

Steiner Bjornstad

Explanation

While the technology can detect approaching threats like trawlers or anchors, the practical implementation of response systems to prevent cable damage requires further development.

How can fiber sensing technology be optimized for different environmental monitoring applications beyond infrastructure protection?

Speaker

Steiner Bjornstad

Explanation

The speaker mentioned various applications like seismic sensing, CO2 monitoring, and ocean current detection, but these applications need further research and development for practical implementation.

What are the long-term effectiveness and scalability challenges of the centralized DPIA approach for educational technology platforms?

Speaker

Christian Sorby Larsen

Explanation

While the approach has shown success, understanding its scalability and long-term sustainability across different educational contexts requires further study.

How can digital literacy curricula be standardized and implemented effectively across different age groups and educational levels?

Speaker

Christian Sorby Larsen

Explanation

The speaker emphasized the need for digital literacy as a core pillar but the specific implementation strategies and curricula development require further research.

What are the specific pathways and timeline for Norway’s economic diversification from oil and gas dependency to technology-based industries?

Speaker

Oystein Eriksen Soreide

Explanation

The ‘double transition challenge’ mentioned requires detailed economic modeling and strategic planning to understand how the tech sector can effectively replace traditional industries.

How can UV treatment technology be adapted and scaled for different crop types and geographical conditions beyond strawberries and grapes?

Speaker

Lars Grimstad

Explanation

The speaker mentioned plans to expand to more crops and geographies, but this requires research into the effectiveness of UV treatment on different plant species and environmental conditions.

What are the economic and environmental impact metrics of replacing chemical pesticides with robotic UV treatment across large-scale agricultural operations?

Speaker

Lars Grimstad

Explanation

While benefits were mentioned, comprehensive studies on cost-effectiveness, environmental impact, and scalability across different farming operations are needed.