 |
| Brage W. Johansen (left) presents Think Outside the Planet's stand for a smiling King Harald (middle). Photo: Norwegian Space Centre |
At first glance the space industry and the oil and gas sector seem like odd partners. One operates off shore and the other in space. But both work in hostile and remote environments under extreme conditions and drive the development of new and innovative technology.
The network Think Outside the Planet promotes exchange of technology between space and other sectors, in particular the oil and gas industry. Participants in the network include the Norwegian Space Centre, the European Space Agency, the research centre IRIS, Statoil, Telenor, Oceaneering, National Oilwell Varco and others.
Think Outside the Planet presented both a stand and seminars at the energy conference ONS in Stavanger 23.-27. August 2010. ONS is one of the leading conferences in the oil and gas industry and is held biannually. This year more than 47 000 participants from over 90 countries visited the stands.
New resources from space
Guest of honour and speaker at the seminar on Wednesday 25. August was Dr. Peter Diamandis, founder and CEO of the X Prize Foundation. In 1996 the Foundation announced the Ansari X Prize, 10 million dollars for the first private organisation to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into space twice within two weeks.
The prize was won in 2004 by Scaled Composites and their SpaceShipOne intended for space tourism. The X Prize Foundation has later announced other prizes to further encourage innovation in the private space industry and other sectors, such as the Google Lunar X Prize and the Automotive X Prize.
 |
| Dr. Peter Diamandis during his talk at Think Outside the Planet's seminar. Photo: Norwegian Space Centre |
At the seminar Dr. Diamandis emphasised Norway's unique position having both an innovative offshore and space industry and the possibility of combining this with knowledge from the mining industry.
- Space has large quantities of metals and other resources that are dwindling on Earth, in the future we will have to find our resources in space, Dr. Diamandis said. Attaining those resources will require an appetite for risk, but the rewards will far outweigh the hazards.
Norway has taken similar chances before, with the decision to start searching for oil in the North Sea, Dr. Diamandis pointed out.
You can read more of Dr. Diamandis' thoughts on space, innovation and technology exchange in the interview here.
Robots, artificial intelligence and risk management
Notable speakers at the seminars included Mr. Pål Julius Skogholt - state secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Guiseppe Morsillo - Director for ESA's Policy Office, Svenn F. Utengen - VP of Technology Management at Statoil, and Dr. Tara Estlin - scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratories.
 |
| Think Outside the Planet's stand at ONS 2010. Photo: Norwegian Space Centre |
Speakers also included Dr. Hans Amundsen - geologist and Head of AMASE (Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expeditions), Mr. Erik Tandberg - civil engineer and consultant to the Norwegian Space Centre, Dr. Knut Øxnevad - CEO of Simtano and former researcher at JPL, Mr. Kenneth Mikalsen - CTO of Seabed Rig, and Mr. Cato Wille - Chief Researcher at Statoil.
The speakers identified robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, long distance communication, risk management and organisation structure as fields particularly important for technology exchange between space and the oil and gas industry.
A visit from the King
At Think Outside the Planet's 90 square metre stand visitors could watch, hear and read about technology exchange between space and other industries while standing on a moon-like surface under a sky of spotlight stars.
 |
| From the royal visit at Think Outside the Planet's stand. Photo: Norwegian Space Centre |
His Royal Highness King Harald V had requested to see the stand during his visit at the conference. Mr. Brage W. Johansen, VP for strategy and business development at IRIS and organiser for Think Outside the Planet, presented the stand for the King.
The King enjoyed the visit and stayed for longer than planned at the stand.
Exchanging ideas and technology
During the conference more than 9000 issues of Think Outside the Planet's Space & Energy catalogue was handed out. The Norwegian Space Centre has already received requests from new partners to join the network.
 |
| Think Outside the Planet - exchange of technology to and from space. Illustration: Think Outside the Planet |
- All interested parties are welcome to join the network to exchange ideas and technology, we aim to start several new projects and will arrange a new seminar already next year, says Mr. Bjørn Ottar Elseth, Senior Adviser for Industrial Coordination at the Norwegian Space Centre and organiser for Think Outside the Planet.
Read more about the network and the exchange of technology between space and other sectors here: Think Outside the Planet
For more information
Marianne Moen – Deputy Director General for the Department of Corporate Communications and Education at the Norwegian Space Centre – 22 51 18 17 / 480 63 743
Bjørn Ottar Elseth - Senior Adviser for Industrial Coordination at the Norwegian Space Centre – 22 51 18 11 / 905 74 985
Brage W. Johansen - Vice President for Strategy and Business Development at IRIS and organiser for Think Outside the Planet – 911 81 129 - bwj @ iris.no
