NTNUResearch Education Innovation Dissemination

– a taste of our activities

2006

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology

(NTNU) in Trondheim represents academic eminence in

technology and the natural sciences as well as in other

academic disciplines ranging from the social sciences, the

arts, medicine, architecture to fine arts. Cross-disciplinary

cooperation results in ideas no one else has thought of,

and creative solutions that change our daily lives.

Read more at www.ntnu.no

Education 3 Role play for green energy 4 Students develop Supercar 4 Master’s in Molecular Medicine 5An education for the future 5Rise in doctorates 6 Discovered coal treasure for Statoil 6 Continuing education for leaders 7 How to be an entrepreneur 7 The Trondheim Academy of Fine Art: «Apparatus #1» 8

Research 9 Searching for cancer drugs 10Snake robot to the rescue 10The echo-free room 11 Supersuit from NTNU 11 A farewell to rats 12 Linguists in Ghana 12 Renewable energy on Buldra 13 Measuring forces with the waves 13 Wireless Trondheim 14 Located the sense of locality 15Best in Scandinavian Studies 15Drilling for oil in the Arctic 16 Takes care of the species 16

Innovation and Industry 17 From student project to million-sized enterprise 18 Success with silicon 18 SEC in the limelight 18 Absorbing sound with metal plates 19 New antibiotics 19 Entrepreneurs backed by Statoil 20Trondheim – city of search engines 20Powerful cooperation 20

Dissemination 21 Improvization for everybody 22 Techne to the people 23 Art at the Nathionaltheateret stasjon 23 Technoport – hi-tech festival 24 From movie to file 24 Hydropower in 17 volumes 25Researchers' Night in Trondheim 25Competence in dissemination 25 Chinese invasion 26 Gemini wins again 26 NTNU’s own cultural house 27 Ready for Poland 2006 27

Alumni 28

Organization 29 Contact information 29Key financial data 29 Organizational chart 30Faculties in brief 31

Produced and published by NTNU’s Information Division, June 2006.

Text: Beate Horg and Ragnhild Krogvig Karlsen. English edition: Randi O. Gamlemshaug and Stewart Clark.

Design/production: NTNU Info. Print: Tapir Uttrykk. Print: 6,500.

www.ntnu.no

Innovation and CreativityNTNU:

The pictures on the

front, back and above are

from this year’s recruitment

campaign at NTNU.

Photo: Geir Mogen.

This brochure presents some of NTNU’s various activities within

research, education, innovation and dissemination over the past year.

The brochure is published annually in Norwegian and English.

EducationNTNU is responsible for technological education in

Norway, awarding approximately 80 per cent of all Master

of Science/advanced engineering degrees in the country.

We specialize in technology and the natural sciences, but

we also offer a wide selection of programmes in fine art

and aesthetics as well as the humanities, social sciences,

economics and business, and public administration.

NTNU also has programmes of professional studies in

medicine, psychology, architecture, visual art, and music,

as well as a comprehensive teacher education programme.

In 2005, NTNU developed and tested its quality assurance

system (KVASS) for all aspects of teaching. It was launched

in spring 2006. Faculty-specific guidelines for the examination

system and the work on individual education plans for all

students have been established. Separate measures for

mathematics teaching in the technology programmes have

resulted in a significant decrease in the failure rate.

Key figures from 2005

✔ 58 000 applicants for university entrance

✔ 9000 primary applicants

✔ 20 000 enrolled students

✔ 3000 graduated

✔ 220 doctorates awarded

✔ 530 NTNU students studying abroad

✔ 650 international students at NTNU

Photos: Arild Juul

4Education NTNU 2006

We have reached 2017, and nobody invests

in new renewable energy sources any

longer. Neither in windmills nor in micro

hydroelectric power stations. Why not? Fif-

teen energy students occupy a computer

lab in Trondheim, staring gloomily at the

screens. They are in the middle of a role

play about the power market of the future.

The Norwegian Water Resources and

Energy Directorate (NVE) creates scenarios

of how the authorities can promote green

energy and have adopted a rather untradi-

tional method. It is called ‘experimental

economy’, a field that earned Vernon

Smith a Nobel Prize in 2002. Experimental

economy adopts the laboratory principle

as a tool for testing theories. Humans

enter as active participants to create real

situations. In role plays, the participants

provide an interesting picture of what

might happen in real life.

The NTNU students have been chosen

because they know how to play their roles

well. They know a lot about energy, and

they are familiar with using laboratories

when looking for answers.

The experiment starts in 2005 and ends

in 2020 – in the virtual world completed in

45 minutes. How can the economists be

sure the entire experiment does not end in

utter nonsense? Well, the role players are

paid for their efforts according to the

amount of money they earn in the game.

«The Green Certificate Market» deals

with the system of granting certificates to

producers of new renewable energy. The

certificates will function as securities in a

power market with fluctuating market pri-

ces, which makes the results relatively

unpredictable. The point of the game

includes determining the electricity price

that will provide adequate development,

and revealing the incentives that make

people choose green energy. The role

players have certain premises they must

play by, such as the number of green cer-

tificates, quota sizes or the prices for

energy consumption. Then, it is time for

investing, buying and selling. The more

genuine the motivation, the more realistic

the actions and situations.

Project leader Klaus Vogstad and the

students at the Department of Energy and

Process Engineering have conducted seve-

ral experiments, and their work has resul-

ted in specific recommendations for NVE.

Illustration: NTNU Info/Lars Hegdal

NTNU cooperates with Bård Eker Indus-

trial Design in Fredrikstad. They combine

education and recruitment for the benefit

of all parties involved. Several former

students have started work within this

exciting environment designing anything

from video projectors to boats that practi-

cally fly on the surface. The Swedish car

manufacturer Koenigsegg has commissi-

oned these students for a new design and

a technological platform for their car.

Professor Terje Rølvåg at the Department

of Engineering Design and Materials

Science explains why the students are so

sought after by this industry. «For several

years, our Department has built up car

engineering expertise through cooperati-

on with international car manufacturers

and Norwegian suppliers to the car indus-

try. Our research includes both design

and production, and we develop software

for the virtual testing of car parts.»

Students develop Supercar

Seven engineering students from NTNU are involved in the development of a new

’Grease Lightning’ – a car that will set speed records of 400 km/h and higher.

Photo: NTNU Info/Arne Asphjell

NEED FOR SPEED: Rølvåg and Eker by the Koenigsegg carthat sat a speed record with 388 km/h earlier this year. The goal for the new model is to exceed 400 km/h.

Role play for green energy

Education5

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An education for the futureAn advanced engineer in nanotechnology solves challenges we are not yet aware of. The sky is the limit.

The new advanced engineering programme

in nanotechnology at NTNU is as future-

oriented as it gets. With this knowledge,

students will solve riddles that could

result in new medication and clean energy.

This is the first time a programme of

this kind is offered by a Norwegian

university, and the students will become

the first advanced engineers in nano-

technology in Norway.

Roughly speaking, nanotechnology

deals with the study and manipulation of

molecules and atoms. The technology

provides insight into an invisible world of

fantastic opportunities, and by using the

proper tools the students can design

materials with special properties. For

this reason, the programme has an inter-

disciplinary profile and the students are

taught numerous related subjects.

Nanotechnology will form a

natural part of our future in many

different areas, including the

development of technology within

environment and energy, communications

technology, and medical technology.

This education offers a wide range

of professional careers within industry,

future-oriented business activities,

and research.

The nanotechnology students will also learn how this instrument works – a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope (STM)

used for detecting microscopic organisms regardless of the material’s temperature.

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Master’s in Molecular MedicineThe thriving development within

medical technology increases the

need for specialization within laboratory

work. NTNU offers the first Master’s

Degree programme in Molecular

Medicine in Norway.

Are you wondering what exactly

happens in our cells when we are sick?

Or what our genes can reveal about

our tolerance to medication? Ask a

molecular physician.

The mapping of the human DNA was

a turning point. Knowledge about genes

has become relevant within all fields. We

keep learning increasingly more about

molecules in living organisms, how they

function and interact. One of those who

has been part of this revolution is

Professor Are Dalen at the Department

of Laboratory Medicine at NTNU. He

emphasizes the great need for highly

trained specialists.

«The Faculty of Medicine used to

offer molecular genetics and biochemis-

try at master’s level, but this offer is

now replaced by a separate Master’s

programme.»

The first ten students started

in the autumn of 2005. «These

students are the future hospital

laboratory leaders. This programme

also provides teaching qualifications

in an area that is much in demand,»

Dalen stresses.

The aim of the degree programme

is to develop knowledge and skills which

are useful both in research and practical

clinical work. In the longer term, this

will contribute to the increased under-

standing of processes, diagnostics, and

treatment of diseases.

The teaching is provided by the

Faculty of Natural Sciences and

Technology and by the Faculty of

Medicine in cooperation with the bio-

engineering programme at Sør-Trønde-

lag University College. Experts from

other educational institutions with

background from different special

fields will also contribute.

6Education NTNU 2006

Photo: NTNU Info/Rune Petter Ness

Rise in doctoratesMore people are aiming for the highest

academic degree. Last year saw the defence of

more than 800 doctoral theses at Norwegian

universities and university colleges. NTNU and

the University of Oslo are experiencing the

highest increase, primarily within medicine,

mathematics and the natural sciences.

The percentage of female candidates

is also rising. Last year, it was 40 percent

– which equals the 2002 figure, the best

year ever. The doctoral candidates have a

strong international profile which is new to

the academic environments. Looking back

at 1991, five per cent of the candidates

were foreign nationals. The percentage

today exceeds 20.

The exact figures show a constant rise in

the number of people defending their the-

ses. A total of 855 completed their doctorate

last year, as against 782 the previous year.

This is an increase of nine per cent since

2004. Looking back at 2003, the increase is

a remarkable 18 per cent.

The doctoral degree register at NIFU

STEP keeps track of all doctoral degrees

awarded by Norwegian educational instituti-

ons since 1817.

Discovered coal treasure for StatoilFour NTNU students had the best summer

job ever at Statoil as they helped map coal

deposits on the Norwegian continental

shelf (NCS). After eight weeks, Helene

Wendelbo, Kari Faksvåg, Halvor Bunkholdt

Sæter and Trond Kristian Kalsø had

discovered 3,000 billion tonnes of coal.

That is three times more than all known,

recoverable coal in the world.

«For a long time, geologists have sus-

pected that the Norwegian Sea contained

major coal reserves. Now, they have put

a figure on it, making the nation aware of

the resources out there. If we recover 0.5

per cent of the coal reserves from the

North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the

Barents Sea, we will get more energy than

provided by the oil and gas on the NCS

combined,» says the leader of the student

project, Olav Kårstad, Energy Advisor at

Statoil New Energy.

The students examined 600 wells, and

found the largest deposit under the oil-

field at Haltenbanken. The coal is deposi-

ted deep in the sea bed, at depths of

1,500–4,000 metres.

Indeed, another generation may pass

before we have the technology to recover

these coal deposits, not to mention doing

it in an environmentally friendly manner.

Statoil will continue the mapping and

conduct research to find out how to best

exploit these reserves.

Education7

NTNU 2006

This unique programme cultivates the

Scandinavian model of management and

focuses on the effects of technological

changes on different society levels.

The Master’s programme in Orga-

nization and Management is based on

experience and gathers several of

NTNU’s offers within continuing edu-

cation under one umbrella. The program-

me consists of modules that can be

completed as a whole or taken individual-

ly. Thus, the master’s degree is a

continuing education for students

who wish to combine work and

education, and the programme has

many options.

As the programme is designed for

people working full-time, the department

for continuing education at NTNU –

NTNU Videre – has developed tailored

teaching plans for individual establish-

ments. The courses are therefore arran-

ged all over the country – so far in

Trondheim, Oslo, Sandefjord and

Stavanger, and more than 400 exams

have been taken.

The content of the course is highly

varied. These are a few examples:

Management and Strategy; Project Risk

Management; Organizational Design

using IT; International Business Develop-

ment; and Production Systems, Automa-

tion and Industrial Development.

Continuing education for leaders

NTNU’s Master’s programme in Organization and Management is based on the fact

that values are created in interaction between technology, people and society.

The Entrepreneur School is a popularprogramme at NTNU, and an importantcontribution to boosting innovation.

The education is taken in the fourth andfifth years of the advanced engineering pro-gramme, and only 18 students are admittedeach year. The admission is based on gra-des, a written application and interviews,and only the highest motivated studentsslip through the eye of the needle. Somestudents already have an idea ready whenwriting their applications, but most of themstart their studies looking for 'the right'idea. This work is both time-consumingand exhausting, and the students learn howto use their network and their critical skills.

The students at the Entrepreneur Schoolmay choose among several interdisciplina-ry courses and subjects such as internatio-nalization, marketing, strategic negotiati-ons, and negotiating techniques are cen-tral. The students work ‘out in the field’throughout the entire programme – ateaching method Gro and Stian appreciate.

«We get to test marketing and sales, welearn how to identify the potential of an ideaand work with research environments aswell as industry. That is quite different fromjust reading theory ...»

The Entrepreneur School is part of theDepartment of Industrial Economics and

Technology Management (IØT).

Gro Kleveland (26) and Stian Remåd

(25) are freshmen at NTNU’s Entre-

preneur School - a master’s pro-

gramme aiming to create values in

the shape of new knowledge, tech-

nological progress and workplaces.

How to be an entrepreneur

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8Education NTNU 2006

The Trondheim Academy of Fine Art: «Apparatus #1»On the exhibition «Turbulence» at the gallery KiT the public functioned as sculptures – they were

quite simply vacuum-packed. The artist behind this installation is first-year student Kristoffer Myskja.

ResearchNTNU is at the forefront of technological research and

education in Norway, with its foundation in the natural

sciences. Our goal is to ensure that Norwegian technolo-

gical competence remains at a high level internationally.

In 2004, an international investigation revealed that the

technological research at NTNU is of a very high quality.

In addition to being leading within technology, NTNU also

has the most extensive university environment in the fine

arts and aesthetics.

NTNU puts a premium on interdisciplinary cooperation

across all academic disciplines: technology, the fine arts,

the humanities, medicine, social science, architecture,

and natural science.

The academic disciplines at NTNU and SINTEF cooperate

in research, innovation and business development at 15

Gemini centres.

Key figures from 2005

✔ 2200 approved scientific publications

✔ 1850 research projects

✔ 46 research projects in the EU’s 5th and 6th framework programmes

✔ 6 strategic areas

✔ 15 Gemini centres in cooperation with SINTEF

✔ 3 Centres of Excellence

Photos (from the top):

– NTNU Info/Rune Petter Ness

– Department of Chemical Engineering

– NTNU SA/Kim Nygård

10Research NTNU 2006

Snake robot to the rescueImagine a robot that can climb stairs,

force its way past beams and twist itself

around corners. With its built-in water tap

it pumps water in multiple directions. The

snake robot is moved by a hydraulic water

pressure of 100 bar – enough to elevate a

car. It can move in places where even the

bravest of fire-fighters must give in and

humans cannot enter: in places with

extreme heat and danger of explosions,

or in underwater oil installations.

«The snake’s advantage is that is

moves with suppleness through rugged

terrain. They don’t get caught in things.

A human creature with legs or wheels

would be easier to make, but we found

inspiration with the reptiles,» says Project

Manager Øyvind Stavdahl. In the attempt

to transfer this primitive animal’s nervous

system and movements to robot techno-

logy, the scientists simultaneously open

a totally new theoretical field. It is

engineering cybernetics that opens such

new possibilities and inventions.

SINTEF and NTNU are leading re-

search institutions in this type of bio-

inspired robot technology. Extensive

cooperation with universities and insti-

tutes in northern Europe has already

been initiated. Participants include

NTNU, SINTEF, ETH Zurich, Fraunhofer,

Tampere University of Technology,

Sheffield Hallam University, and the

Technical University of Denmark.

Photo: NTNU Info/Rune Petter Ness

The Department of Cancer Research and

Molecular Medicine at NTNU leave the

mice alone. Instead, they use an electro-

nic laboratory. By using mathematical

calculations and computer simulation,

chemical engineers at NTNU can discover

whether a substance has the necessary

qualities and properties for medical use

before practical testing.

«Right now, we are looking for new

substances for cancer drugs. We started

off with a base of 250,000 chemical

compounds and narrowed it down to

1,200 substances for further testing. The

computer program simulates how the

chemical substances may affect our

bodies. After one year we are left with

eight substances that hopefully will form

the basis of a new drug,» says Post doc.

Kristin Tøndel.

Using normal laboratory tests on mice

to find a good candidate among 250,000

chemical compounds would have taken

close to 10,000 years.

Searching for cancer drugs

Developing new medication costs time, money and pain. An electronic laboratory can

perform 10,000 years of testing in one year, and at the same time spare many animal lives.

The snake robot, here in SINTEF researcher

Pål Liljebäck’s lap, has 20 hydraulic motors.

Research11

NTNU 2006

Supersuit from NTNU

Cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen strikes again. In winter 2006, she leads the world cup for the second year in a row and the final sprint often earns her a victory.

Lars Sætran and Sveinung Løset at theDepartment of Energy and Process Engin-

eering are researching into surfaces andair resistance. They estimate that her suitcould save her from 3 to 14 seconds on a15-kilometre race. Inspired by the aero-dynamic properties of a golf ball, they putthe sewing machines to work. Two yearsof research with testing in NTNU’s wind

tunnel lies behind the result: The surfaceis smooth over the hips, stomach, chestand back, and rough on the calves, knees,thighs and arms.

The ski suit has been developed incooperation between the ski wax producerSwix and the two professors.

In this special laboratory at NTNU/SINTEF,

complete stillness prevails. The walls,

floor and ceiling are clad with a one-metre

thick layer of mineral wool. Practically all

sound that hits the surface is absorbed,

and very little is reflected. The experience

is very special – a different world?

The echo-free room built in 1963,

was for a long time the only one of its

kind in Norway.

It can be used for sound recording

or accurate sound measuring without

interference from the surroundings. A

hi-fi expert would prick his or her ears

to measuring such things as frequency

response and radiation patterns for

loudspeakers. Do we have headphones

that can reproduce the exact acoustic

experience from a concert stage? We

can investigate that here.

The echo-free room

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When fighting against the clock, margins count. Who wouldn’t want to give Marit Bjørgen a little tailwind on the home straight?

12Research NTNU 2006

At regular intervals, rats are flooding corn fields and destroying crops that could have provided

food for almost two million people. They ravage poor agricultural countries like a plague.

Economist Anders Skonhoft from NTNU

joined biologists from the universities in

Oslo and Copenhagen and examined the

problem as an ecological-economic tangle.

The local farmers try to exterminate the

rats by using poison, but they attack too

late. With correct timing they could finish

off the rats and halve the expenses.

Economists and ecologists have a com-

mon technique, which involves modelling

their way to new insight and strategies.

Experience from the game and predator

management in Norway is transferred to

the cross-disciplinary research on rat

control in Africa. Biologists provide local

knowledge: What characterizes the rat’s

behaviour? What makes the stock breed

and behave like a swarm of locusts? How

do farmers grow their corn, and what do

they do to fight the rats? Does the climate

affect the situation? Ecologists and econo-

mists look at the expenses for seed corn,

fertilizers, and rat poison, which are

important in a relatively poor local society.

All finds are combined in a complex

system, which unravels the tangle and

provides an overview.

The rats usually attack several times a

year, but the farmers must strike when

the seed corn is about to be sown. The

growth on the corn field and the explosive

breeding among the rats both depend on

the same factor: rain. In a climate that

otherwise is dry, rain causes dramatic

consequences when it occurs. The key to

success lies with the farmers and their

ability to coordinate their efforts – an area

into which the cross-disciplinary partners

will conduct further research.

The research results have been

published in the journal Environment and

Development Economics, no. 3, 2006.

A farewell to rats

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Learning how to read and write is easiest

when you can use your mother tongue.

But what if your first language lacks an

alphabet and books?

In Ghana, a country with close to 40

languages, linguists from NTNU are invol-

ved with a long-term project to develop a

practice of writing for languages that lack

this aspect. At the same time, they investi-

gate how languages such as Ewe, Akan,

Buli and Dagaare are composed, and initi-

ate the writing of dictionaries. The project

supports the academic linguistic research

already in progress at the University of

Ghana, at the same time as it will streng-

then the alphabetizing at grass-root level.

«We work on several levels. Step one is

to provide an alphabet to the languages

that do not have one. The next step is the

development of electronic dictionaries that

can be printed on any printer. Then, we

will develop computer tools that will in-

crease our possibilities of using the lang-

uages actively and research them. Useful

functions such as spell checks, grammar

control and search bases can be develo-

ped from scratch,» says Professor Lars

Hellan at the Department of Language and

Communication Studies.

This interactive type of language re-

search has borne fruit. People are taught

basic reading and writing skills at the

same time as they help creating their own

written language. The language training is

combined with other types of knowledge.

A reading session could at the same time

be a lesson in farming. In this way, many

of the men and women who participate

acquire double competence.

Linguists in Ghana

Research13

NTNU 2006

One of NTNU’s three Centres of Excellen-

ce, the Centre for Ships and Ocean Struc-

tures (CeSOS), is co-localized with the

Department. The research group at CeSOS

works across departments and is compo-

sed of experts from NTNU, MARINTEK

and SINTEF. The Research Council of

Norway has chosen to prioritize the

Centres of Excellence in order to stimulate

research at top international level. This

characterizes CeSOS, which was granted

its status in 2002 for ten years.

In a global field such as offshore and

ship technology, it is quite natural that the

Centre should attract international atten-

tion. Researchers from all over the world

come here to cooperate on theoretical

and experimental tests. Southeast Asia

is heavily represented in this academic

environment with doctoral candidates and

researchers from China, Japan and Singa-

pore, just to mention a few.

The future unveils new possibilities at

sea, but this involves challenges. The

ships will be faster, more powerful and

safer at the same time. The environment

will be taken care of. The platforms will

perform new tasks. Aquaculture with the

farming of seafood could become a new,

important industrial sector, but that requi-

res the tools so that they can be designed

to stand the forces of the sea. CeSOS

emphasizes the exploitation of knowledge

from different disciplines such as hydrody-

namics, construction mechanics, statistics,

and cybernetics to solve the challenges.

Cooperation between marine techno-

logists and materials technologists

could also prove beneficial. In the search

for better materials, aluminium is a

treasure. This light metal could almost

replace steel in the future. It is ductile,

corrosion resistant and can be recycled

– and it is strong. Fibre-reinforced plastic

is another possibility.

Ships, oil drilling platforms, and pipelines must stand a tough existence in storms and rough seas.

At NTNU, the Department of Marine Technology helps to provide solid buildings and safe ocean structures.

Measuring forces with the waves

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Platforms like Buldra will make wavepower

equally profitable as hydroelectric power.

The secret lies in the red plastic balls floa-

ting on the surface between the platform

legs. When the plastic balls are set in moti-

on by the waves, the platform transforms

the energy into electricity. This is Fred.

Olsen’s idea, and NTNU and SINTEF contri-

bute with many of the technological solu-

tions that make Buldra an efficient test plat-

form. She is made of fibre glass, is desig-

ned to operate for 12 years and functions

without a crew. The plan is to build a full-

scale wave platform and put it in operation

outside Karmøy in 2008. The platforms are

constructed with new combinations of

materials and with technology for a new

energy era. Behind this project is NTNU’s

Centre for Ships and Ocean Structures that

works on problems related to Buldra.

Renewable energy on BuldraShe may resemble an oil rig, but her production

concerns something quite different from oil.

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14Research NTNU 2006

The time is ripe for the comprehensive

exploration of wireless communication,

and retail equipment associated with

wireless connections has become more

available.

Wireless Trondheim will make the city

more attractive, both for students and

technology-based industry, but equally

important is the fact that this will become

an extensive and innovative research

programme named Trimaks.

The aim is to create a world-class

laboratory for research and development.

The programme will also contribute to the

development of future-oriented Norwe-

gian business activities with expertise in

wireless technologies and services.

A special group will work on potential

business ideas for wireless technology.

«We will use Wireless Trondheim as a

research arena,» says Professor Steinar

Andresen, head of Trimax Net Laboratory.

Andresen counts on finding more industri-

al actors as partners, such as Google,

Nera, and Movation. John Krogstie will do

research into new services in cooperation

with the Norwegian Public Roads Admi-

nistration. Analyses of the traffic and wire-

less communication of traffic information

to motorist are fields they would like to

test. For the university, interactive notice

boards are relevant.

Trimaks has three components:

• Trondheim BroadBandCommon (Trond-

heim BBA) – this project will develop the

experimental wireless broadband network

in the city.

• Trimaks Net Laboratory – a project

testing new communication technology

for wireless broadband networks.

• Trimaks Information Services – a pro-

ject developing new services connected

to the wireless broadband network.

Faculty Dean Arne Sølvberg is

responsible for the Trimaks programme,

and coordinator for the programme is

Tore R. Jørgensen. Four partners are

behind Wireless Trondheim:

The City of Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag

County Council, Mid-Norway Chamber of

Commerce and Industry, and NTNU.

Wireless TrondheimThe vision of making Trondheim one of the first wireless cities in the world is about to be put into action. According

to the plan, from the beginning of the semester on 15 August 2006 there will be wireless areas in the city centre, on

campus and on the bus route from the centre via the Gløshaugen campus to the Dragvoll campus.

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Research15

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Headed by Edvard and May-Britt Moser,

the research group at the Centre for the

Biology of Memory discovered how the

neurons in a particular part of the brain

combine information about direction,

distance, and location. When we are

moving in an environment, the cells

estimate where we are at all times. They

create an inner map of the environment.

For 30 years, researchers have been

searching for the neurons in the brain that

contribute to our sense of locality. The

discovery is so sensational that the journal

Nature wrote a feature story about it. This

knowledge could become important in the

treatment of e.g. Alzheimer’s disease.

«We have known that cells in the hip-

pocampus, that part of our brain that is

important for storing everyday memory,

are active when we are in a particular

place. But the ‘locality computer’ we now

have discovered, lies in a totally different

part of the brain. It is called the entorhinal

cortex, has the size of a small finger, and

lies approximately where the temporal

lobe curls inwards. The unique feature of

this part of the brain is that it functions as

a communication centre between the hip-

pocampus and the rest of the cortex,»

says Professor Edvard Moser.

The experiments were performed on

rats that ran around on different courses.

A camera was filming the movements at

the same time as super-sensitive, tiny

sensors measured each time a cell in the

rat brain emitted signals.

«What we discovered is that the signals

make a checker-worked imprint of the

area where the rats were moving. No

matter where the rats went, the brain

made this checker work, even when they

moved in the dark,» Moser says. «Imagine

coming up from an unknown subway sta-

tion. You immediately look for a landmark

to figure out directions and your position.

The moment you find it, your inner map is

calibrated, and things fall into place,»

explains Edvard Moser.

Success at the Centre for the Biology of Memory: After 30 years of searching,

researchers have discovered the neurons that produce our sense of locality.

Located the sense of locality

Clear research management. Clear

strategies. Dynamic interdisciplinary

environments and fruitful innovation.

Those were the praising words employed

when the Research Council of Norway

recently evaluated the Scandinavian

Studies at Norwegian universities and

university colleges. They singled out the

research at NTNU’s Department of

Scandinavian Studies and Comparative

Literature as one of the best in the country.

The Department is praised for its active

and successful recruitment policy and for

the good distribution of age and gender

among its researchers. The Department is

relatively small, with only 10 scientific

staff, but their research projects are

ranked at the highest level. The depart-

mental expertise ranges from Ibsen and

the literary foundation to a special focus on

literature criticism. The linguistic wing is at

the forefront with research on interaction

between different language cultures in

Norway. The projects cut right into

today’s bubbling linguistic melting pot:

One of the projects is mapping the influen-

ce of immigrant languages, another looks

at epoch-marking meetings between

English and Norwegian. Since NTNU

emphasizes its scientific and techno-

logical profile, we find it particularly

rewarding to be acknowledged for our

pioneering work in the humanities.

Best in Scandinavian Studies

16Research NTNU 2006

By the end of 2006, the Norwegian Bio-diversity Information Centre (Artsdata-banken) will update the so-called Red Listof vulnerable and threatened species andecosystems. Nobody has had an overview of this since 1998.

The Norwegian environment mayinclude as much as 60,000 species ofplants and animals, but only 40,000 areknown and registered. At the same time,numerous species disappear every year. As many as 500 species of butterflies are at risk, and so are an unknown number

of plants and animals. Even entire eco-systems disappear.

The loss of biodiversity is regarded asone of the largest environmental problemstoday. Through the Rio Convention, Norwayis committed to work both nationally andinternationally to stop the loss of biodiversi-ty by 2010. This is the background for theGovernment’s initiative to establish an inde-pendent knowledge provider. The Centre inTrondheim will provide society with updatedknowledge on Norwegian plant and animalspecies.

The Centre does not perform the scien-tific mapping itself, but collects knowledgefrom strong academic environments. TheMuseum of Natural History and Archaeolo-gy at NTNU is one of the partners. Thedepots and databases at museums, rese-arch departments, administrative bodies,and voluntary organizations include largeamounts of information and data whichhave been collected for over 100 years. TheCentre’s main task is to make the knowled-ge understandable, applicable and availablefor everyone. See www.artsdatabanken.no

Major petroleum resources are hidden

under the sea off northern Norway. If we

lift our gaze further north, we will proba-

bly find even more. The US Geology Survey

has estimated that one quarter of the

undiscovered hydrocarbon sources in the

world is located in the Arctic. An area of 12

million square kilometres lies there,

mostly covered in ice. With rising tempera-

tures and ice melting, these areas could

become available for oil and gas explorati-

on. The countries bordering the Arctic, i.e.

Canada, the USA, Russia, Greenland

(Denmark), and Norway are all actively

trying to discover whether there are petro-

leum deposits on their continental shelves.

Potential oil production is far ahead.

Before it can happen, there is a great

need for more knowledge and expertise.

At present, we do not have the technology

available to tackle the extreme conditions

or protect the vulnerable environment

in the Arctic.

In 2004, NTNU started the BRU project

(Better Resource Utilization) in order to

develop a strategy for the future research

and education within the exploration and

extraction of oil and gas. In the autumn of

2005, the report was presented and well

received by the Government, represented

by the Minister of Petroleum and Energy

Thorhild Widvey. More than 50 oil compa-

nies, contractors, and organizations as

well as the authorities and the Research

Council of Norway have been consulted

during the preparation of the report.

«We do not wish to enter the political

debate with this report, but we have

emphasized the needs for research which

will lead to better resource utilization on

the Norwegian continental shelf. Our

priority is to map the actual conditions

and ensure that technical solutions will be

developed to make sure any exploration

and extraction take place under safe

conditions, considering the environment as

well as safety,» says Professor Jon Kleppe,

Head of the Department of Petroleum Eng-

ineering and Applied Geophysics at NTNU.

The university will now focus their petro-

leum research on four strategic areas:

• Exploration and extraction

• Drilling and subsea technology

• Integrated operations and land-

based control

• Arctic technology

In order to facilitate the cooperation

between SINTEF and NTNU on petroleum

research, a new Gemini Centre has been

established. The two research institutions

will pool their resources within petroleum

research here. The Gemini Centre will

gradually accommodate 200 researchers

and produce annual efforts worth some

NOK 200 million.

Drilling for oil in the Arctic

Takes care of the species

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InnovationNTNU places great emphasis on research and develop-

ment in close cooperation with Norwegian industry, and

offers 27 courses on innovation. NTNU students have won

several competitions and been awarded prizes related to

innovation. They also stimulate innovation through their

own association ‘Start NTNU’.

NTNU participates in the Innovasjon Midt-Norge project

with industry in Leksvik, Verdal and Orkanger. The

students contribute with project assignments and work

placements to assist the development of the enterprises

in the project. At the same time, the students gain

relevant experience.

Key figures from 2005

✔ 450 research projects in cooperation with industry

✔ NOK 150 million in industrial funds to NTNU in 2005

✔ 150 new business ideas registered

✔ 14 new businesses established as spin-offsNTNU/SINTEF

and industry

Photos (from the top):

– NTNU Info/Rune Petter Ness

– Getty Images

– NTNU Info/Rune Petter Ness

18Innovation and industry NTNU 2006

Endre Kvalheim and Anders Ytterland runa firm called Byks which has developedthe revolutionary fish farm OceanGlobe.This is a ball-shaped fish farm for off-shore farming of multiple fish species that can be used all over the world. Today,the farm is marketed and produced on alicence from Byks by a company calledOceanGlobe AS.

In November 2005, the funding for the

production of the fish farm was guaranteed,and this meant that the winners of the Ven-ture Cup in 2003 have travelled from an idea to million-sized enterprise, just likeseveral other spin-offs from NTNU’s innovation environment.

Byks is currently building a full-scalefish farm (40,000 square metres) nearVågsøy/Stad – one of the toughest seaareas in the world. The building costs

approximately NOK 11 million, andaccording to plan, the first commercialfarm will be delivered to customers in summer 2006.

Byks is also engaged as one of thepartners behind Fjord Inkubator AS, acounty incubator for innovative industry in the County of Sogn og Fjordane. Thecompany’s future activities are beingcontinuously evaluated.

From student project to million-sized enterpriseThree years ago, Endre Kvalheim and Anders Ytterland met through the interdisciplinary course Experts in Team

and the village «Smart aquaculture». Now, they are building the world’s first open-sea fish farming globe.

The technology, named ‘SECurus’, makes

it possible to remove the influence of the

motion of a boat on the searchlight’s ray,

so that the ray can be ‘locked’ on one

object even in very rough sea.

«By means of cybernetic control

systems, the searchlight is stabilized

according to the motion of the vessel, and

it can be moved totally unaffected by the

motion of the boat. Then add functionality

and equipment that previously could not

be used in maritime environments

due to the demanding dynamics at sea,

such as the function ‘lock on target’ and

automatic illumination of seamarks and

danger elements during crossings. By

stabilizing an IR camera, we can monitor

large areas down to one metre where

SECurus automatically detects any people

or objects in the water,» says entrepre-

neur Lars Andre Solberg. Together with

the two fellow students, Jonas Aamodt

Moræus and Håkon Skjelten, he establis-

hed the firm Solberg Embedded Cyberne-

tics in spring 2005.

The market potential for this product

is absolutely present – today, search-

lights are manual, and handling them

requires large crew resources. There is

stabilization technology available, but it

is expensive. According to the entrepre-

neurs, the new system will be much less

expensive and feature numerous additio-

nal functions. The system is patented in

Norway and the USA, and a prototype of

SECurus is just around the corner.

The firm Solberg Embedded Cybernetics (SEC) has developed a searchlight that can

hold the ray stable in rough sea. The wide range of application includes increased

safety during crossings and in operations where lives are at stake.

SEC in the limelight

Three happy entrepreneurs behind a good product.

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CruSin has developed a unique crucible

concept for silicon, and the industrial group

in Orkdal has displayed great interest inthis new development. If everything goesaccording to plan, CruSin – currentlylocated at Gløshaugen Innovation Centre – will move its activities to Orkanger.

The business idea behind CruSin is uni-que. They develop and sell a new crucibleconcept for silicon – a material which isused for solar cells and other purposes.

The current crucibles in use are made ofquartz, but they are expensive and can onlybe used once. Silicon, on the other hand,which is much less expensive than quartz,can be used several times and representsmajor cost reductions for the clients.

CruSin already cooperates with theindustry group’s three silicon giants: Holla Metall, Elkem Thamshavn and OrklaExolon (owned by Washington Mills Co).They produce silicon worth NOK 1.2 billion

at the production plants in Orkdalen. Over 90 per cent is exported, and in totalthese enterprises provide 360 man-labour years.

NTNU and SINTEF have also initiatedcooperation with the industrial environ-ment through the project «DevelopingSilicon Group in the Orkladal Region». The aim is to promote new business start-ups, up to 100 new workplaces, and added value of NOK 400 million.

Great things are happening in the silicon environment in Orkanger. The aim is to

head the international party, and the NTNU-based enterprise CruSin is invited.

Success with silicon

Innovation and industry19

NTNU 2006

Photo: NTNU Info/Nina Tveter

The soil bacterium Streptomyces produces

the substance nystatin just like a small

chemical factory. This is an antibiotic that

can be used in medication for human

fungus infections. The new company uses

genetic technology to manipulate the

molecules to develop variants of nystatin

which are less poisonous than today’s

fungicidal antibiotics, and thus will cause

fewer side effects. This will help patients

who are HIV positive, cancer patients and

those with organ transplants – patient

groups which are more exposed to

serious fungus infections than others

because of reduced immune defence.

The main person behind the research

results is Sergey Zotchev, Associate

Professor at NTNU’s Department of

Biotechnology.

Biosergen AS will adopt a new

biotechnological tool. The method

will enable the special design of mole-

cules that are otherwise impossible

to create. These molecules enter the

soil bacteria and change their DNA so

that they produce new variants of the

nystatin molecule.

SINTEF’s seed corn fund and the

holding company of the medical university

Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm own

50 per cent each of the newly established

company in Trondheim. The researchers

believe they will need NOK 50—80 million

to complete the development of the anti-

biotic, but once the new drug is on the

market it could generate billions.

New antibioticsResearch on the core of a soil bacterium led to a new spin-off from NTNU and SINTEF. Using gene technology,

the newly established company Biosergen AS will make antibiotics with new healing properties.

Architects will love them. People with aller-

gies will have an easier life. The aesthetic,

sound-deadening plates without fibres that

cause allergy and asthma are an acoustic

surprise. The idea resulted in Bjørn Fløtre,

Pål Ove Henden and Ole-Christian Drage

getting the green light for establishing and

developing a new enterprise.

DeAmp is the name of the sound-

deadening panel that can reduce echo and

noise level in a room. Sound-deadening

plates are usually made of porous materi-

als. DeAmp does quite the opposite, and

muffles sound with hard materials such

as metal, plastics, glass and plexiglass.

The health benefits could be significant

because microscopic fibres from sound-

deadening materials may cause respiratory

problems. Numerous schools and offices

today muffle sound with plates that gradu-

ally release fibres to the air.

Product Developer Bjørn André Fløtre

envisages a creative application of the

plates in a room. While common sound-

deadening plates are visibly perforated,

these plates appear smooth to the eye.

The three entrepreneurs have their

academic background from the Product

Development and Engineering Cybernetics

programme at the Department of Industri-

al Economics and Technology Management

at NTNU. SINTEF Acoustics has further

developed the invention.

Absorbing sound with metal plates

While the remaining domestic IT industry

suffered from a broken back from 2001 to

2004, things were stirring in the Trondheim

region. The number of people employed

within IT increased by 50 per cent, and the

turnover continued to rise. The Mid-Nor-

way Chamber of Commerce and Industry

has characterized the growth as incredible.

Then came the boom: The search engine

giant Google established an office in Trond-

heim with their own research and develop-

ment department. As Yahoo and Fast are

doing the same thing, Trondheim has beco-

me a centre for search technology in Europe.

The strong academic environment at

NTNU plays a significant role.

«Trondheim is renowned as a techno-

logy town, and NTNU is naturally of impor-

tance. Besides, Trondheim appears exotic

to some of our international staff,» says

Magne Risvik, head of Google’s R&D

department.

Trondheim has for a long time fostered

talents in computing and technology. As a

start, the Google centre has employed 20

new staff. Graduates from NTNU form a

large part of their recruitment base.

20Innovation and industry NTNU 2006

According to the CEO Asgeir J. Sørensen,

this opens for enormous market potential

for their patented technology.

«Norway is leading the field of R&D

within oil, gas and marine technology, and

Marine Cybernetics will create many

industrial workplaces based on the engin-

eering competence at NTNU.»

The four NTNU professors (from the

right) Olav Egeland, Asgeir J. Sørensen,

Tor Arne Johansen and Thor I. Fossen are

behind Marine Cybernetics. They all have a

background from engineering cybernetics

and marine technology.

Marine Cybernetic’s business idea

is independent testing and verification

of control systems in ships and off-

shore installations by means of new

technology based on the Hardware-In-

the-Loop (HIL) testing. This method

represents a significant quality improve-

ment in testing and verification of

advanced technology with data-based

systems. The clients include suppliers,

shipyards, shipping companies, contrac-

tors, and oil companies.

In October 2005, the news spread that Statoil Innovation stepped in as co-owner of the NTNU

company Marine Cybernetics, and the value was estimated at a respectable NOK 53 million.

Entrepreneurs backed by Statoil

Trondheim – city of search engines

Wave power has enormous potential, butso far, good technology to exploit thisenergy has been lacking. One central pro-blem is that the energy content in wavescan be very high in certain periods, andthe generators must be able to deal withthat. The generator from Pelagic Powerdraws the energy from the waves on thesurface and sends it to pumps down in thewater. This means that the pumps are pro-tected from the violent forces on the sur-face. The pumps are not anchored on thesea bed – they ‘float’ in the water. The seawater is pumped through robust pipes intoa turbine that can be placed on land. Onegenerator should be able to supply 1,000

houses with electricity. The generator isamong other things based on technologyfrom hydropower and fish farms.

Behind the sensational idea is DagfinnRøyset, manager of Lycro, a company inLeksvika. When he got the idea of thewave-powered generator, he establishedcontact with NTNU Technology TransferAS (TTO) to get help with the technologicaldevelopment. Today he cooperates withTTO and several other researchers to fur-ther develop the project, which receivesfunding from Enova.

If everything goes according to plan, afull-scale pilot generator will be up andrunning by 2009.

Wave power may have greater energy potential than wind power. Now the

company Pelagic Power AS is running tests on a completely new type of

wave-powered generator. Amazing what results you get when you combine

a good idea, some money, and a handful of NTNU researchers...

Powerful cooperation

Statoil Innovation has stepped in as co-owner of Marine Cyber-netics, which the company entrepreneurs are very pleased with.

Dagfinn Røyset had an idea and contacted NTNU ...

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DisseminationThe university holds a vital social position through its dis-

semination of culture and research. Among NTNU’s most

important responsibilities is the crafting of a more posi-

tive image of technology and the natural sciences, as well

as student recruitment within its central areas of respon-

sibility. Here, contact with the mass media is important,

and last year, some 100 NTNU researchers participated

on media training courses.

The university’s own publications such as the research

journal Gemini, Spor (Footprints) and the web news-

paper universitetsavisa.no generate news about research

for the outside world.

The web page forskning.no, where NTNU contributes,

has some 400,000 individual visits every month.

NTNU arranges discussions, exhibitions, and public

lectures for the local residents.

Key figures from 2005

✔ 6200 mentions of NTNU in Norwegian web-based media

✔ 1000 media contributions directly from NTNU researchers

✔ 400 mentions in national media

✔ 280 popular science and feature articles

✔ 775 popular science lectures

✔ 15 000 visitors to the Research Square in two days

✔ 570 college students at Researchers’ Night

✔ 31 000 visitors to the exhibitions at the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology

Photos (from the top):

– NTNU Info/Rune Petter Ness

– Frontpage of the research journal Gemini

– NTNU Info/Magnus Knutsen Bjørke

22Dissemination NTNU 2006

Photo: NTNU Info/Gorm Kallestad/Scanpix

John Pål Inderberg (left) and Bjørn

Alterhaug have arranged countless

courses in improvation for different

occupational groups.

Improvization for everybody

The sound moves between the seats occu-

pied by medical students, doctors and

health personnel. Some have a glow in

their eyes, others close them while the

tones play ball with each other. Bjørn

Alterhaug’s experienced fingers run

across the strings on the contrabass while

John Pål Inderberg finds deep saxophone

tones from deep inside.

«Behind improvization there is listening

and practice, practice, practice. When the

music is fixed properly in our bodies and

ears, when we have listened to the many

parameters of the music, then can we

begin to have fun. Then it is time to let go

of the artificial structure and begin to

improvize, perhaps get close to some sort

of trance,» explains Associate Professor

John Pål Inderberg at NTNU.

In 1999, Bjørn Alterhaug, professor at

the Department of Music at NTNU, initia-

ted the research project ‘Improvization in

an interdisciplinary light’ supported by

NTNU’s interdisciplinary initiatives. The

research project resulted in a doctoral

thesis, a book and a number of articles.

Through cooperation with his colleagues

at the Jazz Academy at the Music Conser-

vatory John Pål Inderberg has developed a

musical ear method that has attracted

international attention.

Today, the research duo is very popular

as course arrangers for a number of occu-

pational groups. They have arranged cour-

ses for workers in most fields at NTNU,

The Norwegian National Authority for Inve-

stigation and Prosecution of Economic and

Environmental Crime (Økokrim), SAS and

the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation

(NRK). The competence in improvization is

relevant for creative research as well as

cooperation between experts in general.

In the lecture room at the Medical Centre

they are discussing communication, intense

listening and about tuning their instru-

ments to make them sound good together.

«In order to find harmony in an

orchestra, they musicians need to tune

their instruments. I think that is a good

advice in other connections as well,» says

Bjørn Alterhaug. «Improvization means

facilitating good communication. This is

evident when musicians play, but other

groups can also learn from the fundamen-

tal attitude in jazz: be creative and willing

to take risks without being terrified of

making mistakes.»

Jazz musicians are experts at this, but the skills are useful for anyone

involved with creative activities. Improvization makes you more aware.

The exhibition at the Museum of Natural

History and Archaeology was open at

Kalvskinnet in Trondheim from 27 May

to 31 August, 2005. Now it is available on

the web, but it also travels on to several

museums and events. The exhibition

provides an overview of the enormous

technological development which has

characterized the past century.

Norwegian cattle are developed to

produce more meat and milk. The TV has

become the rallying point in Norwegians'

family life. Vaccines and surgery save

human lives every day. Means of transport

have made the world available to us. Tech-

nology pervades our everyday lives, but do

we notice it?

«We want to show how the interplay

between people and technology has influ-

enced the development of modern Norway.

We often think of technology as a thing in

itself, and culture and people as some-

thing else. One of the aims of the exhibition

Techne is to show that there does not

necessarily have to be a line between

technology and culture,» says Roy Åge

Håpnes from the knowledge park Faros.

During the exhibition, which covered

several floors of the Museum, the public

could enter for free and had access to

450 square metres of multimedia boxes,

animation films, pictures, objects, light

and sound. One hundred years of

technology history presented in topics:

Industrial Environment, the Family, Fear

and Control, One Cure for All, the

Journey, and the Factory. Each topic

had an artistic comment, performed by

Professor Bruno Lundstrøm.

The Techne exhibition is the first step

in the establishment of the project Faros

Knowledge Park at NTNU. It was also

one of four national exhibitions celebra-

ting the 100 year anniversary for the

dissolving of the union between Norway

and Sweden. The exhibition is also avail-

able on the Internet.

Dissemination23

NTNU 2006

Photo: NTNU Info/Øystein Thorvaldsen

Photo: NTNU Info/Nina Tveter

Techne to the peopleOver 9,000 visited TECHNE – Technology and Modern Norway 1905—2005.

The topic ‘Fear and Control’, seen through the eyes of Professor Bruno Lundstrøm at the Department of Urban Design and Planning.

Art at the Nathionaltheateret stasjonTravellers passing through the Nathional-

theateret stasjon in Oslo can enjoy a

different type of art: On both sides of

the platform, decor by Professor Anne

Karin Furunes is displayed. It consists of

plates in industrial finished and perforated

aluminium and covers a total of 500

metres. Instead of painting on the plate,

the motif is made by ‘dots’ (raster pattern)

which are punched into the plates. So

the holes in the plates make the motif

of the picture.

Furunes is a professor at NTNU’s

Academy of Fine Art, and Vegar Moen

has taken the pictures which the artist

has used for her work.

Waiting for the airport express train...

24Dissemination NTNU 2006

From movie to fileDigital cinema is about to revolutionize

the technique in movie theatres, and

will change picture quality, the cinema

system and the distribution of films.

Sony launched their brand new super

projector in Trondheim, and according

to Professor Andrew Perkis at the

Department of Electronics and Tele-

communications at NTNU, the choice

of Trondheim is largely due to the coop-

eration with the local technological

environment: Midgard Medialab conduct

research on digital image compression

and combine a long line of disciplines

to test this technology.

In March, 30 British surgeons gathe-

red in Trondheim to test the projector

from Sony in connection with camera-

transferred endoscopic surgery. The

range of colours is extensive, and the

potential for a resolution of 8.4 million

pixels makes it possible to enlarge the

detailed images to Cinemascope format

on a cinema screen. The precision of the

image quality and the future prospects

for hospital surgery technology impres-

sed the medical experts.

During four totally techno-fixated days in

2005, the very first Technoport festival

made its mark on the city. The general

public poured in and over 14,000 people

visited the exhibition in Trondheim

Spektrum to experience technology in

all kinds of shapes and colours.

A large number of national and interna-

tional exhibitors presented the four main

topics: Innovation; ICT; Health and IT; and

Energy, Oil and Gas. People could experi-

ence demonstrations and examples of the

most recent developments within techno-

logy. In addition, the days were filled by

debates, conferences, cultural activities

and prize awards.

At Technoport, the public discovered

that technology really embraces everything

we do. Professionals, students, investors,

business people and the general public all

met to experience and understand the

technology of the future. One important aim

for the festival is to present technology in

an applicable and understandable manner.

During the festival, the Technology

Awards was arranged with prizes for out-

standing Norwegian and international

innovators, researchers, technologists and

exporters. In 2006, the Technology Awards

will be arranged as a separate event.

Apart from NTNU, the organizers in-

clude SINTEF, Statoil, Innovation Norway,

Kreative Trøndelag, Sparebank 1 Midt-

Norge, Sør-Trøndelag County Council and

Nord-Trøndelag County Council. The next

Technoport will be arranged in 2007.

Technoport – hi-tech festival

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Being a nation of hydropower, Norway hasdeveloped a unique competence that todaywill benefit the rest of the world. In bothAsia and Africa, Norwegian experts andpower developers are involved with largeprojects. Now, engineers from NTNU,Statkraft, Statnett and entrepreneur andconsultancy firms have gathered andwritten a large part of their knowledge inthe large work of 17 volumes, titled Hydro-power Development.

«Around 1990, we sensed that we werefacing a generational change within our

industry, and we decided to gather anddocument the knowledge acquired byhydropower experts, not least to ensurethe training of new engineers,» says thecurrent editor Ånund Killingtveit, professorat NTNU’s Department of Hydraulic andEnvironmental Engineering.

Even though the major developmentperiod in Norway is over, hydropower will still constitute the backbone of theNorwegian electricity production in thefuture. Development of smaller plants isprioritized. Strategies for upgrading and

improving the entire hydropower systemwill be important.

The work is published in English with a view to the world-market dissemi-nation. The Norwegian Water Resourcesand Energy Directorate, the NorwegianTrade Council, and several companieswithin the hydropower business havesupported the comprehensive source ofknowledge. NORAD also contributes, sincehydropower is the girder of electricitysupply in many of the developing countriescooperating with Norway.

Hydropower in 17 volumesAn important source of knowledge has been secured for the future. A major work

on hydropower development may sell the Norwegian expertise on the world market.

Researchers'Night inTrondheim During the Research Days, Researchers’

Night is arranged – an event designed for

curious people of all ages.

The first Researchers’ Night in history

was arranged at NTNU on 23 September

2005. Teachers and college students

interested in scientific subjects, natural

science and technology were welcomed in

the Natural Science Building. Here they

got a taste of research within biology, bio-

technology, physics, chemistry, materials

technology, and process technology.

The menu featured 'Searching for DNA

in criminal investigations, paternity cases

and accidents’, ‘Explosive lectures’, ‘Fuel

cells – the energy system of the future?’,

and some mysterious ‘Slippery friends’

from the sea.

The Faculty of Medicine has introduced

compulsory teaching in research dissemi-

nation for future researchers. Research

fellows in all doctoral programmes will

have tailored crash courses in how to

reach the general public.

«We wish to strengthen public dissemi-

nation as a discipline and provide resear-

chers with the necessary skills,» says

Morten Thoresen, communication adviser

at the Faculty. So far, the teaching has

primarily aimed at scientific dissemination

in academic environments and journals.

Now, the offer is extended. The research

fellows will produce their own material

– write press releases or popular scientific

articles. They will meet editors and com-

munication advisers. In fact, the channels

are right on their doorstep: The university’s

own information division includes commu-

nication advisers, journalists and editors

ready to contribute to the teaching, and

NRK’s scientific editorial staff is only a

stone’s throw away. Last year's course

included a visit from the web editor of

forskning.no, who talked about publishing

on the Internet. Now, the Faculty of

Medicine is also considering introducing

research dissemination as a subject

earlier in the programme.

Competence in disseminationSuddenly, everyone is talking about it. Over lunch in downtown coffee bars, a special medical field has become the subject of

discussion. How did that happen? Perhaps it had something to do with professionals getting better at telling about their work.

26Dissemination NTNU 2006

Like a sword blow through the memory ofthe world, an exhibition can cause a sigh ofa distant past. For a few dark autumnmonths, the mighty Chinese Han Dynastyvisited Trondheim. At the exhibition ‘In amirror – China under the Emperor Jin Di’ inautumn 2005, hundreds of objects from the2,200 year old tomb was displayed at theMuseum of Natural History and Archaeology.Lifelike terracotta models of women, ser-vants, soldiers, farm animals, and weaponswere lined up – a hand-picked selection.

Several interactive tools are employedin knowledge dissemination at the

Museum of Natural History and Archaeo-logy. Every Sunday, the public could expe-rience Chinese culture through concerts,food, acrobatics, paper cutting, ping-ponggames, kung fu, and lectures on philosop-hy, medicine and nature preservation workconnected to the Panda bear. Visitingpupils wore imperial and royal clothes inorder to feel history directly on their bodies.

When Chinese archaeologists openedthe 2,200 year old mausoleum 15 yearsago, the sensational find very soon endedup on the UN’s World Heritage List. So far,50,000 objects have been excavated.

The Chinese themselves often use the Han period as a mirror or example ofmodern China. The Han Dynasty constitu-tes the spinal cord of China's 2,000 yearlong history of dynasties. Under thisdynasty, the country was a superpowerwith flourishing trade and explorativecontact with the surrounding world.

The exhibition marked the 50th anni-versary of the establishment of thediplomatic connections between China and Norway, and is an important coopera-tion between the scientific museums inStavanger, Oslo and Trondheim.

Chinese invasion

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«Gemini is awarded the prize because the journal does not fail on any of thejury's 18 criteria. Gemini sets the agendaand is sectioned, planned, edited andcarried out at the highest level» the jury

wrote in its citation. At the same time, NTNU’s Gemini

editor, Nina Tveter, was awarded silver in the class for ‘best journalism’ for herarticle ‘Tree of Knowledge’.

Gemini wins againFor the second year in a row NTNU and SINTEF’s research journal

Gemini was elected Norway’s best external company magazine by

the Norwegian Communication Association.

Dissemination27

NTNU 2006

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Finally, NTNU gets a new area of dissemi-

nation in the heart of Nedre Elvehavn

– a pulsating part of Trondheim. The old

Dokkhuset between the shopping centre

Solsiden and the blocks of flats have long

been lying there unused in the attractive

area. Now, the old pump house will be

transformed into an intimate concert and

cultural house and a cultural arena where

the chamber music environment as well

as TrondheimSolistene and Trondheim

Jazzforum will have a regular haunt. In

addition, NTNU’s Faculty of Architecture

and Fine Art will use the Dokkhuset for

their exhibitions.

«Dokkhuset will be a dissemination

arena for everyone who wishes to experi-

ence NTNU’s cultural life,» says University

Director Per Ivar Maudal. The ground floor

of the house will provide a flexible concert

hall. Full capacity equals 220 seats, but

the number of standing places amounts to

450. The second floor will be occupied by

offices, practice rooms and a control room

for multimedia productions. In addition,

the house will have restaurants both

inside and on the waterfront. The house

will also include a bar and a restaurant

on two floors with access to a large roof

terrace.

Some sections of the floor will be made

of glass so that visitors can look down on

illuminated remains of the old pump house.

The Cultural House will be ready

for the Chamber Music Festival in Sep-

tember 2006. By then, Dokkhuset will

be restored and expanded and ready

to receive a large influx of NTNU’s nume-

rous cultural groups.

NTNU’s own cultural houseIn 2005, a decision was made to provide NTNU with its own cultural house at Nedre Elvehavn

in Trondheim. The cultural house will be used for concerts, exhibitions and as practice rooms.

Ready for Poland 2006

The event is a broad cooperation on cul-

ture, research and industry. Poland 2006

gathers cultural institutions, research envi-

ronments and industry in the Trondheim

region under one topic and one umbrella.

For a whole week in October 2006, people

will experience a wide mustering of Polish

art and culture, exhibitions, concerts

and films. There will also be academic

seminars, business seminars and popular

scientific and specialist lectures by resear-

chers from Poland and NTNU.

In October, NTNU arranges a week-long event with Poland as the topic.

The festival poster for

«Poland 2006» is

designed by Sebastian

Kubica, one of the

great names within

modern Polish poster art.

28NTNU Alumni NTNU 2006

Foreign universities have long traditions

of alumni activities. These networks are

of great value to their members, both

professionally and socially. The connection

with their old alma mater ties thousands

of people together in professional and

social networks, despite geographical

distances. Often the ties between alumni

grow stronger over the years. NTNU

– through its precursor NTH – has proud

traditions and a strong identity that we

would like all former students to cherish

for the rest of their lives.

By registering at www.ntnu.no/alumni/

you can re-establish contact with former

fellow students and your old department.

Your alumni network will initiate events

for its members.

Alumni are often organized according to

departments. NTNU Alumni, however,

would like to offer you the opportunity to

establish your own personal network.

We listen to our alumni. The experience of

former students is useful when improving

the education of students who will work in

industry or public administration.

Through this network we gain a closer

contact with society outside the university.

We would like to help you continue to reap

the benefits of your time as a student in

Trondheim, even long after leaving town!

As an alumnus you will receive:

• Nostalgic cultural offers

• A network

• Contact with fellow students

• Permanent e-mail address

• Favourable offers for continuing education,courses and conferences at NTNU

• Recent news from NTNU by e-mail and

in your mailbox, including the research

journal Gemini

• Access to separate web pages for alumni

Being a student in Trondheim is an

experience that will follow you for the

rest of your life.

There are numerous examples of male

students finding a local girl and never

leaving town.

But most students leave NTNU after

completing their studies and set out for

other hunting grounds. Nevertheless, they

never forget the town, the student life, and

the university. The years as a student, which

coincide with one’s youth, will always give

rise to good memories. We look for good

ambassadors for NTNU, both in industry,

public administration, and in society in

general. A personal contact net is important,

and the web pages of NTNU Alumni offer

many opportunities to maintain a living

network with old and new friends.

So I urge you to visit www.ntnu.no/alumni

and register now.

Torbjørn Digernes

Rector, NTNU

You never leave Trondheim

– if you become an alumnus

From the opening of NTNU Alumni, Studentersamfundet 18 October, 2003.

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What is NTNU Alumni?

NTNU alumni (lat. «students»)

is an association for former

students with a degree from

NTNU (or one of its precursors:

NTH, AVH, University of Trond-

heim, DMF, the Academy of

Fine Art and the Music Conserva-

tory). The purpose of NTNU

Alumni is to maintain the contact

between the university and

former students, and between

old students. Therefore, we

welcome anyone holding an

academic degree from NTNU.

Organization29

NTNU 2006

Faculty of Architecture

and Fine Art, AB

Faculty Dean Tore I. Haugentore.haugen@ark.ntnu.no

Faculty of Arts, HF

Faculty Dean Kathrine Skrettingkathrine.skretting@hf.ntnu.no

Faculty of Engineering

Science and Technology, IVT

Faculty Dean Ingvald Strømmeningvald.strommen@ntnu.no

Faculty of Information

Technology, Mathematics and

Electrical Engineering, IME

Faculty Dean Arne Sølvbergarne.solvberg@idi.ntnu.no

Faculty of Medicine, DMF

Faculty Dean Stig Slørdahlstig.slordahl@ntnu.no

Faculty of Natural Sciencesand Technology, NT

Faculty Dean Bjørn Hafskjoldbjorn.hafskjold@nt.ntnu.no

Faculty of Social

Sciences and Technology

Management, SVT

Faculty Dean Jan Morten Dyrstad

jan.dyrstad@svt.ntnu.no

Rector

Torbjørn Digernestorbjorn.digernes@ntnu.no

OrganizationPro-Rector Research and Innovation

Astrid Lægreidastrid.lagreid@ntnu.no

Pro-Rector Education and Quality Learning

Julie Feilbergjulie.feilberg@ntnu.no

University Director

Per Ivar Maudalper.i.maudal@ntnu.no

Assist. University Director

Peter Lykke

peter.lykke@ntnu.no

Organization Director

Trond Singsaas

trond.singsaas@ntnu.no

Director of Studies

Hilde Skeie

hilde.skeie@ntnu.no

Information Director

Anne Katharine Dahl

anne.dahl@ntnu.no

Technical Director

Kjell Næsje

kjell.nasje@ntnu.no

Financial Director

Frank Arntsen

frank.arntsen@ntnu.no

Museum Director

Axel Christophersen

axel.christophersen@vm.ntnu.no

Library Director

Ingar Lomheim

ingar.lomheim@ub.ntnu.no

Funding from UFD and other ministries 2 614.414 Total assets 1 444.363

Funding from the Research Council of Norway 446.609 Total equity 311

Income from externally financed activities 418.229 Retained earnings 138.224

Sales of property, equipment, etc 19.602 Provisions for liabilities and charges 412.139

Other income 114.251 Total liabilities 893.689

Total revenue 3 613.105 Total equity and liabilities 1 444.363

Wage costs -2 176.937

Investments and maintenance -370.676

Other operating expenses -1 199.232

Total operating expenses -3 746.845

Income statement: Balance sheet:

Key financial data 2005 (in NOK million)

Photo of Rector: NTNU Info/Synnøve Ressem

Photo of Lægreid: NTNU Info/Mentz Indergaard

Photos of Feilberg and Maudal: NTNU Info/Rune Petter Ness

30Organization NTNU 2006

Organization31

NTNU 2006

The Faculty of Architectureand Fine art

is responsible for education, disseminationand research as well as architectural andartistic activities in the various creativedesign disciplines.

We focus on individual engagement,creativity and ethical attitudes. Further-more, an interdisciplinary approach to academic development and problem solving is important. For this reason,project work and problem-based learninghave always been at the heart of oureducational approach. Both artistic andscientific reflection are important in moving beyond traditional working methods and established solutions.

This work and cooperation with otherfaculties have enabled the Faculty of Archi-tecture and Fine Art to make substantialcontributions to a number of study pro-grammes, dissemination activities andresearch work. The main priorities of thefaculty are: The use of Wood as a material;Resources and the Environment; Architec-ture; Management and Financial Matters;Settlement and Cultural Understanding;Protection; Refurbishment and Renewal;Architectural Theory and AestheticCommunication; Tools, the Medium and the Study of Form.

The Faculty of EngineeringScience and Technology

provides education within 30 areas, mainlyMSc degrees, in the following programmes:Civil Engineering and EnvironmentalTechnology; Energy and EnvironmentalTechnology; Geosciences and PetroleumTechnology; Marine Technology; IndustrialDesign; Product Development and Produc-tion, and Engineering Science and ICT. The faculty also offers seven internationalMaster’s programmes.

In 2004, an international evaluationunder the direction of the Research Councilof Norway ranked 14 out of 26 researchgroups at the faculty as Excellent or VeryGood in scientific quality and productivity.The faculty hosts a Centre of Excellencecalled the Centre for Ships and OceanStructures and participates in the Inter-national Centres for Geohazards. Researchinitiatives on Profitable Production inNorway and Sustainable Infrastructures are under development.

The Faculty of InformationTechnology, Mathematics andElectrical Engineering

is responsible for research, education and dissemination in the academic fields of Computer and Information Science, Elec-tronics, Electric Power Engineering, Energyand the Environment, Mathematics andStatistics, Telecommunications, Telematics,Engineering Cybernetics, as well as the

industrial mathematics programme.The faculty offers 5-year integrated

programmes of study at the Master’s levelin technology (advanced engineering):Computer Science; Electronics; Energy andthe Environment; Communications Techno-logy, and Engineering Cybernetics. Thefaculty also offers a 5-year Master’s degreein teaching in the natural sciences as wellas programmes of study at Bachelor’s andMaster’s levels in biomathematics, infor-matics, mathematics, and statistics. Morethan 60 per cent of Norway’s Master’sstudents in ICT study at the faculty.

There are currently more than 300 PhDstudents at the faculty. Great emphasis isplaced on developing interdisciplinaryefforts which involve different academicfields. The faculty collaborates closely with numerous universities and researchinstitutions, as well as national andinternational business.

The Faculty of Arts

provides education, research and dissemi-nation of knowledge in the humanities:history and subjects related to art, culture,literature and languages. The faculty worksto preserve the traditions within the huma-nities at the same time as emphasizinginnovation, and offering a wide range ofsubjects where the emphasis is both on the specific discipline and interdisciplinaryresearch and education.

The more traditional university subjectsare carried forward through the thematicprogrammes of study: Language and Lite-rature; Art; Media and Communication, as well as history and subjects related toculture and ideas. The faculty also offersinterdisciplinary studies within EuropeanStudies with Foreign Languages; Manage-ment of Cultural Heritage; MedievalStudies; Music Technology and Informatics,Languages and Culture. The facultyparticipates in several national and inter-national research projects.

The faculty hosts NTNU’s strategic areaGlobalization with interdisciplinary projectsbased in philosophy, languages, literature,religion, history, art, geography, politicalscience, and sociology in cooperation withthe technology environments.

The Faculty of NaturalSciences and Technology

is responsible for research, education,dissemination and innovation withinbiology, biotechnology, physics, chemistry,chemical process engineering, nano-technology, and materials technology. Thefaculty’s vision is to be a national centre for research in the natural sciences, theenvironment, processing and materialssciences as well as the interplay betweenthese areas. The faculty offers programmesof study in the natural sciences such aschemistry, physics, biology and biotechno-logy at both Bachelor’s and Master’s levels,

and has Master’s and PhD degrees in phy-sics and mathematics, chemistry and bio-technology, materials technology, andnanotechnology. In addition, the facultyoffers international Master’s programmesin Light Metals Production, Medical Tech-nology, Condensed Matter Physics andBiophysics. New fields of research corres-pond to the national efforts within functio-nal genome research, new materials, andsystems biology.

The Faculty of Medicine

conducts research, education and dissemi-nation in medicine and the health sciences.The faculty's activities will contribute to therenewal and development of knowledge,skills and attitudes for the benefit ofpatients and society.

The medical studies place particularemphasis on pedagogical methods such asproblem-based learning (PBL), communi-cation training, and scientific reflection. Thefaculty offers several Master’s programmesand individual courses.

The research priorities are MedicalTechnology where the faculty is responsiblefor coordination within NTNU, the HealthStudy in Nord-Trøndelag (HUNT), andtranslation research. The translationresearch combines clinical researchinvolving patients and basal research within basic medicine.

In many aspects of research and educa-tion, the faculty enjoys close cooperationwith St. Olav’s University Hospital – which is an important meeting place for resear-chers, students and patients – as well asother NTNU faculties, Helse Midt-Norgeand SINTEF Health Research.

The Faculty of Social Sciencesand Technology Management

organizes its education and researchthrough the departments of Geography,Industrial Economics and TechnologyManagement, Economics, Social Work andHealth Science, Sociology and PoliticalScience, Education, Psychology, and SocialAnthropology. In addition, the facultyincludes the Human movement ScienceProgramme, the Programme for TeacherEducation, the Norwegian Centre for Child Research, and the Lifelong LearningResearch Centre (NTNU ViLL).

The faculty offers programmes ofprofessional studies within advancedengineering, teaching, and psychology aswell as discipline-based Bachelor's andMaster's degrees. Courses are offered ininterdisciplinary studies such as IT andFinance, Organization and Management,African Studies, and Media Science. Thefaculty has been awarded one of NTNU'sCentres of Excellence, the Centre for theBiology of Memory, and participates inanother such centre with the InternationalPeace Research Institute, Oslo - the Centrefor the Study of Civil War.

www.ntnu.no

NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology