>The cooperation agreement was signed by Nils Klippenberg (left), director of Strategy and global account manager in Siemens, and Halfdan Knudsen, senior vice president for process and refining technology in Statoil. (Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland)>
>Statoil and Siemens signed a technology development cooperation agreement. The partnership will initially embrace wind power, subsea technology, electrical engineering technology and energy efficiency measures. Cooperation between the companies facilitates the development of future path-breaking technology. Based on complementary user needs and technological opportunities we aim at developing technological solutions that contribute to more environmentally friendly, effective production. ”This is a strategically important agreement for Statoil,” says Halfdan Knudsen, senior vice president for process and refining technology in Statoil. Siemens is an important Statoil supplier within several areas, and the two companies already cooperate in the technology development area.>
>An umbrella agreement has therefore now been developed, structuring the framework of the technology partnership within R&D and technology development and facilitating the start-up of new cooperation projects.>
>Three areas >
>The technology cooperation initially focuses on: >
>- Wind power >
>- Subsea technology >
>- Electrical engineering technology and energy efficiency measures >
>”In these important areas Statoil needs to work closely with the suppliers in order to ensure the required technology development,” Knudsen said. He finds it highly important that the customer and supplier cooperate in the technology development area. ”As users we get to define adequate requirements for functionality and describe the conditions under which the equipment will operate. The supplier often possesses extensive skills within product design, fabrication and commercialising of the specific technology,” Knudsen says. >
>The cooperation agreement contains guidelines for the rights of use of the results. Working closely with the various suppliers regarding technology development is part of Statoil’s strategy. Statoil has already signed technology cooperation agreements with five other companies. >