UiB strengthens collaboration for a sustainable North Sea

On 20–21 November, the inaugural NSUP Conference was held in Brussels, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss how to balance energy security with ecosystem conservation in the North Sea. The conference marked an important step towards closer cooperation on energy transition, climate, and sustainability.

“The North Sea University Partnership lays the foundation for new collaborations between Norway and the UK. Together, we develop knowledge that contributes to the green transition, cultural understanding, and sustainable societies,” said UiB Rector Margareth Hagen.

During the conference, representatives from academic communities and leadership at the eight universities, industry, the European Commission, and NATO participated. A joint statement from NSUP was presented and submitted to the European Commission to emphasize the need for multidisciplinary research to foster sustainability.

From oil and gas to a low-carbon hub

Kristine Spildo, Professor at UiB’s Department of Chemistry, co-chaired the conference programme committee and led a session on how the North Sea can transition from a region dominated by oil and gas activities to one focused on low-carbon solutions. Professor Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui from UiB’s Faculty of Law participated in a panel discussing how to manage the need for rapid transformation in the face of complex regulatory frameworks and the demand for predictable rules.

During the conference, Kristoffer Eikehaug, engineer at UiB’s Department of Physics and Technology, together with Geir Terje Eigestad from Harbour Energy, gave a live demonstration of the FluidFlower model. Developed at UiB, this unique physical model shows how CO₂ behaves when stored in porous rocks beneath the seabed. The demonstration illustrated how research provides practical solutions for carbon storage and how these solutions can be communicated to the public and decision-makers through tangible demonstrations.

Future collaborations and joint initiatives

Energy transition in the North Sea is the first of four main themes for NSUP, which will also focus on cultural heritage, the Arctic, and health in the coming years. The partnership plans to launch a joint seed funding call in early 2026 to stimulate new and strengthened research collaborations between the eight partner universities.

During the conference, UiB and the University of Leeds signed a formal partnership agreement to strengthen cooperation in research, knowledge transfer, and education across disciplines. The agreement builds on existing collaboration and provides a solid foundation for future joint projects.

“By signing this MoU, we commit to strengthening our partnership with the University of Leeds. We look forward to further developing collaboration in research, knowledge transfer, and education,” said Hagen.