The objective of our technology development programme and intellectual property rights (IPR) strategy is to improve Aker Solutions’ competitive position by increasing the value that we can add to our customers’ assets. To achieve this objective, our technology development programme is designed to identify the opportunities that new technology can offer and to develop and qualify new technologies effectively.
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In order to identify the best opportunities, we systematically seek to involve our customers to get new technologies anchored in their value chain
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More specifically, our technology development is organised as a continuous process characterised as follows: First, we identify market opportunities. Second, we develop project proposals. Third, we evaluate and rank the proposals. Fourth, we approve and fund the best projects. Fifth, we execute approved projects and commercialise results.
In order to identify the best opportunities, we systematically seek to involve our customers to get new technologies anchored in their value chain.
We want to know what new technologies they need, and we want to present our own ideas regarding new technology. As a result customers are regularly participating in our technology development projects; however, we continuously want more customers to participate to increase the value that we can add to them.
The approved development projects are launched and executed locally in the operating units that owns and are responsible for commercialising the new technology. However, the projects are coordinated and followed up centrally to ensure effective technology development and qualification, successful commercial deployment, utilisation of external funding and public tax relief schemes and good technology licensing agreements.
To further strengthen Aker Solutions' position as a technology leader within selected areas we have ensured access to the best knowledge and to new and emerging technologies by developing good and long term relations with leading universities and research institutions.
Having done all this for over 40 years has resulted in a strong and unique technology base. This base is protected by employing an active IPR strategy. This protection is extended to our customers who will be shielded from third party infringement claims when using our proprietary technology.