Crown Prince Haakon hands the Entrepeneur of the Year Award.

Photo: Vegard Grøtt, NTB scanpix

On 03 June, Green Tech Marine from Western College was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award by Crown Prince Haakon at Norway's Signal Conference in Oslo.
The company has developed a device that in an energy efficient manner purifies exhaust from large ships. The International Maritime Organization ( IMO ) has decided that all ships sailing must comply with requirements for treatment by 2015. This is to reduce harmful emissions from international shipping.

"This year's entrepreneur has developed a product which both the economic and environmental potential is great, as is the potential for value creation in Norway. It is impressive to see that a small, newly established business in a short time succeeded in competition with major international companies," said the jury.