All posts by Margrethe Harboe

Saga Robotics bets big on US vineyards with new GM, fresh capital for UV-C ‘bots: ‘Chemical free winegrowing is the holy grail’

Business News, Food & Beverage

Ag robotics specialist Saga Robotics is doubling down on the US vineyard sector with a new US general manager and additional funding to support its fleet of autonomous ‘bots tackling powdery mildew with UV-C light.

As a supplementary close to its $11.2 million round in 2025, it has secured an undisclosed sum from Xinomavro Ventures, a VC firm dedicated to tech supporting the wine industry, and appointed Caine Thompson—formerly general manager at O’Neill Vintners & Distillers—as its new US general manager, starting Jan 26.

Saga founder Pål Johan From—who previously led US operations—will return to Norway to assume a new role as chief growth officer, leading strategic partnerships, tech development, expansion into new crops and markets, and supporting future fundraising activities. To ensure continuity through the 2026 season, he will remain actively involved in US operations through June.

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Stocks surge as Trump cancels Greenland tariffs

Business News, Financial / Investment, Government

Stock markets surged overnight after Donald Trump cancelled his planned tariffs following a deal over Greenland.

The FTSE 100 was up 0.9pc in in a broad relief rally, with the Cac 40 in Paris higher by 1.4pc as the threat of tariffs was removed from its major luxury goods companies.

The Nikkei in Japan rose 1.7pc while the Kospi in South Korea passed the 5,000 mark for the first time as the US president dialled down his global trade war.

Mr Trump said he would not impose extra 10pc tariffs on eight European countries, including Britain, after receiving the “framework of a future deal” in talks with Nato.

Michael Brown, an analyst at Pepperstone, said: “Five days was all it took this time as, yesterday, President Trump formally and predictably unwound the tariff threats made over the issue of Greenland, after a ‘very productive’ meeting with Nato secretary general Rutte, during which agreement was reached on a ‘framework’ regarding both Greenland, and the ‘High North’ more generally. 

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Kronikk: USA har rett om legemiddelpriser

Business News, Health

Kronikken er skrevet av Ketil Widerberg, daglig leder i Oslo Cancer Cluster.

USAs såkalte Most Favoured Nation-strategi for legemiddelpriser har blitt møtt med kraftig kritikk. Den fremstilles som usosial, proteksjonistisk og farlig for pasienter.

Prising og refusjon behandles som rene nasjonale spørsmål

Men bak den harde retorikken ligger et poeng vi i Europa – og særlig i Norge – har ignorert for lett: Utviklingen av nye medisiner finansieres av de få, mens altfor mange nyter godt av resultatene uten å bidra. Det er ikke bærekraftig i lengden.

Et reelt gratispassasjerproblem. Utvikling av nye legemidler, spesielt innen kreft, er ekstremt kostbart. Kliniske studier, regulatorisk risiko, produksjon og dokumentasjon i etterkant koster milliarder. Likevel behandles prising og refusjon som rene nasjonale spørsmål, løsrevet fra globale økonomiske insentiver og bærekraft for innovasjon.

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New President and CEO at KSAT

Business News, Defense / Security

Rolf Skatteboe is stepping down after 25 years at Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT). Marte Indregard has been appointed as the new President and CEO and comes from the position as Head of the Ground Segment at the company.

21 Jan 2026

Indregard has been with KSAT for more than 20 years, and has spent over a decade in top executive roles where she has led various interdisciplinary and multinational teams

She brings extensive knowledge of the space domain, combining technical insight with operational experience, strategic leadership, and international commercial focus.  

– It is an honor to take over the baton from Rolf. KSAT is a global company managed from Northern Norway, and in today’s world, the role the company plays makes a real difference, which is highly motivating. We have skilled employees who deliver services that the world needs, says Marte Indregard.

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Höegh Autoliners joins World Shipping Council

Business News, Shipping & Offshore

Washington/Oslo, January 14, 2026 – The World Shipping Council (WSC) today announced that Höegh Autoliners has joined as a member, further strengthening the Council’s representation of the global liner shipping industry, including the vehicle carrier sector.

“We are pleased to welcome Höegh Autoliners to the World Shipping Council,” said Joe Kramek, WSC President & CEO. “Vehicle carriers are a core part of liner shipping that move global trade. Höegh Autoliners brings valuable expertise and perspective as we work with policymakers on safety, sustainability and effective global regulation.”

Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, said: “Throughout the years, Höegh Autoliners has invested decisively in a commercially viable cleaner future through our Aurora Class newbuild project, positioning us as an industry leader in the next chapter of zero-emission deep-sea shipping. As trade patterns shift and the operating environment becomes more complex, liner shipping needs policies that work globally. Joining the World Shipping Council reflects our commitment to working with peers and policymakers to help shape practical global regulatory frameworks that support both economic competitiveness and long-term sustainability, while strengthening the resilience of the supply chains we all rely on.”

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Planned James City County Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace missile factory to be fully operational in 2028

Business News, Defense / Security

Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace will produce two types of cruise missiles at the plant, its largest outside of Norway.


Construction on a Norwegian defense contractor’s missile factory in James City County will start by mid-year, with the first munitions rolling out of production in 2028.

Leaders from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Inc., alongside Virginia and county representatives, officially broke ground Friday on the new plant in Toano. It will be the more-than-200-year-old company’s first missile assembly facility in the United States.

The 150,000 square foot space will also be the first tenant of a more than 2 million square foot industrial park. Kongsberg expects to employ at least 180 people at the factory to manufacture two types of cruise missiles to sell to the U.S. military, which will be armed at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown.

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Empire Wind granted preliminary injunction allowing construction to resume

Business News, Energy, Government

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today granted Empire Offshore Wind LLC (Empire) a preliminary injunction that allows construction activities to resume on the Outer Continental Shelf for the Empire Wind project.

The underlying lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior’s December 22, 2025 suspension order will continue to proceed.

Empire Wind will now focus on safely restarting construction activities that were halted during the suspension period. In addition, the project will continue to engage with the U.S. government to ensure the safe, secure and responsible execution of its operations.

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US judge delays ruling on Empire stop work order as Equinor deadline looms

Business News, Energy

DC-district court’s Carl Nichols set tomorrow for ruling as developer warns it may have to cancel 810MW project critical to New York’s power supply.

A Washington, DC federal district court has postponed until Thursday a ruling on Equinor’s request for preliminary injunction on the Trump administration’s stop-work order halting construction of its Empire Wind array.

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