Fornebu, 08.05.19 - Bjørn Tore Markussen, former director of DNV GL's data management platform Veracity, will take on the exciting role as the new CEO for the Ocean Data Platform Foundation, which has been established by REV Ocean. Veracity saw service subscriptions rise to about 1m in little more than a year after its launch in 2017 as customers explored advanced data sharing opportunities, and this led to Markussen being voted as one of the Top 10 Technology Leaders in 2018 by Lloyd's list. Bjørn Tore formerly begins his new role on August 1, 2019.
The Ocean Data Platform is an innovative facility that will seamlessly combine ocean data collected through a global network of partners, and make it readily available for the public, policymakers and businesses worldwide. The platform aims to provide simple access to the information needed to make sustainable decisions about how we use our ocean. The goal is to improve availability, access and analysis of global ocean data, to foster solutions, and ultimately enable more successful conservation and utilisation of ocean resources. Kjell Inge Røkke is the mastermind behind the initiative and has made significant financial contributions to the foundation.
- Currently, we see that the data produced about the ocean is often stored in proprietary silos or is difficult to access for various reasons. By giving businesses, academia, industry, and the public unique access to this abundance of information, we will be in a much better position to both preserve and maximise the natural wealth of the oceans, says Bjørn Tore Markussen.
In the long term, the Ocean Data Platform will meet the needs of various stakeholders, ranging from marine research to fisheries. The transformative part of the platform will allow the development of specific applications, visualizations and analytics services tailored for user needs. Development of the platform is occurring in close collaboration with REV Ocean and Cognite and will be supervised by an international advisory board. Markussen's unique experience with data platforms will be extremely valuable during the development phase.
- We are thrilled to have Bjørn Tore Markussen aboard to work on developing the Ocean Data Platform, which together with Cognite represent world-class, cutting-edge expertise. The Ocean Data Platform will provide valuable knowledge of the ocean’s challenges, opportunities and mysteries, and be central to saving marine life, says Nina Jensen, CEO of REV Ocean.
- There is a great need for a common and accessible hub for information about the oceans. While Cognite is contributing to the technical implementation, it is great to know that Markussen is spearheading the project and contributing all his experience with complex data platforms, says John Markus Lervik, CEO of Cognite.
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