CLARA VENTURE LABS AS

Their core work

Clara Venture Labs (operating as ProtoTech) is a Norwegian technology SME based in Bergen that develops hardware and systems for extreme environments — from space life support to maritime fuel cells. They specialize in modular equipment design, environmental monitoring, and electrochemical energy systems. Their work spans controlled-environment agriculture for space applications and zero-emission fuel cell technology for shipping, positioning them at the intersection of life support engineering and clean energy systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 work (2015-2018) split between two very different domains: space-based life support systems with plant growth monitoring under fractional gravity (TIME SCALE), and solid oxide electrochemistry for energy applications (SElySOs). By 2020, their focus shifted decisively toward maritime decarbonization with the ShipFC ammonia fuel cell project. The thread connecting all three is electrochemical and environmental systems engineering applied to challenging operational environments.

Clara Venture Labs is moving toward maritime decarbonization and ammonia-based energy systems, making them a relevant partner for green shipping and hydrogen economy projects.

How they like to work

Exclusively a consortium participant across all three projects — they contribute specialized technical components rather than leading projects. With 30 unique partners across 12 countries from just 3 projects, they work in large, diverse consortia (averaging 10+ partners per project). This suggests they are comfortable operating within complex international teams and bring focused technical contributions rather than project management.

Despite only three projects, they have built a broad network of 30 partners across 12 countries, indicating involvement in large pan-European consortia. Their Bergen base and maritime focus suggest strong connections to Nordic and Northern European research and industry networks.

What sets them apart

Their unusual combination of space life support, electrochemistry, and maritime fuel cell experience makes them a rare breed — an SME that can engineer systems for both orbit and ocean. For consortium builders, they offer hands-on hardware development and system integration skills for extreme environments, backed by a track record of working within large international teams. Their pivot toward ammonia fuel cells for shipping aligns them with one of Europe's fastest-growing decarbonization priorities.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ShipFC
  One of Europe's pioneering ammonia fuel cell projects for maritime transport, targeting multi-megawatt scale — a flagship initiative in green shipping.
• TIME SCALE
  Their largest funded project (EUR 600K) and a technically distinctive one: developing modular life support with plant growth monitoring under fractional gravity for space applications.