Simula Metropolitan Center for Digital Engineering

Simula Metropolitan Center for Digital Engineering AS (SimulaMet) is a non-profit research organization jointly owned by Simula Research Laboratory and Oslo Metropolitan University. It serves as the hub for Simula’s research activities in networks and communications, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and IT management. SimulaMet's mission is to conduct research in digital engineering at the highest international level, to educate and supervise Ph.D. and master's students at OsloMet, and to contribute to innovation in society through collaboration, startup companies, and licensing of research results.

Background
The center was established in 2018 to address the national and European need to bolster research and educational capacity in the ICT and digitalization sector.

Organization
The center is located in OsloMet’s premises in the Bislett neighborhood in Oslo. Olav Lysne is the director of SimulaMet, and Simula Research Laboratory owns 51 percent in the company, while OsloMet - Storbyuniversitetet owns 49 percent.

Research and activities
As a partner of OsloMet, the center has contributed to the development of a Ph.D. program in digital engineering, as well as to the establishment of the OsloMet AI Lab. The OsloMet AI Lab is a research center that oversees research and student projects in artificial intelligence.

The center has established five research areas within digitalization and IT. These include the Center for Resilient Networks and Applications (CRNA) and Effective Digitalization of the Public Sector (EDOS). These centers receive funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Modernization.

The Center for Resilient Networks and Applications (CRNA) was established in 2014 with a focus on enhancing the robustness and security of ICT infrastructures. The Ministry of Local Government and Modernization has mandated specific responsibilities to the center. This includes operating an infrastructure for monitoring the state of the Norwegian telecommunications infrastructure, particularly the mobile broadband networks, and publishing an annual report on it.

Effective Digitalization of the Public Sector (EDOS) was established in 2020 and will provide new knowledge on effective digitalization of the public sector. This includes input to improve processes and methods for the development of digital solutions, as well as research-based assistance to the Ministry of Local Government and Modernization and other parts of the public sector.