This summer, four interns joined ECOnnect to tackle real-world projects. Discover how their diverse backgrounds and teamwork helped shape a dynamic and rewarding internship experience.
This summer, ECOnnect welcomed four talented interns: Erle Damm, Ola Bakkom, Guro Stålstrøm, and Nora Grønås. Coming from diverse academic backgrounds – civil and marine engineering, entrepreneurship, and strategic communication – they’ve each brought fresh perspectives to the team. Over the course of eight weeks, they immersed themselves in real-world projects that support ECOnnect’s mission to redefine marine energy infrastructure.
Real projects, real responsibility
From the very first week, the interns were trusted with tasks that gave them both responsibility and freedom to explore different solutions. Erle, who studies civil engineering at NTNU, highlighted how much she learned from working in the commercial department:
“Coming from a technically oriented study, working with the commercial team meant a steep learning curve, which made the experience especially rewarding. I gained practical insight into how commercial strategies are adapted and applied to meet real-world needs.”
For Ola, studying marine engineering, the value lay in experiencing how teamwork drives innovation:
“My favorite part was actively collaborating with the other interns to develop new concepts and approaches. We worked really well together, both supporting and challenging each other when needed. Besides, being given the freedom to think outside the box as an engineer gave me a lot of new perspectives on real-world problem solving.
The interns enjoying a rooftop lunch
Lessons that went beyond expectations
A clear takeaway for all four interns was how much they grew from working in an interdisciplinary team. Erle highlighted the value of collaborating with peers from entrepreneurship, while Guro pointed out how their diverse backgrounds made the teamwork both dynamic and inspiring:
“Our different backgrounds made the teamwork really engaging and insightful. The fast, creative thinking from the entrepreneurship students combined with the analytical depth and critical perspective of the engineering students turned out to be a highly effective mix. Another highlight was visiting the site to see La Santa Maria – it was exciting to see the technology up close.”
For Nora, from NTNU’s School of Entrepreneurship, the biggest lesson came from navigating the pace of a scaling company:
“I’ve learned how to prioritize tasks coming from different directions, even when it isn’t clear which ones matter most. Structuring a plan and delivering on responsibilities has been an important takeaway for me.”
Looking ahead
As the internship wraps up, ECOnnect extends a big thank you to Erle, Ola, Guro, and Nora for their energy, curiosity, and contributions. Their fresh perspectives have not only supported ongoing projects but also sparked new ideas for the future.
At ECOnnect, internships are more than just a learning opportunity: they are a chance to connect with the next generation of clean tech innovators. We’re proud of what this year’s interns have accomplished and look forward to welcoming a new group in 2026.
Stay tuned: we’ll share details on our next internship program as soon as they’re available.
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