Western Australia's (WA) Trade and Ministerial Mission to Norway, the Netherlands and Ireland successfully created new opportunities for collaboration, investment, innovation and industry growth across key sectors.

Led by Minister for Regional Development; Ports; Science and Innovation; Medical Research, Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC, the mission showcased WA’s strengths in energy, innovation, advanced industries and economic development, while strengthening relationships with government, industry and research leaders across Europe.

Our Agent General for WA in the United Kingdom and Europe, Ms Rebecca Tomkinson, and Mr Chris Shaw, Director General of the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, accompanied Minster Dawson and the delegation during the mission.

The mission began in Stavanger, Norway, at ONS 2026, one of the world's leading energy conferences. WA was promoted as a trusted energy producer and partner in the global energy transition, with discussions focusing on energy security, decarbonisation, subsea technologies, decommissioning and carbon capture and storage.

A key outcome was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between GCE Ocean Technology and Subsea Innovation Cluster Australia (SICA), strengthening collaboration between Norwegian and Australian subsea industries through knowledge sharing, industry engagement and future commercial opportunities.

In the Netherlands, the delegation focused on investment attraction, innovation and business growth.

Engagements with regional development agency, InnovationQuarter, explored approaches to fostering innovation ecosystems and attracting investment. This was complemented by meetings with Australian company, Nourish Ingredients, and Dutch company, AquaSmartXL, which highlighted opportunities for collaboration and market expansion across Australia and Europe.

The mission then travelled to Galway, Ireland, where discussions centered on health and medical life sciences, research commercialisation and regional development.

At the University of Galway, the delegation toured Boston Scientific and met with university leaders to learn how research is translated into market-ready healthcare solutions. Meetings also explored opportunities for collaboration in rural and remote health education and innovation.

A visit to health technology company, FeelTect, also showcased the role of regional innovation ecosystems in supporting high-value startups and commercialising research.

The final stage of the mission took place in Dublin, Ireland, where the delegation met with government agencies, industry representatives and innovation leaders to discuss business competitiveness, investment attraction and emerging industries.

Engagements with Ireland's growing space sector, including astronaut Dr Norah Patten, highlighted opportunities to strengthen collaboration in research, STEM education and industry development.

The mission strengthened WA’s international profile and expanded connections across government, industry and research sectors.

From energy and subsea technology in Norway, to innovation and investment in the Netherlands, and health technology and future industries in Ireland, the mission reinforced the State’s position as a globally connected, innovative and future-focused economy.

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Published on: 29 September 2026