ONS 2018

Founded in 1974, ONS has developed into a global energy meeting place connecting international suppliers, operating companies and decision makers. This is our background.

Event frequency
ONS takes place every second year in Stavanger, Norway.
The next event is 27 – 30 August 2018.

History
When oil and gas was discovered in the North Sea, the need for a meeting place for the companies in this new industry emerged. ONS was held for the first time in 1974, and has more than 40 years of proud history.
ONS is a non-profit foundation, and was established by Stavanger City Council, Statoil, Stavanger Forum and the Norwegian Petroleum Society.

1

The name
ONS has developed with the times – as has the name. In the seventies, ONS was short for Offshore North Sea, as the event was targeted at companies with business in the North Sea basin.
However, the oil industry soon started to explore other parts of the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The ONS event grew alongside the industry, more exhibitors and visitors participated and the conference topics became broader. So the name was changed to Offshore Northern Seas.
Today, the event attracts visitors from all over the world, and is known just as ONS.

2

Key figures from ONS 2016
• 65 718 visitors from 99 countries
• 1 241 exhibitors from 40 countries
• 23 000 square metres exhibition area
• 500 speakers on seven conference arenas
• 1 080 delegates each day on the main conference
• More than 6 000 attendees on the ONS Centre Court
• Technical Sessions: 1 050 people on 20 sessions
• 2 112 participants at ONS Young
• International Markets presented by INTSOK: 815 delegates on 10 country sessions. More than 300 B2B meetings
• ONS Summit: 100 top leaders from 25 countries
• 202 journalists from 14 countries
• Festival and after-party: 14 pavilions
• Thousands at the ONS Concert

Facts and figures, ONS 2018
Exhibition
• 9 exhibition halls
• 23 000 square metres exhibition space
• Operators and suppliers from all over the world
• Two designated areas for innovators and companies with clean energy initiatives: Innovation Park and Clean Energy Park
• Access to ONS Centre Court, a conference arena in the exhibition area
• No invitation needed. Tickets cost 400 NOK – this gives access to the exhibition all four days

Conference
• Main theme: INNOVATE
• 500 speakers on seven conference arenas
ONS Conference
– Held at the Clarion Hotel Energy
– Extensive programme
– Choose between Full Conference Pass or day passes

Centre Court – conference arena at the exhibition, strong focus on clean energy topics
Technical Sessions – technological solutions to the industry’s main challenges
Young – extensive programme for lower and upper secondary school pupils, students, young professionals and for teachers and advisers.
International Markets, presented by NORWEP – focus on business opportunities abroad for Norwegian companies
Renewable Markets – focus on business opportunities in renewable markets
ONS Summit – forum for senior executives and governmental leaders attending ONS

Festival
• Social network arena, after-party and cultural events
• Festival area in the Stavanger’s harbour, in the city centre
• Opens when the exhibition closes – everyone is welcome!
• Energy cities and companies host pavilions and boats
• Culinary delights, art and entertainment
• ONS Artist (artist to be announced)
• Run for fun – the ONS road race
• The ONS Concert in the city