The two Trondheim research heavyweights SINTEF and NTNU are working closely together in Brussels. The rewards for Norwegian businesses can be great, both in terms of innovation and revenues.
Three years ago, SINTEF and NTNU opened a joint office in Brussels, since when the office has been responsible for the coordination of several new EU research projects.
鈥淣TNU and SINTEF have been working in Europe for some time now and have an excellent network involving both businesses and research centres鈥�, says SINTEF CEO Alexandra Bech Gj酶rv. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working around the clock in our search for new wealth creation opportunities鈥�, she says.
Even if the institutes鈥� presence in the EU capital is primarily to promote opportunities for collaboration, there is also a lot of funding up for grabs. In three years鈥� time, the research and innovation programme Horizon Europe will be launched, offering funding in the region of EUR 100 billion, which is close to a thousand billion Norwegian kroner.
Invited to collaborate
On Tuesday of this week, NTNU and SINTEF invited the Norwegian business community, key individuals from the Norwegian EU delegation, and other supporters to a seminar in Brussels. Attendees were given an introduction to the Horizon Europe programme, and discussed their expectations and ambitions in relation to its development.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important for Norwegian businesses to get involved in the competition for European funding because it promotes innovation鈥�, says Arvid Moss, President of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO). 鈥淚t focuses the minds of our best researchers on becoming competitive with other European research centres, and also helps to ensure that businesses position themselves at the very forefront of innovation鈥�, he says.
鈥淭he EU is currently organising the next Framework Programme鈥�, says NTNU Rector Gunnar Bovim. 鈥淭he Norwegian business community has no time to lose.聽 The EU has already indicated that it will be investing more in small- and medium-sized businesses than was the case for the H2020 programme. From a Norwegian point of view, we have to position ourselves and participate in organising panels and groups, because Europe needs to know more about this鈥�, he says.
Brussels office boosts opportunities
鈥淗ow will Norwegian businesses get a foothold in the EU programmes?鈥� asks Bovim. 鈥淚nnovation Norway and the Research Council can act as door-openers, but I believe that collaboration with research centres such as SINTEF and NTNU represent the key to success.”
“In fact, this is easier than many businesses think, and our experience is that some of those who have been here for a number of years are reaping the rewards鈥�, he says.
The joint office has boosted opportunities to profit from the unique collaboration between NTNU and SINTEF in connection with the H2020 projects in which both organisations have shared interests and complement each other.
鈥淲e鈥檙e facing enormous changes in the global competitive market鈥�, says Bech Gj酶rv. 鈥淭echnology and digitalisation are key factors here, so we must grasp the opportunities and prepare for the risks. I believe that working together with other businesses and the leading research centres in Norway and Europe is an excellent way to achieving these goals鈥�, she says.
Good opportunities for Norway
鈥淚 see excellent opportunities for Norwegian industry to obtain its share of Horizon Europe projects, especially in the categories 鈥楪lobal Challenges鈥� and 鈥業ndustrial Competitiveness鈥欌��, says Signe Ratso,聽Deputy Director-General at the European Commission.
鈥淣orway is highly competent in many of the fields currently addressing global challenges. Norwegian companies can thus both contribute to, and reap the benefits of, the Horizon Europe programme in fields such as energy, the maritime sector and eco-friendly industry鈥� she says.
In conclusion: 鈥淣orwegian business has a lot to offer in terms of developing a better Europe for the future鈥�, says NTNU Rector Bovim.
This article was originally published by our friends at and is republished here with permission.
