EU funding accelerates Norwegian innovation

- For us, the EU funding is purely for scaling up. Our mission is to help one million Europeans with cybersecurity over the next few years and become a major cybersecurity provider with a European focus, says Erlend Andreas Gjære, founder of Secure Practice.

As a former researcher responsible for security training at a large company, Gjære saw a clear need to provide people with more active support when making security decisions, both big and small, in their everyday lives.

This led him to launch Secure Practice with his wife, Ragnhild, in 2017. The Trondheim-based company's first product was MailRisk, a user-friendly inbox button that employees can click if they receive a suspicious email. It then analyses the email's credibility, while a cloud service collects data about it to quickly identify whether others have also been targeted by the scam. This transforms employees from what is often called the weakest link into a valuable asset in security efforts.

'The positive feedback we received inspired and motivated us to continue helping people feel confident about cybersecurity,' says the founder.

Over the past seven years, they have built the company step by step into what is now predicted to become 'one of Norway's next export success stories'.

- Our goal is to protect society and the people around us from criminals and malicious actors. We want people to feel safe and be equipped to deal with this somewhat invisible threat.

Gjære is currently touring the country with the 'Hele Norge øver' cybersecurity exercise. Businesses are flocking to the sessions, where an interactive digital simulation gives them first-hand experience of what it is like to be in the midst of a cyberattack.

This autumn, the company is heading to Denmark, taking its successful exercise and cloud services with it. The rest of Europe comes next. This expansion is made possible by EU funding from Digital Europe, the EU programme for the digital transformation of businesses and the public sector (see fact box). Last year, Secure Practice received EUR 2.5 million – NOK 29 million – becoming the first Norwegian company to receive funding through the programme.

Between 2021 and 2023, Norwegian companies received funding for 378 projects. We help companies and clusters succeed in the EU.

He points out that EU funding also offers more than financial support alone.

- These EU programmes also provide access to new markets and opportunities to build networks and gain new expertise.

Secure Practice uses artificial intelligence both to analyse suspicious emails and to provide tailored training for each company and employee.

'People are different, and if security training is too generic, it is a waste of time for many. By tailoring the training much more closely to each person, it becomes far more effective and relevant,' says Gjære.

Together with the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, they have also explored how to use data while safeguarding privacy, with a market-leading approach to complying with a common European regulatory framework.

He highlights our support as essential to getting them where they are today, through various funding schemes, courses and advisory. It was also 'a necessary push' from one of our EU advisers that prompted them to apply for EU funding.

- Innovation Norway has always been there for us, and with their support we continue to learn more about how the world works. They are a trusted partner and have played a crucial role in enabling us to take the steps we have taken. We have also put taxpayers' money to good use and created jobs.

The EU funding aims to protect citizens and businesses, strengthen the European cybersecurity industry and create jobs in Europe. For Secure Practice, the funding has created ten new positions, bringing its workforce to 22 employees.

Gjære points out that the EU's many regulations also create market opportunities.

- We have developed solutions that give us a competitive edge in the EU, and that is a strategic choice for us. The market is huge, and we can grow as much as we want.

Norwegian company Ocean Oasis' innovative test facility is now fully operational in Gran Canaria. Here, the Oslo-based company is demonstrating its pioneering technology: desalinating seawater using mobile, floating units powered by wave energy.

The pilot facility was made possible in part by EU funding from EIC Accelerator – a Horizon Europe scheme (see fact box) for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises with international ambitions and strong growth potential.

Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Thomas B. Johannessen holds a PhD in hydrodynamics. He had many years of experience in the offshore industry when he came up with the idea for this renewable solution, which does not rely on a connection to the power grid or other fossil energy sources.

'The idea is to use wave power as a renewable energy source in a conventional desalination process. The aim is to provide safe drinking water, or water for agriculture and industry, more sustainably than today – at an affordable cost,' says Fredriksen.

Many Norwegians are unfamiliar with this industry, but it is a major industry globally.
Today, 300 million people depend on desalination for their drinking water.

'By 2050, this figure will have risen to nearly one billion as a result of climate change, population growth and urbanisation. A lack of affordable drinking water is one of the major global challenges ahead of us. That is why we need every good solution,' she says.

In the Canary Islands, around 70 per cent of all drinking water is desalinated seawater, making the archipelago an ideal place to test the technology. Ocean Oasis now hopes to partner with its first customer and connect to the water supply network.

Ocean Oasis has previously received support through our Environmental Technology Scheme.

'For us, it was absolutely crucial to our continued development. Innovation Norway also provided excellent support throughout the EIC Accelerator application process,' Fredriksen says.

She particularly highlights the support she received in preparing for the interview with the EIC jury in Brussels.

- We received pitch training, and you also arranged a rehearsal that ensured we were well prepared when it really mattered. We also have a good relationship with the EU advisers in Norway and your Brussels office.

The founder believes more Norwegian companies can be even more ambitious and take the leap to apply for EU funding.

‘The application processes are demanding, but you can succeed – and when you do, it is definitely worth the effort.’

EU funding has also found its way to Porsgrunn. Here, biotechnology company Kaass Discovery has secured funding in two rounds: first through the EU's Eurostars programme and then through Women TechEU – both initiatives under Horizon Europe, the world's largest research and innovation programme.

The company was founded by entrepreneur, researcher and doctor Anita Kåss, who develops medicines and solutions for people affected by autoimmune diseases.

The funding from Women Tech EU will support the development of an AI-powered device that collects data and monitors health at home.

'People with autoimmune diseases such as MS have no way of measuring whether they are having a bad day. They receive no warning of a sudden MS attack that worsens their symptoms. Being able to predict when these attacks are coming could help people get the right treatment sooner and prevent the attack from causing damage,' Kåss emphasises.

During Kåss’ childhood in England, her mother suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and died when Anita was just 13 years old. This motivated her to learn more about autoimmune diseases, which affect more than 600 million people worldwide, and to find new solutions.

The Porsgrunn-based company is now working to secure a patent for the new device before bringing it to market. At the same time, the team is developing treatments and other medical devices.

'We want to give patients greater control over and insight into their own health. More measurements, big data and artificial intelligence, combined with devices that collect large amounts of information, create opportunities for more personalised solutions. This is the future of healthcare,' the researcher concludes.

She emphasises that EU funding is important both for growth and for further developing the idea and the solution.

- They also strengthen our position when we apply for larger amounts and other EU funding. In addition, taking part in the programme has opened up many new opportunities for collaboration and for building networks with others in the industry.

Women TechEU provides funding, coaching and business acceleration services to women-led technology companies. Kåss says that our adviser told them about the programme and encouraged them to apply.

'In addition to the grants we receive from Innovation Norway, their advisory is invaluable, and they are always ready to help. I know I can always ask them for advice.'