EU funding accelerates Norwegian innovation
Europe is not only Norway's closest neighbour, but also our most important market. As much as 70 per cent of Norwegian exports go to Europe, and EU cooperation opens doors for Norwegian companies seeking growth, innovation and international expansion.
The EU offers several funding schemes for Norwegian companies, but applying for EU funding can be time-consuming. We can help your company with the application.
NOK 240 million for hydrogen project
EU adviser at the RENERGY cluster, Ida Kallmyr Lerheim, played a key role in preparing the application that secured NOK 240 million in funding for Norway's largest hydrogen initiative. The funding came from the EU's Horizon Europe programme, the world's largest research and innovation programme.
«We told the business community, 'As a cluster, we can take on that work.' They trusted us because our aim was not to make a lot of money from it. It is our role as part of the national cluster programme run by Innovation Norway, the Research Council of Norway and Siva.»
The NORHyWAY hydrogen project will now demonstrate how a complete hydrogen value chain can be developed on an industrial scale and become one of Europe’s most extensive hydrogen projects. The project will significantly increase green hydrogen production, develop value chains for maritime and land-based transport, and use hydrogen to provide flexibility in the power system.
The potential benefits are enormous: The ambition is to build capacity for 37,081 tonnes of hydrogen per year by 2035, cutting CO₂ emissions by up to 345,000 tonnes – equivalent to the emissions from more than 109,000 tonnes of diesel. This will also create new jobs and generate planned investments of around NOK 11.4 billion by 2040.
With NOK 240 million in EU funding, the project can now move into its next phase, creating significant benefits for industry, value creation and jobs.
‘This is a breakthrough for hydrogen development in Norway and a clear recognition of Norway’s potential to lead the energy transition. Through NORHyWAY, we will show Europe how to scale zero-emission solutions from pilot projects to a functioning market,’ says Thomas Bjørdal, head of the RENERGY business cluster.
Succeeded with patient monitoring technology
Another prestigious Horizon Europe scheme targets women-led deep-tech companies. The fourth Women TechEU call received 1,107 applications from 43 countries – the highest number to date. Following a thorough evaluation process, 40 winners were selected. Norway’s RafX Technologies was among them and will receive €75,000 in funding, as well as exclusive access to advisory services and networks across Europe.
The company is developing RafX SafeNight, which uses sensor technology and AI to continuously monitor patients in acute psychiatric and neurological care without physical contact. This marks a breakthrough in psychiatric care, where monitoring today relies largely on manual observation. Early detection of critical situations can save lives and improve treatment outcomes.
– Receiving Women TechEU is a strong endorsement of our team, our partners and our vision to transform hospital care for the most vulnerable psychiatric and neurological patients. We enter 2026 with a stronger team and a focused development plan towards clinical proof of concept, says Magdalena Gjefle, co-founder of RafX Technologies.
Norwegian companies have performed well in the strong competition for Women TechEU funding. In the previous call, four Norwegian companies received funding. We are the national contact point for the scheme and help companies through the application process, either directly through our EU advisers or in partnership with EU advisers in business clusters.
'These awards show that Norway is among Europe’s leading countries in women-led technology development. The strong interest in Women TechEU confirms not only the growing demand for support for women-led deep-tech start-ups in Europe, but also how RafX Technologies and Magdalena Gjefle are driving pioneering innovation that is shaping the technology of the future,' says Eva Langslet, Head of EU Programmes at Innovation Norway.
Receives up to NOK 110 million for new cancer treatment
A third scheme under Horizon Europe is the EIC Accelerator, where small and medium-sized enterprises can apply for grants and equity investment. The funding supports breakthrough innovations with strong potential for international growth and a significant positive impact on the environment and society.
Trondheim-based NaDeNo Nanoscience meets these criteria and will receive up to NOK 110 million (€10 million) for its technology designed to prevent cancer recurrence. Of this, €2.5 million will be provided as a grant, and the company may also receive an equity investment of up to €7.5 million from the EIC Fund.
«Innovation Norway gave us the push we needed to apply and helped us get started. They connected us with experts during the application process and helped us prepare for the investor interview in Brussels. This was very useful to us.»
‘We are honoured and proud to receive such prestigious external validation of our technology, clinical strategy and team. The support from the EIC Accelerator enables us to conduct our first clinical trial and further develop new candidates based on our platform technology,’ says Annbjørg Falck, CEO and co-founder of NaDeNo.
They are developing a pioneering nanoparticle-based platform for precise and effective drug delivery through the abdominal cavity. The technology primarily targets the treatment of ovarian cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of cancer worldwide, where there is a significant need for new, more targeted solutions.