Ocean-based solutions for the future

To remain competitive, businesses in ocean-based industries must also take responsibility for their environmental footprint. This calls for environmentally friendly solutions that reduce emissions, protect marine life and increase value creation. Being first involves risk, both for those developing and producing new solutions and for those adopting them for the first time. At the same time, staying ahead brings significant benefits. Businesses that begin their green transition today will be better equipped to meet tomorrow's demands from authorities and customers.

We offer a range of funding schemes that may be relevant to projects in ocean-based industries. If your project involves developing and demonstrating new, environmentally friendly technology, the Environmental Technology Scheme may be relevant. Projects involving smart transport solutions may qualify for Pilot-T. If your project primarily involves investing in construction machinery and equipment, a green growth loan may be an option. To explore the opportunities available to you, get in touch with your local Innovation Norway office.

Our primary target group is small and medium-sized enterprises, but several of the schemes mentioned above may also be relevant to large companies. The schemes are open to all sectors. The public sector is not eligible, but publicly owned enterprises can apply.

We expect your company to uphold responsible business conduct and have guidelines for ethics and corporate social responsibility.

We are looking for sustainable solutions (technologies, processes and systems) that create greater value in Norway, strengthen the competitiveness of Norwegian companies and deliver long-term environmental improvements. Your solution must be significantly better than competing technologies currently available, and your application must clearly describe the project's level of innovation and associated risks. You must also clearly explain the market opportunities and how you plan to promote wider adoption of the technology.

The project must be based on a solid body of knowledge, and your application must refer to previous research or studies that support the project and its environmental impact. Project participants must have relevant expertise in the field.

Our grants must comply with the state aid rules. These rules require that public funding does not exceed the amount needed to deliver the project.

Innovation grants supplement other project funding. We determine our share of the funding based on an overall assessment of your company and project. Innovation grants help ensure that priority projects are delivered at the intended scale and pace.

We also offer other financial solutions that may be relevant to businesses investing in the green transition. Innovation loans can support the commercialisation of new solutions, strengthen working capital, and fund growth and international expansion. You can also explore funding schemes from Enova, the Research Council of Norway and EU funding schemes for radical innovation.

Enova's schemes under the Zero Emission Fund are particularly relevant to the ocean industries. We offer schemes for suppliers developing new climate and environmental technologies for the ocean industries, while Enova offers schemes for end users and the market rollout of these solutions.

For fisheries and aquaculture projects, we place considerable emphasis on both fish welfare and environmental impact. You must explain how the planned technology will affect the environment and fish health, and how you will monitor and safeguard these aspects throughout the project. If your project requires permits or licences, you must have these in place before we can process your funding application. Please note that we will not prioritise projects that have received development licences from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, as these licences reduce risk in the same way as grants from us.

New system solutions for land-based aquaculture and closed or semi-closed facilities must be compared with similar solutions that are being planned or built, rather than with traditional open-net pens at sea. This applies to their degree of innovation, environmental impact, fish welfare and other relevant factors.