Opening up an ocean of opportunities for businesses in Vestland

‘I think I have the best job in the world, getting to do this,’ says Sigrid Alice Hovland with a smile.

She heads our Sogndal office. Together with our Bergen office, we act as a sounding board for businesses in Vestland, helping them succeed.

'Vestland is not only geographically large, but also diverse. Having several offices helps us meet different needs and gives us a close understanding of the region’s diversity and opportunities. Businesses also value this local presence, which helps us provide ongoing support,' she says.

Our experienced advisors in Bergen and Sogndal help new entrepreneurs who need support getting started, established companies ready to enter international markets, longstanding businesses adapting to change – and everyone in between. We support you throughout your journey, from developing your idea to commercialisation and international growth.

She points to research showing that combining complementary expertise and capital increases the chances of success.

'In Vestland, we see businesses actively seeking collaboration, giving them an advantage as they innovate and grow.'

Many of the county’s industries are linked to the sea, including fishing, shipping and, notably, oil and gas. Much of its industry has also developed around access to hydropower.

Vestland is also a major tourism destination, known for its spectacular fjords, mountains and waterfalls, and a rich cultural heritage that attracts visitors from around the world.

As a major dairy region and Norway’s second-largest fruit-producing county, Vestland also plays a key role in Norwegian agriculture and food production. Cattle and sheep farming are important to many rural communities, while favourable soil and climate conditions support the production of high-quality fruit, berries and cider. Hardanger is particularly known for sweet cherries, apples and award-winning cider, while Sogn and Nordfjord account for a large share of Norway’s raspberry production. Lærdal is Norway’s largest producer of sweet cherries, accounting for around half of the country’s production.

‘This is a highly productive region with an international outlook. Looking ahead, we also want to position the region within the maritime defence industry,’ says Regional Director Aslak Sverdrup.

He points out that Vestland is the county with both the highest value creation and the most exports.

'This is also where we have the most customers receiving our support: we are the region providing the highest number and value of loans and grants.'

Last year, we set a new record with NOK 1.6 billion in approved loans and grants, of which NOK 1.1 billion was in loans.

'This is largely because we have many established businesses that are now adapting. For example, fishing fleet operators are upgrading their vessels,' Sverdrup explains.

Read also: From million-krone loans to billion-krone growth: The funding accelerating Norwegian businesses

Sigrid Alice Hovland points out that Vestland has managed its natural resources very effectively. This has created a strong and competitive business sector, both nationally and internationally, with several companies leading their industries.

'Businesses here have been driven by market needs and opportunities. Continuous adaptation, growth and development keep them relevant.'

Innvik is one of the long-established businesses we have guided through transformation. Based in the village of the same name in Nordfjord, they produce upholstery fabrics for industrial and architectural projects worldwide.

The 135-year-old company has become increasingly export-focused in recent years. Today, international markets account for around 90 per cent of its turnover – thanks to quality, specialist expertise and sustainable production.

‘In addition, Innovation Norway has been instrumental in helping us stay at the forefront of the green transition, which in turn has laid the foundation for double-digit revenue growth,’ says CEO Bjørn Aage Haugen.

He particularly highlights our skilled local advisors and case officers, who show commitment and a genuine interest in finding suitable funding solutions.

‘It is essential that the case officer has expertise in industry.’

A very different kind of industry is sailing into global markets from Austevoll, with strong support from our Vestland office.

ECOsubsea has developed a ship-cleaning robot that removes biofouling – organisms that grow on hulls – in a faster, safer and more environmentally friendly way. A clean hull reduces friction in the water, saving substantial amounts of fuel and cutting CO₂ emissions and costs. ECOsubsea’s solution also prevents the spread of invasive non-native species, toxic substances and microplastics, unlike traditional cleaning methods.

CEO Tor Østervold has no doubt about the contribution we have made to the company.

'Innovation Norway has been with us from day one and has been instrumental in getting us to where we are today. Their grants, loans and advisory services have enabled us to take bigger steps and move faster.'

The company now plans to build 30 washing stations worldwide, among other initiatives. This could reduce global CO2 emissions by 50 million tonnes – equivalent to Norway’s annual emissions.

Østervold emphasises that our Vestland office has also played an important role in opening doors internationally, including by putting the company in touch with our offices abroad.

‘The network they give you access to helps you enter the global market much faster than you could on your own,’ says the founder.

Vestland leads Norway in value creation, exports and power generation, but also in emissions. To address this challenge, we have joined forces with Vestland County Council to establish 'Grøn Region Vestland' – a project to reduce the region's carbon footprint while increasing value creation and exports. 

She emphasises that the county is in the midst of a major and exciting transition, as it needs to reduce its reliance on oil and gas revenues.

'We need to think differently to achieve more with fewer resources. At the same time, there is a huge need to bridge the energy gap with renewable energy.'

Businesses in Vestland are already world leaders in key technologies for the green transition, including CO2 capture and storage, green aluminium production, offshore wind and shipping.

Grøn Region Vestland will accelerate the development of new green value chains through cross-sector collaboration.

‘It’s about industrial symbiosis – how we can achieve more with less by finding multiple uses for resources, reusing them and sharing them. One company’s by-product can be valuable to another,’ Gaustad points out.

As part of the circular economy project, 19 green hubs have been established across the county, with over 300 innovation projects underway.

‘For example, sludge from aquaculture can be converted into biofuel, or waste heat from a factory can be used in new production processes,’ says Gaustad.

Read more about the green transition in Vestland’s industry

The historic industrial town of Høyanger is home to one of Grøn Region Vestland’s hubs: ‘Circular Høyanger’, where a range of innovative collaborative projects are now taking shape. As in many coastal communities, the process industry has played a vital role here. But production also generates waste containing heavy metals and other environmentally hazardous substances.

'The paradox is that this waste contains large quantities of minerals in demand for modern technologies, such as electric cars, electronics and power generation,' says Ådne Tveit.

He is one of the founders of Refacture, which has found a solution to this problem. Using new plasma technology, they can break down the waste into its smallest components to produce pure elements or minerals.

The company is now building a pilot plant at the former Fundo facility in Høyanger, which is part of the green hub. An agreement with Norsk Hydro gives them access to thousands of tonnes of hazardous waste from the aluminium industry.

'We sell some of the finished products back to Hydro, supporting circular production, while we sell others on the open market. The most important of these is silicon carbide, for which demand is growing rapidly, particularly in the automotive industry,' says the founder.

The pilot plant costs NOK 32 million, and we are funding half of this.

‘Without the support of Innovation Norway, Refacture would not have set up in Norway,’ Tveit states.

'With so much research and development needed to build this industry, capital that reduces risk is essential to attract private investors. Innovation Norway has been a surprisingly flexible partner for us,' says Tveit.

He particularly highlights the collaboration with our local representatives, such as Rune Henjesand in Sogndal.

‘With his extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of Høyanger’s industrial sector, he quickly recognised the benefits that Refacture setting up there would bring to local industry and the community.’

The company plans to employ 30–40 people in Sogn.

The founder also highlights our important role in helping the company secure EU funding, as the EU seeks to increase mineral production in Europe.

'Innovation Norway brings distinctive expertise and a real willingness to collaborate in this area too. Trine Smukkestad Lavik at the Sogndal office has truly guided us every step of the way towards Brussels.'