15 projects receive funding for green business development in the regions

In January last year, we and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development announced that NOK 136 million would be allocated to regional value creation over the next three years. We received 55 applications in the first call for proposals: 36 for circular projects and 19 for collaborative projects between clusters and less established business communities.

The results of the first call for proposals are now in. We have awarded funding to 11 circular economy projects and four collaborative projects (see the full list at the end of the article). Together, they will receive NOK 32 million.

The projects will support regional initiatives for green value chains and industrial symbiosis – collaboration on the use of resources within a defined geographical area. The hub-and-node projects will help develop smaller cluster communities in partnership with established clusters.

Applicants have requested support for many important and innovative projects in biotechnology, construction, hydrogen, marine plastics, health, textiles, the maritime sector, industry and digital solutions.

'I am pleased that we are now advancing new green solutions across Norway. Through this funding, the government, we at Innovation Norway and the county authorities are joining forces to support promising projects among businesses in rural areas. This forms part of the major rural development initiative launched by the Centre Party and the Labour Party in government,' says Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Erling Sande.

'We have seen a great many promising projects put forward in response to the call. The applications are generally of a very high standard. Many of the projects that did not receive funding through this call may still be realised through other support schemes,' says Helle Øverbye, EVP Regional and Business Development at Innovation Norway.

But there are still opportunities for projects that were not selected this time. We will announce new calls under the same funding allocation in the first half of 2024, followed by another call in 2025.

'There is little doubt that this funding will be valuable at a time when there is a great need to develop new green industries,' says Øverbye.

The Eyde Cluster (2,500,000)

Nordland Betong AS (2,500,000)

Kjeller Innovasjon (927,200)

NF&TA (2,000,000)

Norwegian Centre for Circular Economy (2.120.500)

Egersund Net AS (1,300,000)

Blue Planet AS (2,500,000)

Haugaland Business Park AS (1,500,000)

Future Innovations (2.350.000)

Nosca Clean Oceans (1,130,000)

One project is awaiting a funding decision

Innakva Cluster (3,000,000)

Agder Wood Centre (3,000,000)

Trondheim TechPort (3,000,000)

Innovarena AS (3,000,000)

In addition, some applications submitted under these two calls have received funding through our other schemes.