Meet the nominees for the Export Award

The Export Award will be presented at the Export Conference on 12 March at the Munch Museum. The award recognises a Norwegian export company that has successfully created value in Norway through international markets.

The ten nominees are export companies from a wide range of industries, including seafood and marine products, maritime technology, health technology, recycling, electronics, containers and bags.

'The list of candidates reflects the breadth and innovation of Norwegian exports. It includes both traditional and emerging export industries, as well as companies with established and newer brands. The jury is impressed by their achievements and grateful for what they mean to Norway,' says jury chair and CEO of Eksfin, Tone Lunde Bakker.

The nominees come from different parts of Norway, and both Eksfin and we have worked on several of their international projects.

'These export companies are strong examples of Norwegian innovations succeeding internationally and show that Norway is a global leader in many fields. It is also encouraging to see that several of these successful exporters have undertaken projects that we have supported with funding and advisory through our local offices in Norway and our international offices,' says Håkon Haugli, CEO of Innovation Norway.

The companies include businesses in both health technology and green maritime solutions – two of the export initiatives launched by the government through its 'All of Norway Exports' reform.

The Export Conference is now fully booked, but you can still watch the conference and awards ceremony online.

Aker BioMarine is a leading biotechnology and krill harvesting company. It is the world's leading exporter of raw krill to the global market and is at the forefront internationally of sustainable, high-tech harvesting. Aker BioMarine also controls the entire value chain – from krill harvesting in Antarctica to research, product development, production and sales of krill-based ingredients and products. Krill is used in feed for fish and other animals, as well as in a growing consumer market. Aker BioMarine exports 90 per cent of its products to North and South America and Asia.

Arctic Bioscience AS is based in Ørsta in Møre og Romsdal and develops and sells dietary supplements worldwide. The company is also developing new medicines, focusing primarily on inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis. It uses marine raw materials, with immature herring roe – a by-product of herring fillet production – as a key ingredient. Arctic Bioscience is at the forefront of research into extracting and developing oils from marine raw materials and exports a very high proportion of its products.

Barel is based in Kirkenes in Finnmark and develops and manufactures specialist electronics for 'demanding environments', such as emergency lighting for ships, chemical plants, oil platforms and the aviation industry. The company has 63 employees and exports 70 per cent of its products to customers in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Brunvoll is a maritime industrial group with five locations in Norway (Molde, Ålesund, Volda, Porsgrunn and Dalen) and a global network of agents across 20 countries. The company supplies complete propulsion and manoeuvring systems for advanced vessels worldwide. It promotes greater sustainability by using local suppliers, implementing energy-saving measures, recycling and developing zero-emission solutions. Brunvoll has been family-owned for 111 years, has a clear strategy of manufacturing in Norway and grew by 30% in 2023. Its largest markets are Germany, Asia (China, South Korea and Vietnam), Türkiye, Italy, the USA, the UK and Brazil.

Db Equipment AS (Douchebags or Db) exports bags, backpacks and luggage for leisure, everyday use and specialist equipment. Db has become a globally recognised brand, with key markets in Norway, Sweden, the USA, the UK and Germany. Db Equipment is headquartered in Oslo.

Hexagon Ragasco in Raufoss manufactures and exports composite cylinders for propane and butane for leisure, domestic and industrial applications. Composite cylinders offer many advantages over steel cylinders. Their low weight reduces greenhouse gas emissions during transport, while their rust-free construction eliminates the need for environmentally harmful refurbishment. The company has also launched an IoT solution for the cylinders, giving users greater control over their gas consumption. It exports to more than 90 countries, primarily in Europe and the Middle East, and is expanding its market share in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Hofseth is a seafood group from Sunnmøre that farms and processes salmon and trout. It has also expanded its product range to include the sale and distribution of farmed cod and queen scallops. Most of the fish is sold as food, but the company also uses fish trimmings to produce biomarine ingredients with clinically proven health benefits. Hofseth exports to a range of markets, with a particular focus on the US, where it accounts for 60 per cent of all salmon imported from Norway. Hofseth has a strong focus on sustainability and uses closed-containment systems, electrification, plastic recycling and sea freight for frozen products to reduce its environmental impact.

Medistim, headquartered in Oslo, develops and sells ultrasound-based medical technology for use in cardiovascular surgery. Medistim's equipment enables surgeons to measure the exact volume of blood flowing through a blood vessel and visualise any narrowing or damage inside a patient's blood vessels. Medistim serves markets worldwide, with a particular focus on the US, China, Japan and Europe. In 2023, the company established direct operations in China, Canada and Sweden, adding to its existing offices in the US, Germany, Spain, the UK and Denmark.

Sero is a biotechnology company that produces and sells quality control materials for diagnostic tests worldwide. Its products include control fluids used in laboratory testing to ensure accurate and reliable analyses. The company is based in Asker and exports to more than 60 countries, including demanding markets such as Japan and Germany.

TOMRA has been developing sensor-based technology for identifying and sorting materials since 1972. Today, this technology is used worldwide in reverse vending machines, waste sorting systems and food production. TOMRA is a global leader in all these areas, with installations in more than 100 countries. TOMRA is headquartered in Asker.

The jury that selected the ten nominees for Export Company of the Year comprised:

• Tone Lunde Bakker, Eksfin (jury chair)
• Håkon Haugli, Innovation Norway (jury chair)
• Alexandra Bech Gjørv, Sintef
• Per A. Sørlie, Borregaard
• Kathine Myhre, Norwegian Industrial Property Office
• Morten A. Christophersen, ECOnnect Energy

About Eksfin:

Eksfin – Export Finance Norway promotes Norwegian exports by providing government-backed loans and financial guarantees to Norwegian companies, international buyers and their banks. Eksfin helps secure sales contracts with international buyers, investments in facilities in Norway and other transactions that strengthen Norwegian exports and value creation.

About us:

We help Norwegian businesses achieve sustainable growth and exports through expertise, capital and networks. We can help your business enter a new market for the first time or expand its international activities.