Government proposes moving Siva's business garden and incubation programmes to us

The aim is to establish clear roles within the business support system and provide solutions that make things easier for businesses. 'We want to sharpen and strengthen Siva's role as an industrial developer. With this in mind, we believe it makes sense to consolidate innovation funding within Innovation Norway,' says Siva CEO Jan Morten Ertsaas.

Siva and we have jointly initiated the transfer of operations, in close dialogue with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. We aim to complete the transfer during spring 2026.

In practice, the proposal means that the business garden and incubator programmes will continue, while responsibility for managing them and 12 full-time equivalent positions currently working on the programmes at Siva will transfer to us. The office will remain in Trondheim.

'Bringing these innovation tools together will enable us to deliver more coordinated services and strengthen our innovation efforts. The transfer reinforces Trondheim’s national role as a hub for innovation communities. We are strengthening and consolidating the centres of expertise that also administer the cluster programme,' says Håkon Haugli, our CEO.

Siva will continue and further develop the investment tool and the Norwegian Catapult scheme.

Bringing the innovation support schemes together will strengthen the regional innovation partnership and make it easier for businesses to access the support available.

'As the bodies commissioning the programmes, the county authorities will have a single organisation to work with. Businesses will benefit from a more seamless service. This supports the aim of making the business support system simpler and more accessible,' says Håkon Haugli.

Siva and we at Innovation Norway have worked increasingly closely together in recent years. This has highlighted new opportunities to fulfil our respective national mandates. Both Ertsaas and Haugli are keen for the change to create even stronger synergies.

‘An increasingly challenging global landscape calls for greater effort and sharper focus, including from the business support system. A clearer division of roles will make it easier to refine our instruments and develop the specialised expertise we will need in the future,’ says Siva CEO Jan Morten Ertsaas.

Siva's business garden and incubation programmes aim to drive growth, sustainable transformation and increased exports for businesses across Norway. Through these programmes, companies gain access to expertise, networks, partners and capital, as well as opportunities to draw on others' experience to accelerate their growth and development.