Export promotion – grants for participating in trade fairs

Norwegian companies (limited companies) that

• have at least one employee (one full-time equivalent)* and fewer than 100 employees
• will participate as an exhibitor, not just an attendee, at a business-to-business (B2B) trade fair abroad.
• have developed your own** products or solutions that will be showcased at the trade fair.

*Please note that to qualify for the scheme, your company must have registered employment relationships in the Aa Register amounting to at least one full-time equivalent position in total. One or more employees may fulfil this requirement. We determine the number of employees and their full-time equivalent percentages based on information reported to the Brønnøysund Register Centre. Work carried out by an owner without a formally registered employment relationship is not included in the calculation. This applies to all applications processed in 2026.

**By proprietary products or solutions, we mean products, services or technological solutions that your company has developed – or significantly enhanced – and for which it controls the key rights. We base our assessment on information about this on your company’s website.

The scheme does not apply to

• companies that are wholly owned by a large company with 250 or more employees.
• municipalities/county authorities, educational institutions, interest groups, business and employers’ organisations, non-profit organisations, industry associations, destination management organisations, clusters, or companies in which a municipality, county authority or the state owns 50% or more.
• companies that are not incorporated as limited companies (sole proprietorships, general partnerships, partnerships with shared liability, cooperatives, etc.)
• agents, wholesalers, distributors and similar businesses that do not have their own products or solutions to showcase at the trade fair
• innovation hubs, business parks, industrial parks and similar organisations
• clusters and network organisations

Your company can receive a grant to exhibit at a maximum of two trade fairs within a 12-month period. 

You can use the grant for:

• Exhibiting at international trade fairs, including in shared pavilions, on shared stands, in showrooms or as an individual exhibitor.
• Participation in joint side events held in connection with international trade fairs where your company is also exhibiting. These events may include B2B matchmaking, workshops, seminars and similar activities that support the purpose of your participation in the trade fair. 

We prioritise trade fairs where Norwegian companies participate together under a shared brand, but individual exhibitors may still apply for a grant.

Eligible costs:

• Participation fee for a company stand at a Norwegian pavilion abroad.
• Participation fee for a side event held in connection with the same trade fair.
• Expenses invoiced directly to the Norwegian company if the company is not part of a Norwegian pavilion. In this case, the following costs may be covered:
  • Stand/space rental (including any mandatory administration and marketing fees) charged by the trade fair/exhibition organiser.
  • Stand construction and technical stand costs (walls, flooring, furniture, screen, electricity and lighting) from a stand builder and/or another dedicated subcontractor.
  • Support for graphic production on walls and/or screens invoiced by the stand builder/designer and/or graphic design agency.
  • Transport and freight handling (customs, duties, etc.) of products/models that are central to your company's exhibition activities (excluding brochures, roll-up banners, handouts, etc.)

• Trade fairs that already receive substantial government subsidies (see 'Trade fairs not approved in advance')
• B2C-only trade fairs (consumer fairs)
• Industry conferences 
• Trade fairs related to the following sectors: tobacco, cannabis, gambling, pornography, controversial weapons, coal and oil sands extraction, and coal-fired power generation.
• Participation in meeting arenas involving networking activities/workshops, or closed events between customers and suppliers with no exhibition activity

Costs not covered:

• Salary costs for the company's employees attending the trade fair or meeting place. 
• Travel expenses (including flights, other transport and accommodation) and subsistence allowances, or food and drink expenses for the company's own employees.
• Gifts, travel, accommodation and hospitality for the company's guests, customers or suppliers.
• Clothing for the company's employees (with a logo, print or similar)
• Giveaways from the stand (pens, sweets and similar items featuring the company logo)
• Hire of a coffee machine or similar equipment to serve refreshments to visitors
• Design and printing of brochures for the company's products
• Promotion of the company's presence at the trade fair (advertising, etc.)
• Admission passes for visitors to the trade fair
• Please note: Costs invoiced to a third party are not covered, even if the third party belongs to the same group as the applicant.

You must submit your application before the trade fair takes place. Allow at least four weeks for processing. If you have not received a response to your application before the registration deadline, you register at your own risk. The application submission date applies.

Your company can apply for a grant no earlier than one year before the planned trade fair participation.

You cannot appeal decisions made by us.

About costs and the project period

Only costs related to participating in the trade fair (described in more detail under 'What do we fund?') are eligible. We may approve invoices for registration or participation fees even if you received and paid them before submitting your application to Innovation Norway. You must submit your application before incurring any other costs related to participating in the trade fair, such as stand construction and technical stand costs.

State aid rules

Grants for export initiatives are awarded under the rules on de minimis aid.

An undertaking (including both the applicant and any group it belongs to) may receive a maximum of EUR 300,000 in ‘de minimis aid’ over a three-year period. This means that the company must submit a declaration of de minimis aid as part of the application process. The CEO will be asked to complete this declaration. We cannot make a decision on the application until we have received the declaration. It must be completed as soon as possible and within three weeks.

You must accept the offer by the deadline stated in the offer letter. Otherwise, the offer will lapse.

The same applies to payment. Your company must request payment of the grant within three months of the trade fair. If you do not request payment by the deadline, the grant will be withdrawn.

The grant will be paid after the trade fair has taken place, and you must submit the invoice as documentation. Please note which costs are covered and which are not.

Are you experiencing technical issues? Get in touch at kundesupport@innovasjonnorge.no

An export initiative can be initiated and coordinated by industry organisations and other relevant stakeholders. These organisations can ask us to pre-approve the trade fair using this form.

Why apply for pre-approval?

• Pre-approval makes it quicker for each company to apply for a grant to cover its costs as an exhibitor.
• Applications for grants for pre-approved trade fairs will be prioritised.
• The organisation applying for pre-approval will gain visibility for its event.

List of pre-approved trade fairs (updated regularly):

2026

• MVTe – eHealth in Stockholm (Sweden), 21–22 January
• SIMEC in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), 26–28 January
• Euromaritime in Marseille (France), 3–5 February
• Enforce Tac in Nuremberg (Germany), 23–25 February
• JEC World in Paris (France), 10–12 March
• Intertraffic in Amsterdam (the Netherlands), 10–13 March
• Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) in Singapore, 13–15 March
• Seafood Expo North America (SENA) in Boston, USA, 15–17 March
• Aqua Sur in Puerto Montt (Chile), 24–26 March
• CosmoProf in Bologna (Italy), 26–29 March
• Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami (USA), 14–16 April
• Hannover Messe in Hanover (Germany), 20–24 April
• Singapore Maritime Week in Singapore, 20–24 April
• DMEA in Berlin, Germany, 21–23 April
• Seafood Expo Global (SEG) in Barcelona (Spain), 21–23 April
• Money2020 Asia in Bangkok (Thailand), 21–23 April
• Sea Japan in Tokyo, 22–24 April
• Tutto Food in Milan (Italy), 11–14 May
• Vitalis in Gothenburg (Sweden), 4–7 May
• Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston (USA), 5–8 May
• Rastech Conference & Exhibition in St. Augustine, Florida (USA), 19–21 May
• Navalia in Vigo (Spain), 19–21 May
• Retail Technology in Stockholm (Sweden), 26–27 May
• Posidonia in Athens (Greece), 1–5 June
• Supply, Security & Defence Expo in Tallinn (Estonia), 10–11 June
• Eurosatory in Paris (France), 15–19 June
• Aquaculture UK in Glasgow (Scotland), 16–17 June
• Intersolar Europe in Munich (Germany), 23–25 June
• Farnborough Int Air Show in London (United Kingdom), 20–24 July
• DIHAD in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), 24–26 August
• SMM in Hamburg (Germany), 1–4 September
• MSPO in Kielce (Poland), 8–11 September
• Proptech Connect in London (England), 9–10 September
• Gastech in Bangkok (Thailand), 14–18 September
• ROGe in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), 21–24 September
• World Agri Tech in London (England), 22–23 September
• Rehacare in Düsseldorf (Germany), 23–26 September
• Aluminum in Düsseldorf (Germany), 6–8 October
• SIAL in Paris (France), 17–21 October
• The Seafood Show in São Paulo (Brazil), 20–22 October
• Saudi Maritime Congress (SMC) in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), 21–22 October
• China Fisheries Seafood Expo in Qingdao (China), 28–30 October
• ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi (UAE), 2–5 November
• Ecomondo in Rimini (Italy), 3–6 November
• Euronaval in Paris (France), 3–6 November
• ReBuild Ukraine in Warsaw (Poland), 12–13 November
• Metstrade in Amsterdam (the Netherlands), 17–19 November
• Space Tech Expo in Bremen (Germany), 17–19 November
• United XR Europe in Brussels (Belgium), 7–9 December

2027

• ProWinter in Bozan (Italy), 10–12 January
• BETT Show in London (England), 20–22 January
• Enforce Tac in Nuremberg (Germany), 1–3 March
• EXA Energy Exchange Australia in Perth (Australia), 2–4 March
• JEC World in Paris (France), 2–4 March
• KEY - The Energy Transition Expo in Rimini (Italy), 10–12 March
• CosmoProf Worldwide in Bologna (Italy), 18–21 March
• NAB Las Vegas in Las Vegas (USA), 3–7 April
• Seatrade Cruis Global in Miami (USA), 5–8 April
• Singapore Maritime Week in Singapore, 12–16 April
• Sea Asia in Singapore, 13–15 April
• OSEA in Singapore, 13–15 April
• DMEA in Munich, Germany, 13–15 April
• Seafood Expo Global (SEG) in Barcelona (Spain), 20–22 April
• Seafood Processing Global (SPG) in Barcelona, Spain, 20–22 April
• Wind Europe Annual Event in Copenhagen (Denmark), 20–22 April
• Defence Manufacturing & Materials in Katowice (Poland), 26–29 April
• OTC in Houston (USA), 3–5 May)
• Aluminum USA in Louisville (USA), 19–20 May
• Vitalis in Gothenburg (Sweden), 24–27 May
• Intersolar Europe in Munich (Germany), 8–10 June
• SSD Expo in Riga (Latvia), 16–17 June
• Offshore Europe in Aberdeen (Scotland), 7–9 September
• The International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam (the Netherlands), 10–13 September
• INMEX SMM India in Mumbai (India), 22–24 September
• Kormarine in Busan (South Korea), 19–22 October
• ITS World Congress in Birmingham (England), 25–29 October
• Smart Health Europe in Berlin (Germany), 26–28 October
• China Fisheries & Seafood Expo in Qingdao (China), 27–29 October

These trade fairs receive a significant proportion of their funding through Norwegian state subsidies, so you cannot apply for or receive a grant to participate in them.

2026

• India Energy Week in Goa (India), 27–30 January
• KeyEnergy Transition Expo in Rimini (Italy), 4–6 March
• Wind Expo Japan in Tokyo, 17–19 March
• Wind Europe Annual Event in Madrid (Spain), 21–23 April
• Seafood Processing Global (SPG) in Barcelona (Spain), 21–23 April
• World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam (the Netherlands), 19–21 May
• IMEX Frankfurt (Germany), 19–21 May
• HIMSS - European Health Conference & Exhibition in Copenhagen (Denmark), 19–21 May
• NHS Confedex in London (UK), 10–11 June
• 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen (Denmark), 10–12 June
• The Meeting Show in London (United Kingdom), 24–25 June
• Nor-Fishing in Trondheim, 18–20 August
• ONS in Stavanger, 24–27 August
• WindEnergy Hamburg (Germany), 22–25 September
• IMEX America in Las Vegas (USA), 13–15 October
• IBTM Barcelona (Spain), 17–19 November
• Design Nation in Düsseldorf (Germany), 25–26 November