Export promotion – grants for participating in trade fairs

This grant is for companies exhibiting at an international trade fair. You must showcase products or solutions you have developed yourselves. Your company can receive funding for two trade fairs within a 12-month period.
Tilhørere til arrangement på norsk paviljong på en messe i utlandet
© Maverix Media
Type of service
Grants
Target group
Norwegian companies with 1–99 employees
Application deadline
Ongoing
How much
NOK 20,000–70,000
Application type
International export initiatives

Norwegian companies (limited liability companies) that

  • have at least 1 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 you will showcase at the trade fair.

*Please note that your company must have registered employment relationships in the Aa Register amounting to at least one full-time equivalent position to qualify for the scheme. 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 performed by an owner without a formally registered employment relationship does not count towards this requirement. This applies to all applications we process 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 your company controls the key rights. We base our assessment on the information provided on your company's website.

This 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 companies, clusters, or companies in which a municipality, county authority or the state owns 50% or more.
  • companies that are not incorporated as limited liability 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
  • business incubators, business parks, industrial parks and similar organisations
  • clusters and network organisations

Your company can receive grants to exhibit at up to 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 can still apply for grants.

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 your Norwegian company if you are not part of a Norwegian pavilion. In this case, you can receive funding for the following costs:
    • Stand/floor 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, screens, electricity and lighting) from a stand builder and/or another dedicated subcontractor.
    • Assistance with graphic production for 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 forums involving networking activities/workshops, or closed events between customers and suppliers with no exhibition activity

Costs not covered:

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

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

You can apply for a grant no earlier than one year before your company’s planned participation in the trade fair.

You cannot appeal our decisions.

State aid regulations

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

A company (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 your company must submit a declaration of de minimis aid as part of our application assessment. Your CEO will receive a task to complete this declaration. We cannot make a decision on your application until we have received the declaration. You must complete the task 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, you will lose the grant.

We will pay the grant after the trade fair has taken place and you have submitted the invoice as documentation. Please note which costs the grant covers and which it does not.

Are you experiencing technical issues? Contact us at kundesupport@innovasjonnorge.no

Industry associations and other relevant stakeholders can initiate and coordinate an export initiative. These organisations can ask us to approve the trade fair in advance using this form.

Why apply for pre-approval?

  • Pre-approval makes it quicker for each company to apply for grants to cover the costs of exhibiting.
  • We prioritise grant applications for pre-approved trade fairs.
  • The organiser applying for pre-approval will gain visibility for their 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

  • BETT Show in London (England), 20–22 January
  • Enforce Tac in Nuremberg (Germany), 1–3 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 Cruise Global in Miami (USA), 5–8 April
  • Singapore Maritime Week in Singapore, 12–16 April
  • Sea Asia in Singapore, 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 i Houston (USA), 3.-5. mai)
  • Intersolar Europe in Munich (Germany), 8–10 June
  • SSD Expo i Riga (Latvia), 16.-17. juni
  • The International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) i Amsterdam (Nederland), 10.-13. september
  • Kormarine i Busan (Sør-Korea), 19.-22. oktober
  • ITS World Congress i Birmingham (England) 25.-29. oktober
  • Smart Health Europe i Berlin (Tyskland), 26.-28. oktober

Disse messene mottar en betydelig andel norsk statlig subsidiering, og det er derfor ikke mulig å søke eller motta tilskudd for å delta på disse.

2026

  • India Energy Week i Goa (India), 27.-30. januar
  • KeyEnergy Transition Expo i Rimini (Italia), 4.-6. mars
  • Wind Expo Japan i Tokyo, 17.-19. mars
  • Wind Europe Annual Event i Madrid (Spania), 21.-23. april
  • Seafood Processing Global (SPG) i Barcelona (Spania), 21.-23. april
  • World Hydrogen Summit i Rotterdam (Nederland), 19.-21. mai
  • IMEX Frankfurt (Tyskland), 19.-21. mai
  • HIMSS - European Health Conference & Exhibition i København (Danmark), 19.-21. mai
  • NHS Confedex i London (Storbritannia), 10.-11. juni
  • 3 Days of Design i København (Danmark) 10.-12. juni
  • The Meeting Show i London (Storbritannia), 24.-25. juni
  • Nor-Fishing i Trondheim, 18.-20. august
  • ONS i Stavanger, 24.-27. august
  • WindEnergy Hamburg (Tyskland), 22.-25. september
  • IMEX America i Las Vegas (USA), 13.-15. oktober
  • EANM i Amsterdam (Nederland), 17.-21. oktober
  • IBTM Barcelona (Spania), 17.-19. november
  • Design Nation i Düsseldorf (Tyskland) 25.-26. november
Viktige forutsetninger for støtte

For å motta tjenester fra oss, må bedriften ivareta prinsipper for ansvarlig næringsliv og ha et bevisst forhold til egen bærekraftsrisiko. Les mer om bærekraft og ansvarlig næringsliv.

Statsstøtteregelverket

Finansiering fra Innovasjon Norge må være i samsvar med statsstøtteregelverket. Det er fem generelle vilkår for statsstøtte som må ivaretas.

Gruppeunntaksregelverket (GBER) er en del av statsstøtteregelverket og er en samling med artikler/støttehjemler som gir oss mulighet til å gi bedrifter støtte i ulike saker. En eller flere artikler kan anvendes i den enkelte saken. Les mer om GBER.

Rettslig grunnlag for ordningen

Finansieringsordninger hos oss er meldt til EFTAs overvåkingsorgan, ESA. Det rettslige grunnlaget for innmeldingene er gjort tilgjengelig på siden om National Legal Basis.

Annen offentlig støtte

Det skal opplyses i søknaden hvorvidt det er søkt eller vil bli søkt annen offentlig støtte til prosjektet. Vår støtteutmåling baserer seg også på en samlet vurdering av hvor mye offentlig støtte som må til for å utløse prosjektet.

Ved fastsettelse av tilskuddsbeløpet legger derfor vi til grunn at det ikke mottas annen offentlig støtte, herunder Skattefunn, enn det som er oppgitt i søknaden. Dette gjelder støtte til finansiering av de prosjektkostnadene som vi har lagt til grunn for beregning av vårt tilskudd (støtteberettigede kostnader). I tilfelle slik annen offentlig støtte, herunder SkatteFunn, likevel blir mottatt etter at vårt tilbud er gitt, og til dekning av de samme kostnadene, vil tilskuddet fra oss kunne bli redusert tilsvarende eller bortfalle.

Dette er ikke til hinder for at bedriften kan motta annen offentlig støtte til andre prosjektkostnader enn de vi har lagt til grunn.

Søknadsskjema for utstiller
Krever at du har en rolle i Brønnøysundregisteret
Søk om forhåndsgodkjenning av messen
Gjelder kun for bransjeorganisasjoner som koordinerer felles eksportfremstøt / felles norske paviljonger.
Sjekkliste for messedeltakere
En veiledning for deg som skal delta på messe, slik at du kan forberede deg, gjennomføre og følge opp best mulig.