From city to country: Nordic Edge receives national cluster status for both smart city and agritech
Nordic Edge is taking a leading role in efforts to develop and export Norwegian solutions for smarter cities and future agriculture. Two of the company's innovation environments are now given national status in the cluster program of Innovation Norway, Siva and the Research Council of Norway. The Agritech cluster is admitted to the NIC Connect level, while the smart city cluster is elevated to the top NIC Impact level.
Image: From the left: Terje Eide, CEO Nordic Edge, Hans Kristian Torske, Innovation Norway, Trygve Meyer, Head of the Nordic Edge Smart City Innovation Cluster, Kari Holmefjord Vervik, Region director Innovation Norway Rogaland. By Andreas Amdal Østrem.
The status is given to clusters which have demonstrated documented ability to create value, collaboration and innovation of national significance. The status comes with new resources and greater opportunities to scale Norwegian solutions in an international market.
- This is a milestone for our entire team - and a clear signal that we are succeeding. We now have the muscle to do what we are passionate about: taking Norwegian solutions out into the world, says an enthusiastic Terje Eide, CEO of Nordic Edge.
The recognition places Rogaland at the forefront of the green transition - where urban and rural innovation meet.
- Rogaland is known for its spirit of collaboration, and the fact that several national clusters are based here is a testament to that. People in Rogaland work seamlessly across sectors — collaboration is the key, says Siri Bye Guldbækhei Johansen from Innovation Norway.
A unified innovation ecosystem
With two clusters at national level, Nordic Edge is at the forefront of a strong and comprehensive innovation environment which brings together city and country, technology and agronomy - research and business. Through collaboration with UiS, NTNU, NORCE, NMBU and NIBIO, and via international initiatives such as EDIH Oceanopolis and EIT Food, bridges are now being built that strengthen Norway's position in the global transition to a sustainable and digital society.
- We see every day that the technology works - the challenge is to get it scaled. Our innovation clusters will be the on-ramp to international markets. Our ambition is crystal clear: Norwegian smart city and agritech companies must win contracts abroad, not just pilot projects at home, says Eide.
Shaping the future of agriculture - taking Norwegian agritech solutions out into the world
- The trust from Innovation Norway, Siva and the Research Council of Norway gives us even more clout. The cluster status means that we can help more companies build partnerships, connect to capital - and take Norwegian agritech solutions out into the world. At the same time, it is a recognition of everyone who has stood with us from the start; farmers, technology companies, investors, research environments and municipalities, says Gunnar Edwin Crawford, head of Nordic Edge Agritech Innovation Cluster (NEAIC).
Image: Gunnar Crawford, Head of Nordic Edge Agritech Innovation Cluster. By Andreas Amdal Østrem.
Over the past two years, the cluster has grown from a business network to a national collaboration with members from all over the country. Through projects such as Future Farmer, Nordic Fund Day and international initiatives such as Global Growth and SXSW, NEAIC has established a strong platform for innovation in agriculture.
- We have shown that it is possible to combine digitization, market access and capital mobilization to create concrete results in agriculture. Our cluster status now makes it possible to mobilize even more broadly - both nationally and internationally. Together, we are helping both the heritage of Norwegian agriculture and new start-up companies to take the step into a digital and green future, says Crawford.
Smart city cluster elevated to top level
At the same time, Nordic Edge Smart City Innovation Cluster (NESCIC) has been admitted to NIC Impact - the top level of the national cluster program.
Image: Trygve A. Meyer on stage presenting the Smart City Innovation Cluster during the ceremony in Oslo, October 23. By Andreas Amdal Østrem.
- Extended cluster status is not just a recognition - it's a mandate to accelerate. We have shown that collaboration between business, the public sector and research environments creates real value creation, and now we have the muscle to lift more companies into the market. The goal is for Norwegian smart city and technology solutions to grow internationally, not stop at pilot projects at home, says Trygve A. Meyer, head of the Nordic Edge Smart City Innovation Cluster.
The smart city cluster was first admitted to Innovation Norway's cluster program in 2017, and has since then risen through the ranks. "NIC-Impact status is not the goal in itself, but a stepping stone to solving major societal challenges together with its members.
- This marks an important step for our further development towards an independent and self-financing cluster, and is crucial for Norwegian efforts in digitalization, smart cities and green technology. We will now help member companies to scale their solutions, enter new value chains and achieve greater market shares, says Meyer.
