Nordic Edge receives NOK 5 million: Will connect Rogaland to Europe's innovation engine
Nordic Edge has been awarded NOK 5 million over two years to establish a regional EU competence environment in Rogaland. The aim is to give companies, municipalities and volunteers completely new opportunities to participate in Europe's largest innovation programs - and lift the region into what is now Europe's most important driver of transformation.
Image from the left: Inger Hanne Vikshåland, Terje Eide, Kjetil Skjæveland, Ellen Instefjord, Oda Eik Forgaard
- We see enormous potential that is currently not being exploited. This support makes it possible to build the competence environment Rogaland needs to take a seat at the table in Europe, says Terje Eide, CEO of Nordic Edge.
The grant is awarded by Sparebankstiftelsen SR-Bank, enabling the establishment of this new regional EU competence initiative.
- The initiative aligns with the foundation’s strategy and represents a significant upside for the region, says Kjetil Skjæveland of Sparebankstiftelsen SR-Bank, who is at Innoasis to present the gift.
A much-needed boost
In recent years, the EU has stepped up the pace of innovation in climate, energy, digitalization and health. At the same time, Rogaland receives far less EU funding than both the Oslo region and Trøndelag.
Eide emphasizes that the ambition is high:
- We see that the best-preforming comparable city-regions bring several hundred million per year to their regions. With this competence environment, we want to take part in this development.
A lack of capacity and EU expertise is the main reason why Rogaland is lagging behind. As a consequence, the region is in danger of losing jobs, innovative power and influence.
- This competence environment will become a practical tool for the entire region. For companies, it means that they can obtain European co-financing for innovation projects they would otherwise never have taken the risk on. For the municipalities - which are in a demanding financial situation - it means that they get help from the EU to solve societal challenges in everything from mobility and energy to health and welfare. By connecting Rogaland more closely to Europe, we build up our workforce, competitiveness and future strength, says Eide.
Image: Terje Eide in dialog with Kjetil Skjæveland and Ellen Instefjord.
A broad regional collaboration
- We believe this initiative can become a catalytic force to elevate Rogaland to the level of Europe’s most innovative regions, says Johannes Løyning, Director of Incubator, Validé.
The initiative has received support from a wide range of stakeholders: Validé, Næringsforeningen i Stavanger-regionen, SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge, Lyse, University of Stavanger, Forus Næringspark, Norway Health Tech, Norwegian Offshore Wind, NAMC, City of Stavanger and Statsforvalteren i Rogaland.
The partners will contribute expertise, networks and specific project opportunities.
- We want to be a catalyst that helps the region build greater strength. This happens through collaboration, and Nordic Edge is an example of an actor that enables exactly that, says Ellen Instefjord of Sparebankstiftelsen SR-Bank.
Validé emphasizes the importance of this, especially for entrepreneurs and growth companies.
- This initiative is important for entrepreneurs and growth companies in Rogaland. A regional EU competence environment will give more companies access to capital, partners and major European innovation programs. This strengthens commercialization, internationalization and the region's position as an attractive innovation hub, adds Løyning.
Five services - one ambition
The new EU competence environment will offer five core services that will make Rogaland more competitive in the face of European programs:
- Application support and project development: Help from idea to finished EU application.
- Consortium building: Connecting businesses, municipalities, academia and the voluntary sector in strong European partnerships.
- Project management and compliance: Ensure that local actors deliver in line with the requirements of the EU system.
- EU Academy Rogaland: Courses and training that build lasting expertise in the region.
- Pilots and demonstrators: Test projects that can be scaled into large EU programs.
Time to take our place in Europe
Rogaland is in the midst of a historic transition where the expertise from oil and gas will be converted to new industries. The EU is now spending enormous amounts of money on these areas. With a professional EU competence environment in place, Rogaland can take a much bigger leap than before.
- We invite the entire region to take part in this: entrepreneurs, industrial giants, municipalities and volunteers. The EU opportunities are there - now we must seize them, concludes Eide.
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