Innovasjon Norge

Their core work

Innovasjon Norge (Innovation Norway) is the Norwegian government's instrument for innovation and development of enterprises and industry. Within H2020, they serve as Norway's key node in the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), delivering innovation management capacity building, key account management for SMEs seeking EU funding, and business cooperation services. They connect Norwegian SMEs and startups to European funding instruments (formerly SME Instrument, now EIC) and facilitate international technology transfer, including EU-China research and innovation cooperation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

From 2014 to 2018, Innovasjon Norge focused heavily on the SME Instrument pipeline — helping Norwegian companies apply for and manage EU SME Instrument grants through the Enterprise Europe Network. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted to mirror the EU's own institutional evolution: the SME Instrument references disappeared and were replaced by EIC Pathfinder, Accelerator, and FET-Open terminology, reflecting their adaptation to the European Innovation Council framework. They also broadened into blue bioeconomy and NCP capacity building in the later period, suggesting a wider remit beyond pure SME coaching.

They are tracking the EU's pivot from SME Instrument to the European Innovation Council ecosystem, positioning themselves as Norway's gateway for companies seeking EIC Pathfinder and Accelerator funding.

How they like to work

Innovasjon Norge predominantly leads projects — they coordinated 5 of their 9 H2020 projects, all within the NORIMS/NOREIC series of EEN service contracts. When they participate rather than lead, they join broad coordination and support actions (ERA-NETs, NCP networks, international cooperation centres). With 70 unique partners across 28 countries, they function as a network hub connecting many different organizations rather than repeatedly collaborating with a small circle.

An exceptionally broad network of 70 unique partners across 28 countries, reflecting their role as a national innovation agency embedded in pan-European support networks like EEN and NCP systems. Their reach spans most EU member states plus associated countries including China through ERICENA.

What sets them apart

Innovasjon Norge is not a research performer — it is Norway's national innovation agency, making it a fundamentally different type of H2020 participant. Their value lies in market access: they know the Norwegian business landscape, can identify companies with specific technology needs, and have institutional capacity to bridge SMEs to EU funding instruments. For consortium builders, they offer a direct channel into the Norwegian innovation ecosystem and credibility as a government-backed intermediary.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NOREIC
  Their largest single grant (EUR 497,864) and the culmination of their multi-year EEN mandate, now aligned with the European Innovation Council framework.
• BlueBio
  An ERA-NET Cofund running until 2024 — their longest-running project and a departure from pure innovation support into thematic blue bioeconomy coordination.
• ERICENA
  Established an EU-China Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence, showing their capacity to operate in international technology diplomacy beyond the European context.