Tech List - Issue 2 by The List Magazine

2016

TECHNOPORT CERN WEB SUMMIT

ISSUE #2

The University Colleges in Sør-Trøndelag, Gjøvik and Ålesund are founded

NTNU is the university that laid the foundation for the Norway of today. Throughout our history, the four institutions have helped to find solutions to major challenges, in partnership with the community around us. Now 46 000 students and employees from more than 90 countries will work together to deliver solutions to tomorrow’s challenges in energy, health, the ocean, information security, sustainable development and much more.

Norges Lærerhøgskole is founded

NTH is founded

DKNVS The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters

1760

Provider of solutions to benefit society since 1910. Still curious — as a new era begins.

1950

NTNU and the University Colleges in Sør-Trøndelag, Gjøvik and Ålesund are merging. We gain a broader and better range of studies and an even stronger academic community.

SINTEF is founded

1922

NTNU has changed the world since 1910 — now we are preparing for the future!

Universitetet i Trondheim is founded

1910

A NEW ERA BEGINS

1994 1996

NTNU is founded

1968

NTNU HiG, HiÅ and HiST merge with NTNU

2016

NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Trondheim | Gjøvik | Ålesund www.ntnu.edu

We are proud to support Technoport SpareBank 1 SMN supports initiatives that contribute to innovation and growth in our region. Through cooperation we create possibilities that makes it meaningful to be a local bank. Together we make things happen!

Tech List thelist.is/techlist a division of The List Media AS Contacts and information Located at DIGS, 30 Olavtryggvasons gate 30 7011 Trondheim, Norway Publishing: +47 472 76 680 Editorial: +47 451 35 877 Email: editorial@thelist.is Editorial: Editor-in-Chief & Co-Founder: Wil Lee-Wright wil@thelist.is Editor & Co-Founder: Jaya Thomlison jaya@thelist.is Creative Director & Co-Founder: Andrew Natt andy@thelist.is Consultant & Co-Founder: Ida BondĂ¸ Lee-Wright ida@thelist.is Listings & Advertising Manager: Aleksander Schei aleks@thelist.is Deputy Editor: Lacie Goff lacie@thelis.is Design: Andy Natt, Joakim Ulseth Writers: Thor Richard Isaksen, David Nikel, Jaya Thomlison, Wil Lee-Wright, Reinder de Vries Illustrators: Kjersti Hansen Eggen, Andy Natt Printing: Soporset 100g Skipnes, Travbaneveien 6, 7044 Trondheim Tel: 73 82 63 00 www.skipnes.no Cover Art: Joakim Ulseth Contributors: Thor Richard Isaksen, Maria Amelie, Johanny Jacobsen, Advertising: Please contact Aleksander Schei for prices, specifications and distribution +47 906 27 288 For editorial contributions: editorial@thelist.is

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TECH LIST #2

TECH, LIES AND BETRAYAL Tech journalist Thor Richard Isaksen takes the gloves off at Web Summit

INSIDE THE TECHNOLOGY CAPITAL Technoport’s Gøril Forbord helps Trondheim crack the code

MEET, SHARE, INNOVATE Technoport programme highlights

TECHNOPORT SPEAKERS Introducing key speakers, plus Technoport’s Live Crowdfunding Experience

LOCAL CULTURE, GLOBAL BUSINESS Nordic Startup journalist of the year

TECH PUSH -VS- MARKET PULL CERN, NTNU and their spin off success story, TIND technologies

NORDIC APP MAKERS Indie App makers taking Norway by storm

TECH LIST #2

Where Technology Meets Brains: The Greater Region of Trondheim

Neuroscientists and Noble Laureates May-Britt and Edvard Moser. (Photo: Geir Mogen/NTNU).

Who would have thought that far up in the north, in a small town on the outskirts of the map, you would find scientists and researchers that are so rocking they literally shake up the world? We are, of course, talking about the Moser couple and their recent incredible achievement – The Nobel Prize in Medicine! It’s here you’ll find impressive research conducted by people with both unique skill and talent. This is a trend that has been going on for decades in the Greater Region of Trondheim, also known as Norway’s Technology Capital. It is here that new ideas are fostered, leading to innovations, new technologies and positive impacts that reach beyond these borders! The brain force from Trondheim contributes to immense wealth and growth on all scales, from local to global. The world isn’t ‘out there’, it’s ‘in here’ - your most unique tool, the brain.

Quick facts on the Greater Region of Trondheim:

• 276,000 residents • 37,000 students • 5,000 scientists • 528 technology companies with 10,300 employees, increasing by 100 companies and more than 1,000 employees since 2009 • More than 300 companies have materialised from this cradle of knowledge over the last 40 years • 82 new companies have emerged from NTNU during the last decade

Trondheimsregionen

Trondheim has received Norway’s first Nobel Prize in Medicine through the accomplishments of the Moser couple, revealing secrets of the brain that can change the course of human life. They are among other great minds changing the world from several disciplines: ocean surveillance technology that warns against future tsunamis; graphics and apps for your mobile phone and touch pads; technical aids that are smaller, faster and more accurate. Every day people in this region proudly contribute towards improved health and a better world through their research in medicine and development, green technology and food production and high-technology.

Trondheimsregionen

Whether you are a student, researcher, scientist, entrepreneur, inventor or someone who enjoys stimulating communities - the Greater Region of Trondheim welcomes you here to work in the heart of technology, to take on the world in a giant leap.

Trondheimsregionen is a business development motor; founded as a collaboration between ten municipalities in the province of Sør-Trøndelag. Learn more at: www.trondheimsregionen.no

Trondheimsregionen

FINDING TRONDHEIM’S VALUE PROPOSITION Reflections from Johanny Jacobsen, veteran in technology from Portland Oregon, working for a Fortune 500 high-tech company from Silicon Valley

What first comes to mind when you think of Norway? As an American, I might say majestic fjords, winter sports, and cold weather. Yet after coming to Trondheim, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there was more to this frozen tundra than what meets the eye. What I happened upon was a perfect storm… A perfect storm of innovation. Walking along the cobblestoned streets of this seemingly tiny town, I had the urge to explore and discover the Norway behind the picturesque post cards. Although Trondheim is the third largest city in Norway, proportionally it is the size of America’s mid-sized suburbs. The size, along with its cozy, walkable, and family oriented environment, led me to underestimate the impact it actually has on the world. With NTNU at the heart of it all, Trondheim turns out to be a microcosm of public and private partnerships that continues to grow, with no limit in sight. As a relatively medium-sized global university, NTNU is the ultimate success story. This well-regarded science and technology focused university has become the epitome of innovation. By hosting public applied research that targets technology transfers for private industry applications, NTNU is able to commercialise the development of technology. Not only this, but it also gave rise to a Nobel Prize in medicine. Above all else, NTNU is an international university as it brings together people from all over the world to collaborate. It even offers 26 different graduate programs in English.

Yet, the significance of Trondheim as a centre for innovation isn’t simply because of NTNU. Moreover, it is due to the array of research facilities in the nearby vicinity. SINTEF is the largest independent research organisation in Scandinavia and the third largest in Europe. It hosts the world-renowned multiphase Flow Laboratory for the petroleum industry and also collaborates with NTNU and the business sector across many disciplines. Marintek, a company owned by SINTEF, is the biggest marine technology research centre in the western world. With an Ocean Space Centre, their strategic goal of ocean space exploration is Norway’s number one educational and research priority. Their research pursuits focus on offshore oil & gas, ocean farming, and renewable ocean energy. With their innovation and contribution to humanity, their research is comparable to MIT. All these research organisations in such a small area really astounded me. Yet, what astounded me even more was the plethora of high tech companies that are obviously harvesting the technological advances from the research of the neighbouring organisations. Some high tech Internet of Things (IoT) “big players” companies like Atmel, ARM, and Nordic Semiconductor and startups like Moon Weareables, FourC and LuxSave. Other big ones in the tech field are Microsoft and Yahoo and innovative in the makers space such as Norwegian Creations which offers makers as a service. More-

over was the overwhelming presence of oil and gas focused high-tech and engineering companies. Despite Norway being considered a high cost geography for labour and production, high-tech companies are flourishing in Trondheim. Maybe it has something to do with the carefully crafted regional policies and the incentives introduced by state owned banks like Innovation Norway, whose goal is to promote Norway’s industrial development with focus on contributing innovation and internationalisation. Or perhaps the growth is also possible in part to the environment one can feel in Trondheim, which is light, collaborative, fun, and innovative. There is no better icon for Trondheim’s vibe than DIGS, the region’s first co-working place. Startups and bigger companies use this space and hold events for the public. I found a great place to share ideas, exchange knowledge and gain inspiration in DIGS café. It amazes me to see so much talent, research goals, and innovation initiatives collocated in such a beautiful place. I see perfect conditions to thrive in. I am still left contemplating on just how this perfect innovation storm that I stumbled across, came to be. It might take me a while to discover Trondheim’s full potential. But, what this storm has shown me already is that there is a rainbow of possibilities and that my American Silicon valley must connect and extend to the Norwegian one.

TECH LIST #2

When small empires join the force Words: Jaya Thomlison Illustration: Kjersti Hansen Eggen

Norway’s largest cities are unique and have very different values to offer the world; in order to shine in the international arena, they need to do it together. Oslo, Bærum, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø all participate in a federal business development initiative to enhance Norway’s larger cities: ’KS Storby næringsnettverk’. The List caught up with participant and Director of Business relations for Kristiansand kommune, Øyvind Lyngen Laderud, to get the goods on what is in store for 2016. This winter the cities and business development organisations of Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen and Trondheim will sign an agreement to travel the world together, with startups and innovation actors in tow. “For years we’ve been travelling to cities with strong innovation ecosystems and attending major conferences like SXSW and Web Summit as individuals. Collaboration is important for us and we know that if we deliver a united front, we’ll be more visible on the global scale and furthermore, create better bonds in the process.” Instead of travelling from Kristiansand as a couple of attendees, these cities will be infiltrating global arenas as powerhouse delegations including advisors, mentors, startups and key resource people, all with common vision of sharing their talents with the world and putting Norway on the map. “Startups participate in events like Slush, and travel to London, Berlin and Silicon Valley each year in hopes of creating more synergy and to meet potential investors or customers. This international networking is essential for them, as most tech startups think global from their inception. Norway is a small country. If these startups are to have any hopes of growth, they often need to reach for global markets.”

The idea is, especially for Norwegian tech startups, to reduce the barriers. Every time a startup, or city officials, travel to a new hotspot they spend time navigating networks to find appropriate contacts, many being the exact same contacts their predecessors had already connected with. Travelling as one delegation means that matchmaking can happen at a rapid rate. It also builds greater ties and knowledge-sharing within the group itself. “Internationalising Norwegian companies based on their comparative advantage is an important goal, but can be challenging to deliver. Innovation delegations will provide a platform for already busy startups on tight budgets to make that first leap. We see that today’s tech startups have a need to skip the first two or so steps in development and go international, even before they are rooted domestically.” Norway is also relatively quiet actor on the global stage. It’s a peaceful, knowledge-based nation with strong exports in fishing and energy amongst others, but far from hogging the spotlight for media attention. It is therefore unsurprising when contacts in other countries at times might ask: ‘Cool, but where’s Oslo again?’. This initiative is designed to stop channelling energy into trying to position just ’Oslo’, ’Trondheim’ or ‘Bergen’ internationally, but instead showcase the fruits Norway has to offer as a whole. Through position strong tech companies working in different sectors, we have the potential of conveying the breadth of our talents. In a nutshell, we can build bigger things, together. Follow this activity throughout 2016 and contact your local business development office if you envision yourself hitching a ride to some of the proposed delegation dates such as Northside conference in New York, June 2016. For more information, keep posted on Greater Stavanger’s website.

TECH LIST #2

TECH, LIES AND BETRAYAL AT WEB SUMMIT 2015 And why Trondheim should strive to be better, not bigger Words: Thor Richard Isaksen

Dublin. In a slowly recovering Irish Economy the decision to move Europe’s largest tech conference, Web Summit, to Lisbon has stirred anger and bitterness. Now, the government wants their money back, while the Dublin-based founders blame lazy politicians and poor wifi. The story about Web Summit is certainly noteworthy. The founders set out to grow the event exponentially, like they would grow a software company - at least 100% each year. It only took five years to grow the summit from 400 attendees to over 40,000 from 134 countries. Back in 2010 three international journalists showed up. Last November there were around 1,300. Next year the organisers aim to attract 100,000 people to four cities. Dublin simply couldn’t keep up with the pace, and so the organisers decided to move the event to Lisbon. Even though the Web Summit founders received substantial financial backing from the Dublin government, they were not content with their efforts to provide wifi-infrastructure, public transportation and traffic management. They also asked for help to keep the soaring hotel prices under control. The request was denied, it seems. When visiting RTÉ’s Morning Ireland at the opening day of this year’s summit, Web Summit’s CEO, Paddy Cosgrave, said that the NOK 7 million of government support was nothing more than “hush-money” given to the organisers to “lavish the Government in praise”. They 10

TECH LIST #2

never even asked for it, he said. Cosgrave, born and raised in Dublin, went on to say that while Ministers from several European countries flew into Ireland to attend the summit for trade opportunities, the Irish Ministers were, yet again, nowhere to be seen after the photo sessions ended. The bitterness in his voice was clear as day. It seemed that in the end, the government’s inability to provide necessary administrative support pushed Cosgrave to do the unthinkable – at least in the eyes of the Irish government – namely, to leave and take the entire circus with him. The general sentiment was perhaps best illustrated by Game Of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham: “I think it’s a disgrace that something this clever and wonderful has been lost at the hands of people who probably don’t know how to turn on a mobile phone”. But the story has at least one more side to it. The Irish economy is slowly bouncing back and the low corporate tax rate has made Dublin a haven for IT companies. Web Summit has become a beacon for the country’s transition into a new economy, and according to some economists, the event brings around 100 million tourist Euros into the city. One taxi driver said he thought the founders were getting greedy and that the fame and fortune went to their heads. His portrayal of the founders echoed descriptions of the infamous leadership in FIFA

or IOC. No love lost there. But even though the debate sparked fury in the Irish newspapers, inside the fences around the conference area, it was a non-issue. People probably don’t know or don’t care. The participants are not here to talk local politics; they are here to grow their business. There is a nervous and polite buzz roaming the enormous Dublin venue. People are getting ready to pitch, interview, sell and lure investors. The areas between the stages are crowded with people shouting out elevator pitches and cash flow estimates. The quieter parts of the area all seem to be VIP only. And talks. A lot of talks. 1,000 speakers in total. The numbers are just mind-boggling. In many ways Web Summit is the antidote to Technoport and Trondheim Developer Conference: large, chaotic and impersonal. It will also stay this way, because in a small town like Trondheim, it is inconceivable that the public officials and local businesses could commit to make something as grand as this. Even though the numbers would probably generate a healthy profit, it is just out of the scope of their ambition.

Clockwise from left: Selfie time with Web Summit founder Paddy Crosgrave; Centre stage at Web Summit 2015; Paddy Cosgrave’s opening remarks.

But then again – how could Trondheim change? Attendees fly in from all over the world, they are very much at Web Summit, but not so much in Dublin. There is very little co-branding going on within the city itself. Locals serve coffee or check wristbands. Just like a circus, the degree of local content is very low and the Web Summit brand overshadows. As the global tech scene is transforming

into an industrial shaped monster, we are bound to see a reaction. Because techies and coders gravitate towards the underground, not centre-stage. It’s in their DNA. So if you are in the tech event business, this should be an exciting prospect that for further investigation. As Web Summit, Slush and Collision increasingly interact with other large traditional industry, they become watered down. Mainstream. Boring. Unfashionable. This will eventually open the door for a new set of events scaled perfectly right for innovation. Building Strong local connections, with around 5,000 to 10,000 participants. Small enough to make networking easy and effortless, large enough to attract A-level speakers and interna-

tional audiences. Most importantly, fresh enough to attract the cool kids. Not bigger, just better. For everyone involved. Given a strong and authentic pipeline to Trondheim’s bourgeoning underground community of technologists, entrepreneurs, dreamers and troublemakers in all industries - there is no reason why the city couldn’t be nurturing the next breed of marquee international tech events.

Thor Richard Isaksen is the editor of TrondheimTech, an online magazine and podcast, covering the tech and startup scene in Trondheim.

Interview with Mike Harvey, Director of strategic communication @ Websummit How do you think the decision to move to Lisbon, and the following row with the government, affected Web Summit’s reputation in the general public? I think that the move to Lisbon has been welcomed by our international audience with many positive comments. Thousands of attendees have already signed up for tickets and hundreds of speakers are already signed up (this has never happened this early before). In Ireland, half the general public understands that we had to move to find a new home in order to grow, while half thinking that it is a bad thing that Web Summit is moving. Is the host city important to the Web Summit brand? Yes it is. Dublin is important to us as it is the place where we started and it is the place where our HQ with 140 people will remain. But just as Dublin had its attractions, so will Lisbon. We have established other conferences successfully around the

world and we are confident that Lisbon will provide a fantastic experience for attendees in 2016. What do you think was the best part of this year’s summit? The ‘Office Hours’ and ‘Mentor Hours’ tracks, where we arranged more than 2,000 meetings between startups and investors and/ or mentors. We spend a lot of time working to give startups a great experience and this was an important part of that. Can the event grow too big? In theory, yes. It is possible to imagine that Web Summit can get too big to deliver a great experience for attendees. But we use data science to improve people’s networking experience (for example using the event app) and we think that there is still room to grow further. TECH LIST #2

COMPANIES WHO FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND VIBRANT CHANGE WILL BE THE WINNERS OF TOMORROW. Enova makes investments in energy and climate solutions for Norwegian industry and business. Contact us at 08049 or see enova.no

www.ntnu.no/bridge/en

SMART PEOPLE TAKE SMART SHORTCUTS NTNU Bridge is NTNU's official careers portal, providing an online forum where employers and students can connect with each other On the NTNU Bridge careers portal, students can upload their CV, apply for summer jobs and internships and otherwise network with employers with the goal of improving their employability. Employers can publish job vacancies and advertise topics for master's theses and other projects on the portal, and they also have direct access to students' CVs. NTNU Bridge also makes it possible for NTNU lecturers to connect with external collaborators.

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Words: David Nikel

AS A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO ADRESSEAVISEN AND TEKNISK UKEBLAD, TECHNOPORT’S CEO GØRIL FORBORD IS SEEN AS ONE OF TRONDHEIM’S KEY BUSINESS SPOKESPEOPLE. IN A TECH LIST SPECIAL, SHE TALKS TO DAVID NIKEL ABOUT HER ROLE AND THE CHALLENGES OF MAINTAINING TRONDHEIM’S REPUTATION AS NORWAY’S TECHNOLOGY CAPITAL. 14

Gøril is in no doubt that the biggest challenge faced by Trondheim’s creators is not finance or ability, but access to experience. “In ten years time we will have many more people who have tried, succeeded, failed, and know the ins and outs of the entrepreneurship game. Right now, we’re only at the beginning of this journey, so our community needs to gain more experience by bringing in successful people from the outside.” “Given the location of Trondheim, networking is crucial to success, and therefore it’s crucial to professionalise our networking activities to make the most of what we do have. Although access to capital is important, unlocking and sharing the knowledge that already exists within our heads is the primary reason I am working with Technoport.” Whilst facilitating serious discussion is important, one aspect of professional networking often overlooked is having fun. One of Technoport’s biggest successes last year was the introduction of a quarterly networking party dubbed Tech, Hugs & Rock n Roll. “It was something that was missing from Trondheim, mainly because we didn’t have a suitable venue. DIGS has given us a great platform to facilitate the kind of informal networking that is key to the success of other Nordic startup hubs like Copenhagen and Helsinki. It’s good for people just to come and be themselves away from a formal setting, but make no mistake, important conversations still happen!”

CRACK THE CODE TO SUCCESS In 2015, Technoport’s theme “awakening the entrepreneurial mindset” was chosen in part to encourage the audience to

accept failure as a necessary part of the entrepreneurial journey. Given the high percentage of Norwegians in traditional employment, a focus on the mindset required to succeed was vital. Gøril says the focus for 2016 will be more about success. “This year we will take a deeper look at the challenges of actually doing innovative things. We want to explore why the Nordic region succeeds, and look at how Norway can recoup the big investment in R&D and commercialise more of our world-leading research. We’ll also examine the journey of a product from idea through validation and development phases and into a viable business. Hands-on workshops will be a major feature this year. Hopefully our programme will encourage everyone to give innovation a try, in whatever form makes the most sense for them.”

A COLLABORATIVE HERITAGE IN TRONDHEIM Although seen by some as a new organisation, Technoport has actually been around for ten years. The original goals were to bring together disparate communities across Trondheim to help tackle global challenges with technology-led innovation. Early events took the form of technology trade shows and conferences with a focus on the transition to a greener economy. The Technoport of 2016 is very much focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. “These days we are involved in a lot more events all year round. The focus is still the annual conference, but we also run more smaller events to keep in touch with what’s being talked about within the different communities. Doing this ensures we create a more relevant conference for everyone involved.”

INVITING THE WORLD Technoport 2016 will be the most international-focused event yet. Every session will be held in English with guest speakers from across the world. The importance of bringing in global expertise is critical to Trondheim developing as a city, says Gøril. “Trondheim is a special city with its mix of startups, established businesses and quality research institutes. Attracting the brightest brains from not only Norway and the Nordics, but further afield, is vital to develop the community infrastructure and inspire people to think outside the box. It’s not too far-fetched to say that within a few years, Technoport can help Trondheim become an innovation hub recognised the world over.” Gøril is understandably excited by the rapid development of technological innovation, but one area in particular sticks out for her. She believes the set of embedded technologies collectively known as the Internet of Things presents huge opportunities for Trondheim. “We have many ICT and microchip companies already up and running. Combine this with the thousands of students being educated every year and the first-class research going on, I genuinely believe Trondheim is better placed than any other city in Europe to benefit from the momentum behind the Internet of Things.

MEET GØRIL AT TECHNOPORT 2016, WHICH TAKES PLACE AT THE CLARION HOTEL & CONGRESS ON 2 & 3 MARCH 2016. SEE TECHNOPORT.NO FOR TICKETS.

TECHNOPORT 2016 - CRACK THE CODE @ CLARION HOTEL & CONGRESS TO BUY TICKETS FOR 2ND-3RD GO TO WWW.TECHNOPORT.NO

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Autonomous cars, 5G telecommunications, advanced robotics and genomics look set to fundamentally change our lives. But as the pace of technological change continues to amaze, how can one person with an idea possibly make a difference? The only way to stand out and stay ahead is to meet more people and share your ideas, not keep them to yourself. By making new connections you receive the invaluable benefits of others wisdom, to help refine your ideas and increase your chances of success. Need a mentor? Financial advisor? Someone who’s successfully funded their idea, or sold their business? Technoport 2016 is the perfect place to meet the people who can help turn your big idea into a successful enterprise. Technoport’s goal has always been to bring together different groups to accelerate the development of technology-based businesses. This year, we’re holding a special day immediately before the conference to help do just that. PITCH CAMP AND COMPETITION 30 startups from all across the Nordics will be trained in how to crack the code of a successful pitch, before competing in one-to-one meetings with investors. Of the thirty or so applicants, the best 8 chosen by the investors will get the chance to pitch live on stage at Technoport 2016, competing for big prizes.

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Join the founders of some of the tive technology companies inclu perloop Transportation Techno stories during four themed s crack the code of success and dreams of four entrepreneurs a Live Crowdfunding Experience. CRACK THE WORLD

Hear the stories of how gamegies came to be. BRIDGE THE INNOVATION GAP

Not enough investment in scie impact. What is needed to incr of research? FROM IDEA TO REALITY

You might have the idea, but ho a market-ready product? Toget ology of rapid product developm been there and done it. FIND THE PATH TO MARKET

How do we succeed even bette High North, and what lessons c pean neighbours?

TECHNOPORT LIVE CROWDFUNDIN Whether you’re interested in competing, improving your pitching skills, or meeting potential mentors, submit an application video now at pitch.technoport.no

Returning to Samfundet for the Technoport Live Crowdfunding of the hottest startup companie and invite the general public (th

2. - 3.

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ARE

of the world’s most transformaincluding Tesla Motors and Hychnologies as they share their ed sessions. Together we will and end the day by funding the urs at Technoport’s much-loved nce.

ame-changing global technolo-

CLARION CONGRESS

INNOVATE

This year’s Technoport programme is heavily geared towards taking action with this day of hands-on workshops. Be inspired by the talks from the day before and take action on your own ideas, whether you want to increase your sales beyond these borders or turn an idea into reality with 3D-printing and rapid prototyping. See technoport.no for the full programme. Highlights include: HIGH VALUE SALES STRATEGY

science results in truly global increase the innovative output

ut how do you get from there to ogether we look at the methodelopment from those who have

better as entrepreneurs in the ns can we learn from our Euro-

NDING EXPERIENCE

r the third successive year, the ing Experience showcases four anies. They pitch their business c (that’s YOU!) to invest in them.

Workshops for entrepreneurs, CEOs and senior sales executives from innovative fast-growing companies. Hosted by international sales experts Jennifer Vessels and Ken Morse. FIX MAKERSPACE 101 Learn 3D printing and basic Arduino programming at our temporary conference makerspace, hosted by the FIX Makerspace from DIGS. HOW TO LAUNCH A KILLER APP BEFORE CODING IT Why invest six months of your time in building an app no one wants? Learn the alternative to “if you build it, they will come.” OUTSOURCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Explore the shift towards companies partnering with external industrial designers for product development. RAPID PROTOTYPING A guided journey through the rapid prototyping process. Wear clothes that allow you to build!

TECHNOPORT 2016 - CRACK THE CODE @ CLARION HOTEL & CONGRESS TO BUY TICKETS FOR 2ND-3RD GO TO WWW.TECHNOPORT.NO

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MARTIN EBERHARD Co-founder, Tesla Motors

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Enabled the electric car revolution

Martin Eberhard is the man responsible for Norway’s love affair with electric cars. As the co-founder of Silicon Valley’s first and so far only car company, Tesla Motors, he succeeded in turning an engineering concept into fast, sexy desirable cars. It is especially appropriate Martin comes to Trondheim given Norway’s love affair with the Tesla. Since its launch in 2013 the Tesla Model S sedan quickly became the best selling car in Norway, at one point accounting for over 5% of all new car sales. Hear the true story of how Tesla began, and what he thinks about the position of the company today.

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DIRK AHLBORN CEO, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies

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Revolutionising public transport

In the same way Concorde changed air travel forever, hyperloop technology is set to revolutionise the way we move on the ground. The brainchild of Elon Musk, hyperloop is a conceptual high-speed transportation system whereby pressurised capsules ride on an air cushions within reduced-pressure tubes. Essentially, it’s a vacuum-train crossed with an air-hockey table, capable of speeds of up to 1,200 km/h. Dirk Ahlborn leads an incredible crowdsourced project bidding to turn the theory to reality. The first 8km long track will be built in 2016 in Quay Valley, California, a town that calls itself the “100% solar powered, self-sustaining residential model town for the 21st century.“

SOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST INNOVATIVE MINDS ARE COMING TO TRONDHEIM FOR TECHNOPORT 2016.

TECHNOPORT LIVE CROWDFUNDING EXPERIENCE Help fund the dreams of four of Europe’s most promising startups at Technoport’s Live Crowdfunding Experience. Four entrepreneurs take to the stage and pitch their startup in a bid to win the approval of the judges and the hundreds of people in the audience. But unlike any other startup competition, the entrepreneurs are also trying to convince you - the general public - to invest in their business through our innovative investment platform MyShare. Last year, the Technoport crowd invested €67,000 in four startups. Can we beat that this time? Find out at Studentersamfundet on the evening of 2 March. See www.technoport.no for details.

ANNA KIRAH Chief Experience Officer, Making Waves

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The atmosphere is amazing! Especially good is the enormous amount of support for the entrepreneurs themselves. That sort of support and encouragement is exactly what these young entrepreneurs need. - Dale Murray, host

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Creates meaningful people-centred design

Anna Kirah is internationally known for her pioneering methods within people-centred innovation in the design of services, products and organisational change. Starting out as a design anthropologist, she studied life stages and life events on every continent for over 15 years. Her signature work is co-creation with cross-disciplinary teams as she believes that employee involvement and involvement of the people an organisation serves, is crucial in the success of a project. Currently Anna works with strategic design for Oslo-based agency Making Waves and is on the board of Design Without Borders.

As a startup it can be hard to go to professional investors because we are not experienced at pitching, but in this environment we were able to pitch from our hearts. The result was people invested with their hearts aswell as their wallets. - Ole Holtet, 2015 winners Vepak

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2 MARCH 2016

TECHNOPORT 2016 - CRACK THE CODE @ CLARION HOTEL & CONGRESS TO BUY TICKETS FOR 2ND-3RD GO TO WWW.TECHNOPORT.NO

LOCAL CULTURE

GLOBAL SUCCESS?

Words: Maria Amelie I worked for four years as a startup journalist in ‘Teknisk Ukeblad’. During this time, it became evident that there was a lot of hype around startups, and the word ‘entrepreneur’ itself is highly associated with Silicon Valley. Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckenberg are the names that many politicians and leaders mention when they refer to role models and when in search of goals for Norway. It took me a while to see through the hype and identify the real, the inspiring and truly successful serial technology entrepreneurs. Many of them are in traditional Norwegian ocean industries like shipping, oil and subsea. They are extremely skilled and interesting people who are rarely portrayed in the media. In part because many journalists are unaware of them and on the other hand because they feel they don’t need the press. These entrepreneurs create global companies, mostly in B2B (business to business), and work with technologies that cannot be easily explained or promoted on Facebook. I have since interviewed many such figures, and one thing each of them had in common is their focus on Norwegian culture, attitudes, welfare system and work life balance, attributing these as some of their greatest success factors. This, to me, is fascinating. Why have I now decided to dedicate an entire book to these entrepreneurs and their stories of success? It comes down to the intrigue of conveying this somewhat under-communicated Norwegian culture, way of life and work. It is about revealing our hidden gems: is it due to the universities and research facilities, or do they succeed despite these institutions? I believe that every business sector, ecosystem and especially startup journalist from each land should seek out this answer to this question: what part of our local culture and society influences our global successes? I’m not the first person to be asking this. Jean-François Lalonde is an Assistant Professor at the University of Sherbrooke, Canada. He has written his doctoral thesis on the influence of culture on new venture creation processes, multi-ethnic entrepreneurial teams and Arab entrepreneurship. 20

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MISSING DISCOURSE

NORWAY’S STARTUP CULTURE

In his paper ‘Culture and new venture creation’ Lalonde argues that there a lack of discourse between anthropological/ cultural and entrepreneurial research. According to Lalonde this gap is “harmful especially when studying the influence of culture on enterprise initiation and development”. He goes on to say that the methodological look of anthropologists (ethnography) could also help entrepreneurial researchers study complex phenomena like the influence of culture on the process of creating a new venture.

Norway has its own unique startup culture. It may not be as flashy and self-promoted as that emerging from Silicon Valley, but it is filled with collaborations and cultural factors that influence how we innovate. We have to hone our understanding of what our local culture has to offer, and the attitudes that help create successful entrepreneurs and global companies. If business sectors, local startup ecosystems and journalists enlighten themselves on this, then we can all use this knowledge to enhance our local culture and foster more global startups.

STARTUP NATION ISRAEL Similar thoughts and ideas are discussed in the book Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Saul Singer. This book is about how Israel, a 60-year-old nation with a population of 7.1 million, was able to reach such economic growth that “at the start of 2009, some 63 Israeli companies were listed on the NASDAQ, more than those of any other foreign country.” Senor & Singer argue that several cultural elements are the cause of Israeli entrepreneurs achievement of global success. For instance ‘hutzpah’, also translated as ‘cheekiness’ has taken on a broader meaning and is sometimes interpreted particularly in business life - as meaning the amount of courage.

SILICON VALLEY AND DIVERSITY Most agree that the success of companies in Silicon Valley results from their local culture. This culture was built from the flux of several generations of immigrants, creating a unique diversity in the region and boosting entrepreneurship. Research shows that American business culture is heavily based on self-promotion and sales know-how. It is also a highly individualistic society and competitive culture, but one that believes in sharing and ‘paying it forward’. However culture cannot just be appropriated by other countries. It needs to be adapted and self-grown.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND LOCAL CULTURE IN LIGHT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP? The world is changing. Globalisation makes the world smaller and more inter-connected. In this respect, ideas and collaborations happen easily. Exponential technology growth is challenging our societies, making it easier to become an entrepreneur. There are many in waiting. With technological innovation we can solve global challenges like sustainable energy, the digitalisation of education, poverty and food crises. There is a need for innovative thinking in every part of the world and a need for new jobs. Accordingly, the European Commission has recently launched a series of initiatives to stimulate economic growth and boost employment by helping tech entrepreneurs in Europe develop innovative technological ideas. Similar initiatives are happening everywhere; from Africa to Asia to the Nordics. Flawed assumptions and too much misinformed ‘hype’ about the contributing factors of entrepreneurial success, can negatively affect the development of startup scenes. With cultural knowledge, we can take measures into our hands and help build sustainable startup ecosystems. mariaamelie.com @mariaamelie

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TECH PUSH UP, MARKET PULL DOWN The pendulum is starting to swing back in favour of ‘technology push’ initiatives. Words: Wil Lee-Wright Photos: CERN

“The automobile was not developed in response to some grave international horse crisis or horse shortage. National leaders, influential thinkers, and editorial writers were not calling for the replacement of the horse, nor were ordinary citizens anxiously hoping that some inventors would soon fill a serious societal and personal need for motor transportation. In fact, during the first decade of existence, 1895–1905, the automobile was a toy, a plaything for those who could afford to buy one. “ (Basalla, 1988, p. 198) Cracking the Code is all about finding that Eureka! moment: when the fog of incomprehension is lifted by the light of a sudden, inspired insight. The solution to a problem, or application of a technology is perhaps, always obvious when arrived upon, but knowing the algorithm in advance is akin to pure alchemy. So what is the best method for realising the next game-changing innovation? Entrepreneurs are often considered to be working within the field of ‘technology push’ or ‘market pull’. The ecosystem of any given period within industrial times tends to affect which of these approaches is predominant. For example, ten to twenty years ago there was an emphasis 22

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on tech push – applications borne out of complicated science, innovations which disrupted the marketplace. In the midst of the dot-com bubble entrepreneurs were making their fortunes by turning the market upside down, finding mass usage for new and unprecedented technology. Fundamentally changing the way people lived. No one knew they needed the Internet, Facebook or a smart phone until they were introduced to it, and now they are practically indispensable.

NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION In the decade that followed, the pendu-

lum swung back to ‘market pull’ innovations; manufactured solutions to pain points and upgrades on existing services. In this period entrepreneurs have been increasingly asked to validate their proposals with a solution to an existing need in the market, and in recent years, the solution is often app-based. Enormous fortunes have been made out of utilising (or improving upon) existing technology, by creating peer-to-peer networks, and by responding to needs as articulated by the market. This swing is by no means a new phenomenon. The pendulum has been oscillating back and forth since industrial times. Tech push innovations such as

Alexander Graham Bell's telephone and Emile Berliner's gramophone, were labelled as toys when they were first introduced. It was not as though fire-gazers and radio listeners had been calling for the introduction of television. No, these were technological advances of pure genius, which the world embraced and became dependent on thereafter. Even automated transport was the plaything of the rich for many years, with the need for wide scale use only arising after, not before, its invention. Often these innovations have pursued incremental improvements of the technology, where the market has requested upgrades. Black and white to colour television for example, or improved medicines, or fitting airbags into cars and energy-friendly lightbulbs. All are examples of optimising existing services. With today’s marketplace awash with applications to ease every conceivable pain point, it is arguable that difficult

science has taken a backseat to the quick returns of Internet startups. But the ‘mad scientists’ and laboratory boffins of the world have not gone away and blue-sky research remains an attractive investment. Set against the backdrop of overvalued Internet startups and failed ‘next-big-things’, the sustainable market dividend of tech push innovations is beginning to look rather attractive again (albeit with a slightly longer wait for return on investment). This state of affairs is of particular importance to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) located in Trondheim, where success is measured by the commercialisation of their research. It is no wonder therefore that effervescent Applab has received so many plaudits. Many student startups have seen rapid acceleration from concept to millions of users (e.g. DirtyBit’s Fun Run, with over 45 million users worldwide). But are these innovations sustainable

and are the applications pushing the boundaries of science and technology to a degree that the university should be proud of? To paraphrase Martin Steinert, from the university’s Department of Engineering Design and Materials “if NTNU is going to excel it needs to challenge its romance with market pull. Trondheim is a small city in a small country. NTNU has the best scientists but not really the best market knowledge. If it’s going to succeed it will be with tech push.”

NTNU IS ALREADY REACTING In 2008 the university signed a prestigious agreement with CERN, the European research organisation that, amongst other things, operates the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, examining the basic structure of the universe. This is blue-sky research at its most epic level, and technology students rom Trondheim TECH LIST #2

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have an almost unique access to the facility. Of the 608 universities and research facilities represented at CERN, NTNU is only the third to be granted incubator status. Part of this cooperation agreement invites students from NTNU’s School of Entrepreneurship to visit and consider the commercial potential of products and services. “It is a one of kind agreement, which enables us to get more commercial CERN spin offs,” enthuses Marthe Noeklebye Dehli, a Norwegian graduate from the School of Entrepreneurship now working at CERN. “We get between 30 and 40 highly motivated students, who look at our research in a completely different way than our researchers. We get 40 new ideas, 40 new pairs of eyes looking at the research.” “Our Knowledge Transfer Officers suggest science from their areas, which they deem to be appropriate for the commercialisation process. This is based on the inventors being open to the idea, the commercial potential, and whether the research would benefit from feedback. During the CERN-NTNU ‘technology screening week’, students receive tech briefs and select the research they would like to pursue based on the potential of starting a new company. Then the students get on the phone and call the industry to see the response.” Ultimately, this means technology from CERN can be taken to NTNU to be developed commercially, providing a synapse between complicated scientific research and real world application. In 2013 this relationship produced TIND Technologies; the first company in the world to sign a cooperation agreement and become a CERN spin-off. The innovation is based on software, invented to alleviate a pain point created by CERN’s extensive research. The research institution was creating unprecedented amounts of information, which could not be trusted to conventional digital storage. So they developed Invenio, a software which could manage the millions of biographical records, articles, books, journals, photos, videos etc. TIND’s CEO and co-founder, also a graduate from NTNU’s School of Entrepreneurship, Alexander Nietzold, explained how they commercialised the software: “Even though the technology was already developed we had to invest quite a lot of money in making it scalable. We built our own deployment infrastructure, our own software to use together with Invenio, to make it easily deployable, and making it available at a cost which a customer can swallow. The way it was set up originally, it would actually take a lot of time and resources to keep it up and running, and maintained. That was something which CERN didn’t really care about because they have so much money and ample resources, but there are few institutions which have that kind of resource.” Alexander first visited the organisation in 2012, to carry out a feasibility study. The combination of his and co-founder *****’s insight, and CERN’s willingness to support and encourage them, meant he was soon on the pay role. Within half a year they had established a company and approximately one year later they signed a licensing agreement and TIND formally became a CERN spin-off and an

independent entity. It was at this point they had a technology they could ‘push’. TIND’s technology is an open source software provided as a professional cloud service to manage, showcase and preserve all digital assets. “We make sure that every file you put in can be opened and read again in 100 years from now,” explained Alexander. “That is very important for research in particular. The Higgs bosun for example: millions and millions have gone in to that and you really want to make sure that the assets behind it and the publications are available ten and 100 years from now.” “File formats change quite rapidly. Pdf files and photos for instance may not be able to be opened in the foreseeable future. The two components within the technology which are very good and which can be provided easily, are scalability - which is almost unlimited, with the number of files and assets which you can ingest and make available and searchable - and the preservation value.” With a medium that has been around a relatively short period of time, it is an easy trap to fall into to believe that digital files are somehow immune from decay and the ability to be rendered obsolete. TIND’s technology ensures a certain standard, and certain formats. PDFAs (the archival form of PDFs), for example, ensure that there are no weird fonts in the documents, which might not be able to be read in the future. And while consumer cloud services can be deleted, TIND protects them and ensures the hardware they are on is maintained smoothly. Alexander’s entrepreneurial mindset identified that there was a need for this service within the vertical market of academia and research, which is where they chose to focus their services. The TIND commercialisation of the technology has since been adopted by institutions such as CalTech, United Nations and UNESCO. What’s really exciting is the potential as digital decay starts to bite the consumer market. When people’s photos start to be affected ‘memory meltdown’ (modern hard drives typically have just a three to five year lifespan) TIND could be sitting at the crest of a wave of market reform. “We are confident there are a number of uses for this software, but we decided to start where there is a high product market fit and a market size we considered to be significant enough. There a few verticals in between academic and consumer; healthcare is very interesting application. And also enterprise and small medium sized enterprises (SME) segment at some point.”

SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP “NTNU is involved in the development of everything from the smallest of microprocessors up to the largest outstanding technological and philosophical enquires,” said NTNU Director Gunnar Bovim. “We see our involvement with CERN as testament to the calibre and spectrum of research at NTNU, and the development of knowledge for bettering societies.” Aside from the undeniable support from CERN, it seems TIND was able to flourish because of two factors. Firstly, the financial support from NTNU Discovery and Innovation Norway, which enabled them TECH LIST #2

to verify whether the research worked. Secondly, the business model from NTNU’s School of Entrepreneurship, which unites founders and entrepreneurs with researchers, so that the latter can focus on the technological aspects, while the entrepreneurs concentrate on the market. By offering support services to the Invenio users, TIND has made it possible for the developers to focus on their main task: to develop core Invenio functionality. Marthe at CERN said “the researchers eat, sleep and breath science. They are in work mode 24 hours a day. Then suddenly these enthusiastic students come in with a set of tools they have learnt at NTNU and disrupt. We don’t usually have time to speak to potential collaborators.” Such relationships are not the norm in research fields in Norway though, and the incentive structures for researchers are often processual rather than result based. While not prevented, commercial endeavours at the difficult science end of the market are often seen as a sidetrack. There is financial reward for commercially successful enterprises, but no academic credit for failed endeavours. So commercial projects can affect a PhD student’s hypothesis because they are not dedicating enough time to their thesis. “One of the things we should have in place is to offer researchers to spend some of their time on commercialisation or spin-offs,” Alexander pointed out. “In the US a lot of researchers can spend one day a week on just doing commercial stuff, working with their technology and working with companies outside. It is also common for them to be able to have a stake in

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the company without having to actually leave the research position. I think these are some great incentives.” This inclines tech startups to opt for market pull endeavours, because the success is usually easier and quicker to obtain. When tech push is supported however, the benefits can be awesome. Crayonano is an example, originating from NTNU Department of Electronics and Telecommunications. Their technology has reinvented ultraviolet LED, by developing a solution which is ten times more efficient than existing solutions (and ten times cheaper), with properties suitable for use in everything from water purification to electronics and semiconductors. Crayonano’s investment has been heavy and returns have had a long lag time, but they are now valued at around NOK 100 million and are positioned to be the tech leader in a huge and fast growing market. The risk however, as it has always been with blue-sky research, is that the return on investment can be long into the future and without proper guidance the money can keep pouring in without dire c t i o n o r

end goal.

FINDING THE BALANCE For universities and research institutions commercialisation has always been an ‘activity’, just one of the metrics that research success is measured by (as opposed to academic publication for example). Johan Hustad is the Deputy Rector for Innovation at NTNU and identifies with a new collaborations between entrepreneurship and research. He is Chairman of NTNU Technology Transfer, which works to create value out of the research results of the university, by creating an ecosystem for innovation and facilitating knowledge transfer. When the correct balance is struck, the university reaps the rewards: “In recent years we (NTNU)

have had to work more professionally with our partners; new licenses, new technologies, new solutions, to stimulate commercialisation. Very often there is not much industry interest in technology in the very early stages of its development. This is particularly true of blue-sky research, or technology from blue-sky research.” The majority of startup investment still comes from external sources, but if the university has a commercial interest in the technology it is inspired to seek out the best possible application, while presumably staying true to its “core values of societal responsibility,” according to Johan. “In the last few years we have introduced Intellectual Property Right policies. This covers patents, licensing and protects spinoffs. It also means that NTNU owns the rights to research carried out

here. In 2003 we introduced new rules for people working at the university. Now people don’t own their results or research, NTNU does.”

IN THE WHOLE WORLD’S HANDS This approach sits neatly alongside The School of Entrepreneurship’s business model, of taking founders and entrepreneurs and marrying them to research with commercial potentials. The recent bubble of market pull initiatives is reaching its peak and will inevitably burst, leaving a gap in the market for complicated science initiatives, which have the potential to push forward to market regardless of demand. Set against a backdrop of tumbling oil prices and dwindling kroner, as with most economic crises, this pendulum swing signals opportunity. At the CERN Incubator in Greece, for example, one of their spokespeople says how interesting it is to see how many young people are getting out there and becoming entrepreneurs because of the lack of any other vocational option.

“One thing to keep in mind is that although academic credit and publication of their materials means a lot to researchers, every researcher loves to see their baby being adopted by the whole world,” reminds Alexander from TIND. “That is one of the things which is motivating CERN as well: being able to show that all of the efforts being put into the research can actually produce something meaningful, which kind of gives back to all of the countries who put in this significant amount of funding.” The next iteration of tech push should therefore adopt some of the learning from market pull economics. The need to go rapidly, to check with the market often, and to have high frequency iterations. Yes, there are differences in the approach, but the hybrid approach, as with so many solutions (the Prius aside) seems to be an obvious solution. And just as there are differing approaches, there are differing outcomes in both approaches. One thing remains consistent; timing, support, focus and luck, all have to find the perfect balance. When a period of tech push introduces a new technology, the market pull must follow in order to fully realise the benefits. The smart phone was a fantastic tool in itself, but how much more essential is it now that you can reserve rooms, hire cabs and buy tickets off of other users? By its very nature, the next Eureka! moment is not yet known. But the formula for cracking the code to get there might lie in the pursuit of technology which opens up the door. Push that technology through, and a market will appear – and before you know it, it will be the one pulling you.

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FROM IDEA TO BUSINESS INDIE APP MAKERS ARE TAKING NORWAY BY STORM Author: Reinder de Vries

Making your own apps can be big business. To date, Apple has paid out $30 billion in royalties to app developers. Thanks to online learning websites, aspiring developers can pick up programming skills in a matter of weeks. Build tools are easily accessible and a great number of companies make helper tools for analytics, customer acquisition and advertising. Apart from the work itself, there’s no friction in starting your own app making business, this exact instant. Trondheim has a very active startup scene. Between funding initiatives from Innovation Norway and Spark* a lot of fresh companies get to see the light of day. Tech List found 4 awesome indie app developers and asked them: “What makes an app successful?”

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Picterus created a proof-of-concept and is soon starting development of the app. What’s Gunnar’s advice for future app makers? “It’s a lot of work to build a business. Get someone else on your team, don’t do it all alone. It’s so much easier if you work together, to share ideas and successes.”

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“Picterus is an app that diagnoses jaundice in babies” explains Gunnar Vartdal, co-founder of Picterus. “Jaundice is a condition that turns babies yellow from organ strain, but the equipment that diagnosis it is expensive. We’re building an app to make diagnostics in third-world countries cheaper and easier.”

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If you really want to be successful, you should take your time. Then, get feedback, show people what you’re making. Do people intuitively understand the tool you’ve made? It’s so natural to you, but you do need to test it.”

INGAR KVALHEIM QUANDER “With Quander you can make decisions together with your friends. If you’re wondering where to go, what to wear, you can put out a vote in the app and decide together” says Ingar Kvalheim, co-founder of Quander. Ingar is the principal designer for Quander, and has gone through the process from idea to product. “When starting, it’s really all just pen and paper” he says.

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TARIQUE MAHMUD SUPEREGO

“The venture started with a realisation. Many people need support and advice from psychologists, shares Tarique. We thought: What if we can fit this into an app? We made an app that had just one recording. It was a huge success. At first we were doubtful, but then we heard back from users that it worked”.

Tarique Mahmud leads the app ventures of SuperEgo, backed by 17 years of experience as an app maker and engineering manager. Tarique, Anne Myhrene and co-founder psychologist Svein Øverland created a series of health apps that help individuals and their families mitigate self-harm, bulimia, anxiety and jealousy. Their apps can be likened to being a ‘pocket psychologist’, featuring audio recordings that help people through times of distress, and have already been proven to benefit people with mental health problems. In 2016 Superego is releasing updated versions ‘Go’, ‘Friends’ and ‘Creator 3.0’.

We create growth Tomorrow’s industry is being created through actively connecting scalable growth companies with relevant business and capital. As a neutral non-profit organisation Connect has unique access to leading business resources both regionally, nationally and internationally.

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Building a bridge between your company and research institutes and university "Research scientist in your company" is an open and free program for companies in the Trondheim region that have development and research based innovation on their agenda. The aim of the "Research scientist in your company" program is to help companies initiate externally funded research and development projects. Funding sources can for example be Innovation Norway, The Research Council of Norway or Enova. Through the program, research scientists with broad experience in industry-science collaboration help companies requiring research based support to link up with a relevant R&D institution or with other relevant experts. A key idea of the program is that a substantially higher number of firms in the region can benefit from collaboration with R&D institutions. A main aim of the program is therefore to proactively approach companies and initiate dialogue around ideas, products or processes that could be developed further with external funding and assistance. Irrespective of the starting point for the first dialogue between enterprise and research scientist, focus is on the needs of the company, and the intention is to help bring the company a step further in development and enhancing competitiveness. The "Research scientists in your company" program has so far resulted in meetings with more than 60 companies in the region and new projects worth approx. 10 million NOK. Considering a project budget of 1.2 million NOK, the program has contributed to innovation and value creation in the region. The program is funded by Trondheimsregionen. Contact information: â&#x20AC;Š Sverre Konrad Nilsen, SINTEF , Phone +47 93035764, sverre.k.nilsen@sintef.no

Tech List is Norway’s only international publication portraying technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. Located in the Tech City capital of Trondheim, Tech List endeavours to connect and spread these stories, sharing some of Norway’s best keep secrets with the world. When Norway’s growing startup community shouted out their needs for future development, what did the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Fisheris do? They listened. State Secretary of Trade, Delik Ayhan will be joining us at Trøndelagsmøtet in January to flesh out how their ’gründerplan’ will work in practice. She gives us the toplines of this plan.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU TO SUCCEED AS AN ENTREPRENEUR Words: Dilek Ayhan

Measuring our faith in the prospects of startups and growth companies in Norway can be in fact be quantified. Our federal government has put a pricetag of 400 million NOK on the books to strengthen our startup economies. In the past few years coworking spaces like FLOW, DIGS, MESH, Mess & Order and incubators like Startuplab Oslo and Nyskapingspark in Bergen, have helped our skilled-workers put ideas into practice and build a plethora of new companies. They hail from varied disciplines such as cybernetics, gaming, health and welfare technology and ICT, to virutal reality and hardware – hundreds of companies have taken flight. Resultantly, many new jobs in modernised fields have been created and we are confident that with our new plan, many more will come. Each country faces their own hurdles. Our gründerplan will focus on providing easier access to early-phase financing, and strengthening competencies and networks. We wish to encourage more entrepreneurial mindsets and entice more entrepreneurs to take a chance and startup. Some highlights from the gründerplan: - Future workplaces will be created by people who can take a chance on their own ideas and resources. ‘Pre-såkornfond’ will be enhanced by 100 million NOK in 2016. - Strengthen the establishment of new business fund by 150 million NOK. This will support founders with new ideas with a large potential. - Support the creation of more meetigs places where entrepreneurs and their important networks can connect to share skills and meet with investors. I will be presenting how this plan can be best taken into use by the various innovation communities and their startups accross the country. The adaptation of this plan and ensuring that it is used in the best possible context, will create a shorter leap to growth for many of these companies. Norway’s booming innovation ecosystem has started to become very visible to our domestic population, but there is still a need to communicate internationally and reach new partners overseas. Concise and quality descriptions of our best startups and sharing the value propositions that our country has to offer, is integral. Tech List magazine has set out to represent these stories and get them in the hands of future investors, partners and customers, internationally. Good luck!

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Speakers:

Martin-Eberhard, Tesla • Marianne Vikkula, Slush • Paul Duggan, Techshop Global • Sean Percival, 500 Startups • Ken Morse, Serial Entrepreneur Dale Dougherty, Maker Media Inc • Matilde Bisalle, Trollabs • Dirk Ahlborn, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies Inc • Anna Kirah, Making waves • More to follow

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The world’s biggest challenges require game-changing technologies, new ways of thinking, and genuinely difficult innovation. At Technoport 2016, we seek to ask and answer the tough questions on how we make this difficult innovation happen. Exactly how do we turn knowledge into successful, sustainable businesses that will make a real impact on the world? At Technoport 2016 we smash together academic research and knowledge-based industry with the most successful principles from the startup world such as lean methodologies and rapid prototyping. Dont miss out.

2 & 3 March 2016 Sign up at technoport.no

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