Room to succeed space to live
Sam Eyde Kristian Birkeland Gunnar Knutsen S erine Jeremiassen Axel Borchgrevink Amtmand Aall Petter Stordalen Gun Vik Ånund Olsen Hallgeir Skogen Elise Thiis-Evensen Nils-Johan Tufte Bernt Ove Søvik Mariette Røed Torjussen Carl Eugen Berg Hanssen Bjørn Kristiansen Astrid Skreosen Benjamin Sewell Jan Thomas Harald Thiis-Evensen Petter Øygarden Alfred Pedersen Wright Halvor Olsen and many, many more…
Grenland has been the birthplace of many great ideas. The opening chapters of many success stories were written here. Now it’s your turn. Do you have a bright idea, a great product or an established business? Then consider locating in Grenland. This prosperous and diverse region of Telemark has a long tradition of entrepreneurship and is the kind of place where smart thinking thrives. Countless businesses, from manufacturers to fashion designers, are proud to call Grenland home. The lifestyle here combines the urban and cosmopolitan with the rural and idyllic. Enjoy countryside and forests, fjords and mountains right on your doorstep. There’s space for everyone. Grenland. Room to succeed, space to live.
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Room to succeed
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“Herøya Industrial Park is the perfect location for demanding, future-oriented manufacturing businesses. We’ve been here since 1928 and have grown into Norway’s leading industrial park with all the necessary infrastructure: power, steam, natural gas and port facilities.” Thor Oscar Bolstad, managing director, Herøya Industrial Park
Thriving and dynamic
Grenland is the industrial heart of Norway. Goods are exported worldwide from the ports around Frierfjorden. At Herøya Industripark, Yara produces fertilizer for the global market. Just across the fjord, at the Frier Vest industrial site, Ineos and Noretyl produce raw materials for the plastics industry. The process industry supports a large number of hightech suppliers that likewise compete on the global stage. But Grenland is about more than the process industry. STX OSV fits out supply and anchor handling vessels for the offshore industry in Norway and worldwide, while ice cream from Diplom-IS
makes the perfect treat on a hot summer day. Both these businesses are located in picturesque Brevik.
down, while new, future-oriented businesses have sprung up in their place.
Grenland has become a centre for IT development. GatSoft and Imatis specialize in administrative systems for healthcare, and the entrepreneurs behind eZ Systems provide free software for web developers. This Skien-based company has a team of young, enthusiastic employees spread around the globe.
Kebony, which uses green technology for pressuretreating timber, is a good example. Another example is RHI Normag, an Austrian company that is setting up shop in a former magnesium plant at Herøya.
The economy of southern Telemark has undergone major changes in recent years. Some longestablished manufacturing plants have closed
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From idea to business
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“Free office space courtesy of Etablererkontoret and financial support from Vekst i Grenland and Innovation Norway Telemark were crucial to our success in the start-up phase, enabling us to reach out to other businesses and build a network.� Astrid Skreosen, founder and managing director, ASAP Norway AS
ASAP Norway AS is a company with big ambitions. It is aiming for its specially developed, ultra-absorbent birthing sheet to become a world-leading product. It all started when Astrid Skreosen had a novel idea. Along the way, Etablererkontoret, Vekst i Grenland and Innovation Norway Telemark helped her turn this idea into success. Grenland is unique in that there are multiple agencies in the region providing financial support and advice to projects with growth potential.
Vekst i Grenland (ViG) offers the following services to businesses in the process of starting up or transforming:
We work closely with other agencies that provide start-up funding such as Innovation Norway Telemark, Klosterøyafondet, Skiensfondet and Telemark Utviklingsfond.
Development loans, targeted at small and mediumsized businesses, are intended to provide early-stage liquidity. ViG may also acquire a stake in a business. Smaller projects may be eligible for direct grants, and in other cases ViG can provide guarantees.
WHO DOES WHAT Vekst i Grenland AS (ViG, “Grow in Grenland”) is the economic development agency serving the municipalities of Bamble, Drangedal, Kragerø, Porsgrunn, Siljan and Skien. ViG provides both advice and funding. www.vig.no
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Development Loans Equity Guarantees Grants
Etablererkontoret i Grenland (Grenland Business Enterprise Centre) provides free support, in the form of courses and personal advice, to owners of startup businesses. The agency has offices in Skien and Kragerø. www.etablererkontoret.no
Innovation Norway Telemark offers services and financial support to promote innovation in Telemark. The regional office is located on Klosterøya in Skien. www.innovasjonnorge.no/telemark
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RHI Normag AS is a subsidiary of the Austrian RHI group, the world’s largest manufacturer of refractory materials. RHI Normag is investing over NOK 500 million in a new production facility at Herøya. The new plant supplies raw materials for RHI’s fire-resistant construction products.
Space to expand 10
“We were able to build our new plant in an industrial setting where all the necessary infrastructure already existed. That’s why we chose Grenland. There used to be a magnesium plant on the site, and we were able to secure long-term industrial supply contracts in the Norwegian electricity market.” Roger Gravdal, managing director, RHI Normag AS
Design: Mariette Røed Torjussen
Norway’s leading industrial park is in Grenland. Herøya Industripark is home to 90 companies, which between them employ 3,000 people producing goods and services for local, national and international customers. The infrastructure for new businesses is already in place, which makes Herøya more cost-effective than other locations for new manufacturing operations. Uniquely among industrial parks, Herøya has facilities and human resources that allow companies to undertake pilot manufacturing projects.
from Highway E18. Over 25 businesses from a wide range of sectors are based here, and there is room for more. The municipalities of Kragerø and Drangedal are working together to expand the business park to keep pace with demand.
painted by hand. But, right next door to the worldfamous china factory, new urban spaces are taking shape with trendy shops, health and wellness businesses, fitness centres and commercial premises.
The local authorities in Grenland are constantly working to meet the needs of business. New commercial sites are developed, and established business parks offer industrial and office premises tailored to a variety of requirements.
Klosterøya in Skien is being transformed from the site of a paper mill into a hub for the cultural sector, ICT and biotechnology. Modern premises in distinctive buildings, with access to shared meeting spaces, provide an excellent home for growing businesses.
Kragerø Næringspark is centrally located halfway between Oslo and Kristiansand, less than 1 km
Grenland’s economy is changing. At Porsgrund Porselænsfabrik, the famous straw pattern is still
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Used to tough challenges “I’ve been involved in some big changes. We handle change well here in Grenland. We have the strength and determination to see it through. We’ve always delivered the products our customers need.” Øyvind Lindgren, sheet metal worker for 38 years at BIS Production Partner
Sawmill in Skien, 1875
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Grenland has always led the way. Norway’s first big engineering feat was the mill races blasted out of the rock in the 16th century to conduct water to power the sawmills in Skien. Timber from Telemark, cut in these sawmills, was used to rebuild London after the great fire of 1666. Ever since, industry in the region has been quick to seize opportunities. Today, microbiologists working on life-saving vaccines and engineers researching carbon capture represent the cutting edge of technology.
Thanks to the dynamic local economy, Grenland’s workforce is unrivalled in its ability to adapt to change in the face of stiff global competition. It’s no coincidence that other parts of the world turn to Grenland when faced with the challenge of economic change. Our labour force is adaptable, is used to shift work and is familiar with complex processes. This was one reason why RHI Normag and REC chose to locate here.
There’s a lot of know-how to be found in Grenland. The number of engineers per head of population is one of the highest in Norway. But the high level of expertise is not confined to the technical field. Our biotechnology industry is also attracting international attention in areas such as the development of an HIV vaccine.
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Education and skills “Entrepreneurship has always been a priority at HiT. Our students have made a habit of winning national and international student enterprise competitions.” Kristian Bogen, principal, Telemark University College (Høgskolen i Telemark – HiT)
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Telemark University College (HiT) has close links with the business community through undergraduate and PhD projects, student-run businesses, and innovation and entrepreneurship programs. These activities drive the relationship between education and business. HiT is aiming for full university status by 2016, and its research activities will play a key role in achieving this.
HiT currently offers PhD programs in technology, environmental and cultural studies.
that began 30 years ago as a world-leading plastics R&D centre.
There is also extensive research activity outside of academia. Tel-Tek is a national R&D institute focused on energy-efficient production processes and cutting emissions. The multiphase rig at Herøya is the jewel in Statoil’s research portfolio. No other oil company has this kind of production test bed. Right next to the rig is Norsk Hydro’s research centre.
It’s no coincidence that the Norwegian government has chosen Grenland as the location of Gassnova, the company that manages the government’s interests in carbon capture and storage.
Norner AS is the continuation of a success story
DuVerden, a new science and learning centre in Porsgrunn, is a key part of Grenland’s knowledge economy. The centre’s mission is to improve public knowledge of the natural sciences by stimulating young people’s curiosity and interest.
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Every week, three truckloads of quality produce including duck, goose and eggs leave Holte Gård destined for gourmet restaurants in Oslo. The produce is all organic, produced in a rural setting to ensure high standards of animal welfare and quality.
“So long as we’re through Asker before 5:40 in the morning, everything’s fine. That works well for us here in Drangedal. The road is not a problem.” Halvor Olsen, farmer at Holte Gård in Drangedal
Getting to and fro
Grenland: Connected to the world
Bergen
Oslo
Stavanger
Sweden
Kristiansand Gothenburg UK Belgium Rotterdam Hamburg Grenland is centrally located in both a Norwegian and a European context. Well-developed road and rail infrastructure links the region with Oslo and the south coast of Norway. In one of its most ambitious upgrade projects to date, the Norwegian National Rail Administration (Jernbaneverket) is double-tracking the line between Grenland and Oslo. High-speed trains will cut the present journey time by half. In the not too distant future, there are plans to build the missing link between the two main lines in the region.
The next few years will see the opening of a fourlane motorway from Grenland to Oslo. Road links to the south are also being upgraded to full motorway standard by 2020. No matter where people and goods are headed, Grenland is centrally located. Continental Europe is closer than it has ever been, thanks to the ferry route from Langesund to Hirtshals (Denmark) and the region’s proximity to Sandefjord airport. Skien airport is becoming a hub for oil-related traffic.
Hirtshals
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Space to live
Urban and rural
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“I decided to move to Grenland after looking at the weather map and noticing that the region enjoys plenty of good weather and a great climate. I’m kayak crazy and can be found paddling among the skerries both before and after work. Sometimes I’m out there till midnight. It’s so relaxing, it’s almost like going on holiday for the evening.” Anette Rolff, immigrant from Berlin
If you love swimming, skiing, kayaking, sailing, hiking or fishing, you’ll love Grenland. Nature and outdoor living are always close at hand. And in our waterparks, the pool temperature is kept at a constant 27°C all year round. Or maybe concerts, city life and café latte are more your thing? Grenland’s cities offer a full program of events throughout the year.
The rocks visible at low tide off Brevik, Langesund and Bamble mark the start of Norway’s south coast. The natural beauty becomes still more spectacular when you reach Kragerø – a municipality comprising 495 islands and skerries, which unsurprisingly has attracted many artists. Kragerø is where Edvard Munch came in search of sunshine. There are plenty of ways to enjoy nature in the winter, too. Several of the towns have lighted ski trails close to residential neighbourhoods, and ski centres with downhill slopes and groomed trails are only a short distance away. Gautefall Alpinsenter in Drangedal has 17 slopes, while Grenland Skisenter in Siljan is open every evening.
At Svanstul, a half-hour drive north of Skien, snow is guaranteed and groomed trails take you up into the hills. If you’d like to build your own cabin, vacant lots are available. The mountains are not far away. Rauland, Gaustablikk and Hardangervidda – names that are music to the ears of any outdoor lover. Summer or winter, there’s always something going on. Lively après-ski or mountain wilderness – it’s all just a short drive from Grenland.
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Nourishment for the soul
“Grenland produces a lot of good musicians. The music scene models itself on various artists, including Paal Flaata, the Klakegg brothers, Vidar Busk and perhaps even myself.” Bugge Wesseltoft, internationally renowned jazz musician, composer and producer
Skåtøy Song and Poetry Festival
Sport
Henrik Ibsen
Food
Brass Festival Eventyrfabrikken Guttorm Guttormsen
Geo Norvegica Jannicke Abrahamsen Bacalao Festival Bjørg Vik Kafé K Mule Varde
RIP: Rockeklubben i Porsgrunn Tre Sopranos
Playmobil Museum
Aldebaran SkiensJazzdraget
Telemark Children’s and Youth Theatre
Liv Marit Wedvik Brekkeparken Ælvespeilet
Skagerak Arena Operagutta
International Theatre Festival Bugge Wesseltoft PIT PorsgrunnSiljan River Boat Festival Paal Flaata Under to tårn Badeparken Totally Wild wilderness festival Jonny Andvik Skien Fritidspark Merete Junker Photography Langesund Fish and Seafood Festival Theodor Kittelsen Coastal Museum Shanty Festival Ibsenhuset Kittelsenhuset Mosaikk
Halfdans Bokhus
Music
Jørn Lier Horst
Sputnik Museet
Festivals
TheatreDance Herrevassdraget Coastal Path Culture Trail
Jomfruland
Drangedal Bygdetun
Song Parkbiografen Cinema
Langøytangen Lighthouse and Langøya
Tore W. Aas
Galleri Osebro
Tor Åge Bringsværd
Blindtarmen Ski Festival
On the Edge – Norway’s philosophy festival in Kragerø Ibsen Walk Wrightegaarden Galleri Falkum Mattis Herman Nyquist Grenland Friteater Rune Jarstein Kragerø Harbour Festival Henrik Ibsen Museum Frode Johnsen Alf Cranner Parkjazz Kid Andersen Didrik Solli-Tangen Iver Kleive Ibsen Prize Auen urtegård
Concerts
Porsgrunn City and Maritime Museum Atle
Performing arts
Pettersen
Telemark Canal and M/S Victoria Vidar Busk Mersmak i Skien food festival Morten Fevang Teater Ibsen Hanne Hegh
Visual art
Dizzie Tunes
Snipetorpmarken
Literature
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Living in Grenland
“In Grenland everything I need is close at hand. I can drop my son off at the daycare on my way to work and don’t waste time sitting in traffic. The sea and the mountains are nearby, so I manage to keep fit as well as everything else.” Espen Ødegården, manager, Friskhuset Grenland fitness centre and Kremt Grenland advertising agency
Although compact, Grenland is Norway’s fifth largest urban region. But you can still catch fish for dinner right below the highway. The municipalities of Siljan, Skien, Porsgrunn and Bamble are home to more than 100,000 people and are so close together that we treat Grenland as a single market for housing, employment and retail purposes. Kragerø is further south, on the coast, while Drangedal is a densely forested inland community. Siljan’s slogan is “the good place to live”. Many people work in the cities but choose to live in Siljan. The neighbouring municipality of Skien is the largest in Grenland (and Telemark) and an obvious commercial centre. Porsgrunn is a modern industrial city with seafaring roots. Bamble is a community of contrasts: coast, deep forests and petrochemical plants. Kragerø, which Edvard Munch called “the pearl of the coastal towns”, teems with life in the summer. Drangedal too is a tourist destination,
offering a wide range of summer and winter activities. Surrounded by nature, many people dream of owning a holiday home here. The municipalities are all different. Each one has a distinctive character and particular qualities. What they all have in common is that they are great places to live – whether you prefer an apartment in an urban setting with café life and everything within easy reach, a house where you can moor your boat to the porch, or a peaceful existence with the forest as your only neighbour. Overall, Grenland has almost 120,000 contented residents. For the price of a two-room apartment in an Oslo suburb, you can buy a single-family home or a large apartment in Grenland. With it comes freedom. The freedom to kiss goodbye to crowded living or to reduce your housing costs and live a little more.
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‌ and space to retire
77629 - Design and printing: Reklamehuset Wera. Photos: Dag Jenssen, www.scanpix.no, Tom Riis, Hanny Charlotte Pedersen, Varden, Fredrik Pedersen, Ruhne Nilssen, Kebony. Norwegian copywriting: Ole Bjørn UlsnÌs. English translation: Tom Ellett for NILSSEN tekst
Do you have a recipe for success up your sleeve? An unrealized idea? A growing business? Then come to Grenland. A prosperous and diverse region of Telemark with a long tradition of entrepreneurship. A place where smart thinking thrives. Grenland. Room to succeed, space to live.
www.vig.no www.visitgrenland.no www.visittelemark.no www.etablererkontoret.no www.innovasjonnorge.no www.skien.kommune.no www.porsgrunn.kommune.no www.bamble.kommune.no www.kragero.kommune.no www.siljan.kommune.no www.drangedal.kommune.no
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