Norway’s health companies step up despite global market uncertainty

Norway delivers big on innovation, quality and trust. With 67 per cent of its health exports already heading to Europe and the US, Norwegian companies are well placed to respond to global health challenges – and are doubling down on efforts to grow.

At the event, representatives from Norway’s embassies in Washington and Berlin, Innovation Norway, the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared insights into how they are supporting health companies abroad.

Industry leaders from Laerdal Medical, Bayer and Curida Diatec, meanwhile, discussed how they are scaling through partnerships, regulatory know-how and global positioning.

The national export initiative on health and life science has set an ambitious goal: to double Norway’s health exports by 2030 (excluding oil and gas).

There is tremendous activity under the initiative. Recent actions include:

• A delegation to Berlin as part of the German–Norwegian health agreement
• A radiopharma-focused trade mission to Japan ahead of Expo 2025 in Osaka
• Strategic follow-up of exporters entering the US market
• A nationwide health export baseline study to map opportunities and barriers

“It is truly exciting to hear about the vast opportunities awaiting us in the German and broader European markets, especially how strategic partnerships and increased visibility can trigger real growth. The potential in the US market also stands out as significant, signalling a clear path for Norwegian health companies ready to scale internationally,” says Heidi Blengsli Aabel, CCO at Vitalthings and board chair of the export initiative.

A core group, or national team (landslag in Norwegian), of 37 export-ready companies has been assembled – with more joining as Innovation Norway and its global offices identify and support promising health scale-ups.

“These companies gain huge value from connecting in a neutral space where they can share insight and build joint momentum,” says Tone Varslot Stave, head of the export initiative at Innovation Norway.

Norway isn’t just exporting products – it’s exporting trusted, tech-driven health solutions.

From radiopharmaceuticals to AI-powered monitoring, from infection prevention to remote care platforms, Norwegian companies deliver globally relevant innovations that meet the highest regulatory and ethical standards.

Norway’s health and life science industry is primed for collaboration, investment and growth.