Norway has a strong manufacturing and design industry that develops premium brands with high functionality and exquisite design in a number of categories, including furniture and interior design, fashion, and sportswear and sports equipment.
Building a competitive industry
Norway is leveraging its design heritage, technological savvy and natural advantages to build a competitive and sustainable manufacturing and design industry.
Norway is at the heart of the Nordic design movement, offering products with a unique blend of contemporary aesthetics, simplicity and functionality.
Norwegian design is inspired by nature and products are manufactured to withstand the harsh climate, while treading lightly on the earth. Norwegian companies prioritise the use of renewable, circular and recycled materials like wood, wool and aluminium.
Norway has high quality standards and manufactures durable, practical products for everyday life. There is focus on slow fashion and ensuring that kids can be kids.
Manufacturing facilities in Norway are powered by clean energy and utilise advanced automation technologies. There is focus is on circularity and sustainability in production and an on satisfying a demanding customer base.
Norway’s craftsmanship traditions date back 1 000 years. Focus has always been on quality, durability and making the most of materials at hand.
Norway has thinktanks and other arenas from which innovative products and processes emerge. Norway is an attractive partner, bringing a tradition of exploration and knowledge-sharing to collaboration with global designers.
There is focus is on new circular business models.
Advantages beyond beautiful design and extensive manufacturing expertise
Norway offers more than functional, aesthetic products, advanced manufacturing technologies and sustainable materials. It is a good place to do business for other reasons, too.
The manufacturing industry is strictly regulated to safeguard health, safety and quality. Working conditions in Norway are good.
Norwegian workers are trustworthy and well-educated, with a strong sense of autonomy. Exceptional critical thinking skills enable them to work independently and solve problems. As a result, companies can employ fewer workers in Norway, and many international companies find that labour costs are much lower than they assumed.
Industrial culture is built on trust, cooperation and a flat hierarchy, which also yields outstanding efficiency.
Norway has world-class infrastructure, especially digital infrastructure. The country tops digitalisation rankings in Europe, with nearly 100% Internet and mobile coverage and connectivity. Moreover, Norwegians are early adopters of digital technologies and possess outstanding digital skills.
Norway has strong R&D environments and industrial clusters throughout the country and government policies that support its major industries. Norway understands the value of international partnership and seeks it out.
While not an EU member, Norway is fully integrated into the European single market through the EEA Agreement.
Norway has a high level of political and social stability, consistently ranking among the world’s top countries for resiliency. The economy is strong and diverse as well.
Norway outperforms most other countries on the OECD’s Better Life Index. Along with a high standard of living, Norway offers a good work-life balance, public safety and a clean environment.
Excellent healthcare and higher education are available to all. Norway is known worldwide as a pioneer in gender equality, and provides generous family leave and universal, low-cost childcare.
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Runar Haugen
Head of national export initiative on manufacturing and design, Innovation Norway
