Invited by Innovation Norway, 100 participants from business, clusters and associations from Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Slovakia met for a matchmaking event that focused on how to achieve more circular business models.
“Every year during the Oslo Innovation Week we invite businesses from our partner countries for a networking event”, says Magnar Ødelien, Programme Director EEA and Norway Grants at Innovation Norway.
“Not only do the EEA and Norway Grants partners meet to exchange inspiring best practices on green innovation, but they get the opportunity to meet the larger community of businesses during the rest of the week”, he says.
Bjørn Haugland from the business-driven climate initative SKIFT set the tone for the morning.
Shifting from a linear to circular economy business model is shifting from being the best in the world to being the best for the world. Bjørn Haugland
The transition to a circular economy is one of the main building blocks of the European Union’s Green Deal. In March 2020, the European Commission adopted a Circular Economy Action Plan. The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended.
“To make circular economy a main priority for your business, collaboration is key”, said Benedicte Bekkevold Hansen from the Norwegian Centre of Circular Economy at this week’s event in Oslo.
“Research show that businesses working in clusters reach their circular economy goals faster,” she pointed out.
The Green morning event is a great example of a multilateral initiative that creates a space for Polish companies to exchange knowledge and experiences, as well as establish meaningful relations with companies from the participating countries. Monika Radaszkiewicz from the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development
“Many companies, even those who did not plan any meetings in advance, end up finding a meeting partner as they go during the networking sessions. Giving them this space to mingle and take a chance is one of the biggest added values of such events”, she says.
The Latvian delegation at the Green Morning event. Photo: Gorm K. Gaare.
“Networking events are an important part of our EEA and Norway Grants efforts, and we organise several meeting places between Latvian and Norwegian companies every year”, says Rūdolfs Erdmanis from the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.
“It is a great way for business partners to connect and develop relationships that may lead to business cooperation in the future,” he says.
During the morning the Bulgarians company Scortel and the Norwegian FourC presented their partnership project that was formed through the EEA and Norway Grants, innovating maritime sustainability. Angela Achitei from ADV Romania and Geir Ebbesen from the Norwegian Unikum shared their best practice projects that combine circular economy with social integration.
Angela Achitei from ADV Romania and Geir Ebbesen from the Norwegian Unikum. Photo: Gorm K Gaare.
Creating long term relationships and possibilities for further cooperation is a central goal for Innovations Norway’s work with the EEA and Norway Grants. The cooperation between Scortel and FourC is a great example of this. Magnar Ødelien
“Green innovation has been and will still be an important goal for Innovation Norway’s work with the EEA and Norway Grants and the shift from linear to circular business models is central to this,” he says.
--
Innovation Norway is the Norwegian Government’s agency for innovation and development of Norwegian enterprises and industry. They operate in those areas where the funds are aimed at developing industry and business and establishing long-term economic relations between Norway and the partner countries. For some partner countries Innovation Norway directly operates the funds. For other countries Innovation Norway only acts as an advisor and partner for the funds operator.
--