Location
Norway is an oil-rich nation, but it is an energy nation in more ways than one – it is also Europe’s largest producer of hydroelectric power and the 6th largest producer in the world. Norzetta’s site is 100% local produced Hydropower.
Doing business in Norway is easy. It is an extremely small country, but with an open economy. It is also a very transparent society and economy.
Long-Term Stability and Security
Norway can also boast its stability which is rare in Europe. Norway has no national debt nor are there any costly reforms on the horizon. This increases its stability vis a vis other European countries. While other countries are now changing policies on corporate bank accounts and raising taxes, Norway is a stable corner of an unstable Europe.
The Energy Architecture Performance Index (EAPI) measures how secure each country’s energy systems are and the level of access to energy in three main areas:
- Diversity of supply
- Level and quality of access to energy sources
- Self-sufficiency
Definitively Digital and Well-Connected
Part of the reason why it is easy to do business in Norway, is digital. Norway has a very digitally competent population – 86% are on the internet daily – and strives to use this competence as the basis for digitalization of other areas, such as taxation and other aspects of the public sector.
The advanced use of IT in Norway is one of the reasons why the labor productivity in Norway is so high – in fact, slightly higher than in the USA. IT engineers are also actually about 20% cheaper in Norway than in Silicon Valley. Norway and the University of Oslo is also project lead on the EU s Big Data research project.
Norway is seemingly on the outskirts of Europe – but is very well connected. The Oslo airport is larger than Copenhagen or Stockholm in terms of the amount of passengers.
Norway is known for its robust fiber infrastructure. Multiple lines connect every major city following a combination of major railroads, power lines and roads between them. The Rjukan Valley has several DWDM and dark fiber providers which can connect it to any major city in Norway as well as all major European cities and internationally.
Committed to Technology
The government of Norway, the Region of Telemark and the Tinn Municipality in Rjukan have all committed to leveraging the low cost, renewable energy, robust power and fiber optic infrastructure, unique geography and climate and stable political environment to attract, maintain and develop its technology sector into a world class destination for high tech industries.
Educated, Cultural and Scenic
In addition to the environmental factors that make the decision to choose the Rjukan Valley there are several other reasons that companies will want to move there:
It is close to existing technology employment hubs such as Kongsberg with highly educated workforce and proximity to universities and technical colleges (Telemark University College, Buskerud University College)
It is a cultural and scenic destination: Gaustatoppen and Hardangervidda National Parks, UNESCO World Heritage Site, historic cable car and tram car rides, canoeing, cycling and horseback riding in the mountains.
