Energy Valley supports new incubator at Fornebu

Photo: RunwayFBU

Energy Valley is proud to be part of the new initiative to establish the first incubator at Fornebu. Through RunwayFBU, industrial AI startups and growth companies will gain direct access to industry partners, pilot environments and commercial scaling opportunities.

For Energy Valley, the initiative also represents a natural extension of the ongoing AI Energy Cluster work – where future collaboration projects, pilots and technology initiatives may evolve into new companies and spin-offs with international growth potential.

The incubator will connect industry with leading growth companies in industrial AI, with Energy Valley, Accenture, Telenor, Bærum Municipality and Akershus County Council on the owner side.

The incubator’s intention is to help technology companies move from promising ideas and pilot projects to real implementation and commercial scaling in industry.

Bridging the gap between technology and industry

Within Norwegian industry, we find some of the world’s most advanced technology environments, combined with increasingly complex operational challenges and a growing need for restructuring and digital transformation.

At the same time, many technology companies still struggle to move beyond pilot projects. The gap between technology development and industrial implementation remains too wide, particularly in complex B2B and infrastructure-heavy sectors such as energy, industry and critical infrastructure.

This is where RunwayFBU aims to make a difference.

The incubator has been accepted into the national incubation program of Innovation Norway (formerly Siva) and builds on the strong industrial and technology environment established at Aker Tech House at Fornebu.

A growth engine for industrial AI companies

The incubator is strategically situated in the middle of one of Norway’s strongest industrial and technology environments.

With strong industrial and public owners, companies connected to the incubator gain direct access to industry partners, operational environments, decision-makers and potential flagship customers.

This means access not only to capital and networks, but also to:

  • real industry challenges
  • operational data and pilot environments
  • industrial collaboration partners
  • structured support for moving from pilot to commercial agreement
  • expertise within scaling, industrialisation and commercialization

The ambition is clear: fewer pilots and more companies successfully operating in industry.

From AI Energy Cluster initiatives to scalable companies

Energy Valley’s AI Energy Cluster initiative is a strong strategic match to this environment.

Through webinars, workshops, strategy processes and project development activities, Energy Valley is building a pipeline of future AI and energy initiatives that may mature into pilots, startups and scalable industrial solutions.

As AI adoption accelerates across the energy system, there is increasing demand for environments that can help bridge the gap between innovation and implementation.

RunwayFBU may therefore become an important platform for further commercialisation, growth and international positioning of projects and companies emerging from AI Energy Cluster activities.

This is particularly relevant within:

  • industrial AI
  • energy optimisation
  • predictive maintenance
  • autonomous systems
  • digital infrastructure
  • cybersecurity and resilience
  • dual use technologies connecting civil and security-related applications

Strengthening international positioning and EU opportunities

The combination of industrial partners, AI competence and an emerging innovation ecosystem at Fornebu may also strengthen opportunities for participation in European innovation and funding programs.

This includes relevant opportunities connected to:

  • Horizon Europe
  • Digital Europe
  • European Defence Fund (EDF)
  • energy transition and industrial resilience initiatives
  • dual use and security-related innovation programs

For Energy Valley and its members, this creates opportunities not only for national collaboration and commercialization, but also for stronger international positioning and access to European innovation ecosystems.

Building a new innovation district at Fornebu

In addition to the public owners Akershus County Council and Bærum Municipality, RunwayFBU is initiated by strong industrial actors including Telenor, Accenture and Energy Valley.

The initiative brings together industry, technology companies and the public sector in one collaborative structure with a shared ambition:
to accelerate innovation, implementation and industrial growth.

The incubator is also an important step in the continued development of Fornebu as a leading Norwegian innovation district — where industry, startups, research environments and public actors work more closely together to solve real industrial challenges and develop scalable solutions faster.

For Energy Valley, being part of this environment strengthens our long-term focus on innovation, industrial collaboration and technology-driven energy transition.

At the same time, it provides Energy Valley members with access to a highly relevant ecosystem for industrial AI, commercialization, scaling and international collaboration.

Norway’s opportunity in industrial AI

Norway has a unique competitive position through world-leading industrial environments, high digital competence and strong experience within energy, offshore industries and advanced technology.

To maintain and strengthen this position, Norway must become better at transforming technology and competence into scalable companies and industrial implementation.

This is not only about developing new technology — but about getting solutions into use faster, at industrial scale and in international markets.

RunwayFBU is established to help solve exactly that challenge.

Do not hesitate to contact us for more information about the incubator at Fornebu.

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