Næringsutvikling

Næringsutvikling describes policy and activities aimed at fostering growth and diversification of an economy by supporting businesses and industries. It encompasses efforts to improve competitiveness, productivity, and resilience of the private sector, as well as the creation of new firms and jobs. It is pursued at national, regional and local levels and often involves public-private partnerships.

Key actors include government ministries and agencies, regional authorities, municipalities, research institutions, universities, and business service providers. The private sector, startups, and industry associations participate as partners. In Norway, public bodies such as Innovasjon Norge, Siva and the Research Council of Norway play central roles, offering funding, advisory services, and access to networks.

Common instruments: investment promotion, business development services, entrepreneurship support, innovation funding, R&D tax incentives (e.g., SkatteFUNN), grants and loans, public procurement for innovation, incubators and accelerators, cluster policy and innovation ecosystems, workforce development, infrastructure and regulatory reforms.

Process: a typical cycle begins with strategic analysis of regional strengths and bottlenecks, followed by strategy design, program design, implementation and monitoring. Evaluation focuses on employment growth, productivity, firm survival, export share, and value creation.

Challenges include aligning public and private interests, ensuring inclusive growth, avoiding distortions, measuring impact, and maintaining long-term funding.

Næringsutvikling is closely connected to sustainable development and industrial policy, with emphasis on sectors like technology, green transition, and services.