What Simula does

Simula Research Laboratory AS (SRL) is a Norwegian government-owned research laboratory founded in 2001 by the Ministry of Education and Research and headquartered in Lysaker (Oslo), with additional research units in Bergen and Oslo (SimulaMet). The organization operates as a group of legal entities — SRL as the parent, Simula Metropolitan Centre for Digital Engineering (SimulaMet, 51% SRL / 49% OsloMet), Simula UiB (51% SRL / 49% University of Bergen), and wholly-owned Simula Innovation AS and Simula Academy — collectively employing more than 150 researchers across five core ICT research areas: Artificial Intelligence, Communication Systems, Cyber Security, Scientific Computing, and Software Engineering.

The underlying technology platform is research-oriented rather than productized: Simula's outputs include scientific publications, open-source contributions, contributions to international standards (including post-quantum cryptography), and applied research deliverables. A dedicated SURE-AI Centre consolidates AI activity, and an Applied AI Services line offers R&D consulting, technical due diligence, and technology development to external clients. Simula also operates the Simula Academy for researcher training and doctoral programs (including the SUURPh program with the University of Oslo and UCSD), and runs Simula Innovation as a vehicle for early-stage startup investment and commercial due diligence.

Simula's business model combines three revenue streams: recurring core funding from the Norwegian government (via the Ministry of Education and Research), professional-services contract research for both industrial clients (via Norway's IPN scheme) and public sector clients (via the IPO scheme), and longer-tail returns from Simula Innovation's startup investment portfolio. Its go-to-market is sales-led and enterprise-focused, with services delivered through direct engagement and tailored team assembly rather than product distribution. Customers are concentrated in three vertical segments — private industry, Norwegian public sector, and academic/research institutions — with the Norwegian government functioning as both owner and largest single funder.

Name

Simula

Legal name

Simula Research Laboratory AS

Website

https://simula.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Simula Research Laboratory is a Norwegian government-owned ICT research organization that conducts fundamental and applied research in AI, cybersecurity, communication systems, scientific computing, and software engineering, serving the Norwegian government, public sector, and industry partners through contract research, consulting, and innovation investments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ICT Research and Development Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Due Diligence & Investigative Research (BPAHALAI)

Keywords

• Contract research services
• Applied AI consulting
• ICT research
• Technology due diligence
• Scientific computing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lysaker

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Base Funding: Simula is owned by the Ministry of Education and Research and receives core funding as a government-established research laboratory founded in 2001. This provides baseline operational support.
2. Contract Research Services: Simula conducts contract research for both private and public sectors, drawing on the expertise of over 150 researchers. This includes industry projects (IPN - Innovasjonsprosjekt i næringslivet) and public sector projects (IPO - Innovasjonsprosjekt i offentlig sektor).
3. Consulting and Advisory Services: Expert advice services providing guidance on various matters based on researcher expertise, including technical due diligence and technology assessments for investment decisions.
4. Simula Innovation Investments: Simula Innovation manages an investment portfolio in promising entrepreneurial companies, developing profitable enterprises that deliver real-world solutions and create jobs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Simula is a Norwegian research laboratory that conducts contract research in information and communication technology (ICT) across five focus areas: artificial intelligence, communication systems, cyber security, scientific computing, and software engineering. It sells applied AI consulting, expert advice and technology due diligence to industry and the public sector, and operates an investment arm that funds ICT startups.

Product overview

Simula Research Laboratory is a Norwegian research organisation structured as a group of legal entities conducting research, education, and innovation within ICT. The portfolio consists of five main units: Simula Research Laboratory AS (SRL) as the parent company focused on scientific computing and software engineering; SimulaMet (Simula Metropolitan Centre for Digital Engineering) focused on AI, communication systems, and IT management; Simula UiB focused on cryptography and information theory; Simula Innovation AS for startup support and investment; and Simula Academy for researcher training. Additionally, Applied AI Services offers R&D consulting to external organisations. This is a research-oriented portfolio rather than a commercial product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Simula Innovation: Supports entrepreneurs during the start-up phase and manages Simula's investment portfolio in promising entrepreneurial companies.
• Simula Academy
• Simula Metropolitan Centre for Digital Engineering
• Simula UiB

Products and services

• Contract Research Services
• Applied AI Consulting
• Expert Advice and Technology Due Diligence
• Simula Innovation (Startup Investment Portfolio)

Quantifiable outcome

• Contributing to international standards for post-quantum cryptography
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Oslo (UiO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnerships with Norwegian universities for collaborative research and education. UiO is a key partner in the SUURPh program for PhD training in computational biology.
• University of California, San Diego (UCSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partnership through the SUURPh program where doctoral fellows work with advisors in Oslo and at UCSD on computational biology projects.
• OsloMet (Oslo Metropolitan University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner in Simula Metropolitan Centre for Digital Engineering AS (SimulaMet), with 49% ownership. Research focus on AI, communication systems and IT management.
• UiB (University of Bergen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner in Simula UiB AS with 49% ownership. Research focus on cryptography and information theory.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TNO: The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, focused on applied scientific research with strong ICT, AI, and cyber security programs. TNO parallels Simula's model of government-backed applied research combined with contract research and consulting for industry and government clients.
• CSIRO: Australia's national science agency, with significant ICT, data, and applied AI research combined with industry and government contract research. CSIRO is comparable to Simula in combining government-backed mission-oriented research with applied consulting and contract services.
• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's flagship applied research organization with dozens of institutes covering ICT, AI, cyber security, communications, and software engineering. Fraunhofer mirrors Simula's combination of public-mission research with contract research and industry consulting, operating at significantly larger scale.
• CSIC: Spain's largest public research institution, with broad ICT and applied science research programs serving industry and government. Comparable to Simula as a government-affiliated European research body conducting contract research and advisory work.
• INRIA: France's national research institute for digital science and technology, conducting foundational and applied research in AI, software, networks, and cyber security. INRIA is comparable in its dual mission of scientific excellence and technology transfer to industry and government.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish state-owned applied research organization with significant ICT, AI, and cyber security research portfolios. VTT shares Simula's Nordic government-owned model and applied research services for industry and public sector clients.
• SINTEF: Norway's largest independent research organization, operating across multiple disciplines including ICT, digital, and applied AI. SINTEF is the closest direct peer to Simula, sharing the Norwegian research-lab model, government-aligned mission, and applied contract-research business model serving both industry and public sector.

Emerging players

• Cambridge Consultants: UK-based deep-tech R&D consulting firm that develops breakthrough products and provides technical due diligence for clients across industries. Comparable to Simula's Applied AI Services arm in providing specialized R&D consulting and technical advisory to enterprise clients.

Broad incumbents

• MITRE Corporation: US-based not-for-profit operating federally funded R&D centers for the US government, with deep cyber security, AI, and systems engineering expertise. MITRE is comparable to Simula as a mission-driven research organization providing independent advisory and technical due diligence to government.
• SRI International: US-based non-profit R&D organization performing contract research for government and commercial clients in AI, cyber security, and computing. Comparable to Simula as an independent research lab delivering applied research, consulting, and due diligence across ICT domains.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/simula_research
• Facebookfacebook.com/simularesearchlaboratory
• LinkedInno.linkedin.com/company/simula-research-laboratory

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Simula