Norwegian University of Science and Technology
NTNU is Norway's largest public university, focused on technology and natural sciences across three campuses (Trondheim, Gjøvik, Ålesund). It serves undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students and conducts applied research with industry, government, and international academic partners.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersTrondheim, Norway
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Norwegian University of Science and Technology does
NTNU (Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet) is Norway's largest university and the country's primary institution for higher education and research in technology and natural sciences. It was formed in 1996 through the merger of the University of Trondheim and the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH, founded 1910) and operates three campuses in Trondheim, Gjøvik, and Ålesund, serving undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students across engineering, natural sciences, medicine, social sciences, and humanities. As a public university, NTNU serves a broad base of students, industry partners, and government agencies through education, applied research, and technology transfer.
NTNU's core offerings include degree programs at bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels, continuing education, and research services spanning marine science, energy systems, digital technologies, health, and sustainability. Notable technology platforms include the Wi-Fi Cyber Range, an open-source cybersecurity training environment built with software emulation of 802.11 networks and a Llama-based LLM for exercise authoring (co-developed with the University of the Aegean); the Light Damage Estimator, a digital tool combining X-ray fluorescence and accelerated aging tests to predict pigment fading in artworks; and distributed acoustic sensing systems that use seabed fiber-optic cables with ML-based anomaly detection for whale detection in partnership with marine researchers. Research infrastructure includes SINTEF Ocean's Aquaculture Robotics and Autonomous Systems Laboratory in Trondheim, where MIT students collaborate on AI-based fish feeding and underwater net-repair robotics.
NTNU is primarily funded through Norwegian government appropriations via the Ministry of Education and Research, with no tuition fees for Norwegian and EU/EEA students. Revenue is supplemented by competitive research grants (e.g., Research Council of Norway, EU Horizon Europe such as the €30M EC-MaRe Teaming proposal), industry contracts (e.g., Vard for nuclear shipping), and continuing education programs. The university operates as an independent legal entity with its own board and is guided by the NTNU 2035 strategy, which targets international leadership and societal impact as a driver of knowledge-based and sustainable development. Technology transfer occurs through collaborative research and spin-off activity rather than direct subsidiary ownership.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Legal name
- Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
- Website
- https://ntnu.no
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- NTNU is Norway's largest public university, focused on technology and natural sciences across three campuses (Trondheim, Gjøvik, Ålesund). It serves undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students and conducts applied research with industry, government, and international academic partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Norwegian University of Science and Technology industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) (EDAHAAAC)
Keywords
Where Norwegian University of Science and Technology is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Trondheim
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Norwegian University of Science and Technology business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Norwegian University of Science and Technology product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NTNU is a public research university that delivers higher education programs (bachelor's, master's, PhD, and continuing education) and conducts fundamental and applied research across technology, natural sciences, medicine, social sciences, and humanities. It also provides research collaboration, technology transfer, and innovation services through partnerships with industry, research institutions, and governments, operating across three campuses in Trondheim, Gjøvik, and Ålesund.
Product overview
NTNU operates as a comprehensive university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education across technology, science, engineering, health, and humanities disciplines. The institution provides research services often conducted through collaborations with industry partners like SINTEF Ocean and international universities. Supporting services include career guidance (NTNU Karriere), library resources, and the Vitenskapsmuseet science museum. Research tools developed include the open-source Wi-Fi Cyber Range for security training and the Light Damage Estimator for art conservation. Educational initiatives extend internationally through programs like digital twin technologies training offered in partnership with institutions such as the University of Maine.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NTNU Educational Programs
Companies that use Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Norwegian University of Science and Technology technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
Norwegian University of Science and Technology partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.
- University of MaineminorCo-hosting two-week international summer school on digital twin technologies for ocean engineering. 29 students from both institutions participated in hands-on laboratory activities, lectures, and team-based projects focused on offshore renewable energy, marine systems, and the blue economy.
- IndiamajorFive key agreements signed during PM Narendra Modi's visit to deepen cooperation in science, innovation, and sustainability. Focus areas include clean energy, offshore wind, and geosciences. Agreements aim to enhance bilateral research, technology development, and capacity building with emphasis on climate change and ocean sustainability.
- University of TokyocoreJoint development of botanical sand concrete using desert sand mixed with wood particles under heat. The innovation addresses dwindling reserves of conventional construction sand while reducing the carbon footprint of concrete production, which accounts for approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions. Testing conducted at University of Tokyo with durability evaluation planned in Norway.
- TalTech Estonian Maritime AcademyminorEC-MaRe (European Centre for Maritime Retrofit) €30 million Horizon Europe Teaming proposal bringing together Nordic-Baltic partners from Estonia, Finland, and Norway to establish a Centre of Excellence focused on maritime decarbonisation, ship retrofitting, cybersecurity, and maritime law and policy.
- MIT Sea GrantcoreCollaboration on aquaculture robotics and autonomous systems research. MIT students complete internships at SINTEF Ocean's Aquaculture Robotics and Autonomous Systems Laboratory in Trondheim. Part of ongoing collaboration that began in 2023 with visiting scientist Eleni Kelasidi working on AI-based fish feeding optimization and underwater robotic systems for net repair.
- SINTEF OceancoreResearch collaboration through SINTEF Ocean's Aquaculture Robotics and Autonomous Systems Laboratory in Trondheim. SINTEF Ocean operates four research fish farming licenses in collaboration with SalMar, providing access to industrial-scale farms for research and student internships.
- NuProShip (Norwegian research consortium)coreNTNU is part of NuProShip consortium researching nuclear power for shipping's decarbonization. Consortium has identified three promising Generation IV reactor designs that could offer 40% lower fuel costs than heavy fuel oil. Working with shipbuilder Vard on nuclear merchant ship research.
- Vard (Shipbuilder)coreShipbuilder participating in NuProShip consortium to research nuclear power for maritime shipping. Collaboration focuses on identifying viable reactor designs for civilian nuclear vessels to meet net-zero emissions goals by 2050.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Norwegian University of Science and Technology competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- SINTEF: Europe's largest independent research institute and NTNU's closest research partner, co-located in Trondheim. Comparable as a Nordic applied-research organization working in energy, ocean, materials, and technology, and explicitly tied to NTNU through joint labs and aquaculture robotics collaboration.
Broad incumbents
- ETH Zurich: Europe's leading continental technical university with broader global brand and significantly larger research budget. Comparable as a public research university with deep industry ties in engineering and natural sciences, though ETH operates at substantially larger scale.
- University of Cambridge: Global public research university with comparable breadth across natural sciences, engineering, and medicine. Comparable as an internationally leading research-intensive university competing for global talent and research funding.
- MIT: World-leading research university with deep strengths in engineering, natural sciences, and applied research. Comparable in mission and portfolio, and explicitly partnered with NTNU via MIT Sea Grant on aquaculture robotics.
- Technical University of Munich (TUM): Major German public technical research university with interdisciplinary engineering, natural sciences, and medicine. Comparable in mission and structure, with broader European industry footprint.
Direct peers
- Technical University of Denmark (DTU): Denmark's primary technical university with strong applied research in energy, ocean engineering, and digital systems. Highly comparable in size, mission, and Nordic research footprint to NTNU.
- Aalto University: Finnish university formed by merging three institutions with a strong technology, science, and design focus. Comparable as a Nordic research-intensive university with industry partnerships and innovation focus.
- Chalmers University of Technology: Swedish private but publicly-funded technical university with research strengths in energy, materials, and maritime engineering, mirroring NTNU's profile as a Nordic tech-focused institution.
- University of Oslo (UiO): Norway's largest comprehensive university and NTNU's primary domestic peer. Competes for the same national research funding, students, and faculty, with stronger life sciences and humanities emphasis complementing NTNU's tech focus.
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology: Sweden's leading technical university with comparable emphasis on engineering, natural sciences, and applied research. Directly comparable as a Nordic public research university competing for the same talent, EU grants, and industry partnerships in energy, materials, and digital technologies.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Norwegian University of Science and Technology social profiles
Digital presenceNorwegian University of Science and Technology financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Norwegian University of Science and Technology leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Norwegian University of Science and Technology funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Norwegian University of Science and Technology M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Norwegian University of Science and Technology
What does Norwegian University of Science and Technology do?
NTNU is a public research university that delivers higher education programs (bachelor's, master's, PhD, and continuing education) and conducts fundamental and applied research across technology, natural sciences, medicine, social sciences, and humanities. It also provides research collaboration, technology transfer, and innovation services through partnerships with industry, research institutions, and governments, operating across three campuses in Trondheim, Gjøvik, and Ålesund.
Is Norwegian University of Science and Technology a public or private company?
Norwegian University of Science and Technology is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Norwegian University of Science and Technology founded?
Norwegian University of Science and Technology was founded in 1996. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Norwegian University of Science and Technology based?
Norwegian University of Science and Technology is headquartered in Trondheim, Norway, in the Europe region.
Who are Norwegian University of Science and Technology's main competitors?
SINTEF is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are ETH Zurich, University of Cambridge, MIT and Technical University of Munich (TUM). Direct peers are Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Aalto University, Chalmers University of Technology, University of Oslo (UiO) and KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
Does Norwegian University of Science and Technology have an API?
No public API is recorded for Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
What industry is Norwegian University of Science and Technology in?
Norwegian University of Science and Technology's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAC, Public Research Universities with Academic Medical Centers (AMCs). Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.