Hjernerådet

What Hjernerådet does

Hjernerådet is a Norwegian nonprofit umbrella organization (medlemsorganisasjon) founded around 2013 and headquartered at Hjernehuset, Storgata 33, Oslo. It aggregates 78-79 member organizations spanning patient associations, professional medical associations, research institutions, and treatment providers in the brain health field, collectively representing over 250,000 individuals. Hjernerådet pioneered the concept of "hjernehelse" (brain health) in Norway in 2015 and is widely credited with contributing to Norway becoming the first country in the world to adopt a politically approved national brain health strategy (launched 2026-2036, succeeding the 2018-2024 strategy).

The organization's product and service portfolio centers on knowledge dissemination, advocacy, and community coordination rather than technology development. It operates the Hjernepodden podcast (distributed via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Acast), the Min hjernehelse digital and print magazine (annual), the Hjerneteltet event arena at Arendalsuka with 30+ events per edition, the Hjernendin.no digital science center (launched August 2025, Gulltaggen 2025 nominee), the Hjerneabscess documentary film (Stiftelsen Dam-funded), and an electronic newsletter (Mailchimp-distributed). Hjernerådet does not develop proprietary technology; its platform integrations are limited to standard marketing and analytics tooling (Mailchimp, Google Analytics, Vimeo).

Revenue mechanics are those of a membership-based nonprofit: recurring membership dues from 78-79 organizations, public/government support (referenced via news coverage of increased operational funding), donations, and grants channeled through Stiftelsen Dam (Hjernerådet is an applicant organization for Dam Foundation grants on behalf of member projects). Go-to-market is community-led and policy-facing rather than commercial: Hjernerådet engages policymakers through kronikker and opinion pieces, participates in Helsedirektoratet-led strategy Partnerships, and broadcasts through top-of-funnel content (podcasts, magazine, events) to influence the brain health agenda. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the secretariat consists of four named staff members: Secretary General Henrik Peersen (since Jan 2022), Organization Advisor Peggy Ranheim, Communication Advisor Christine Kristoffersen, and Policy Advisor John Stigum.

Name

Hjernerådet

Legal name

Hjernerådet

Website

https://hjerneradet.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hjernerådet is a Norwegian nonprofit umbrella organization that aggregates 78-79 patient, professional, research, and treatment organizations in brain health, representing over 250,000 individuals. It advocates for policy, runs educational media (podcast, magazine, digital science center), and supports implementation of Norway's national brain health strategy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Advocacy Organization (Brain Health)

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN), Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO), Health Workforce Development & Capacity-Building (HLAJAKAM)

Keywords

• Brain health advocacy
• Patient organization coordination
• Neurological research support
• Public health policy
• Medical professional associations

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Hjernerådet is a membership-based organization with 78 member organizations including patient organizations, professional organizations, research institutions, and treatment institutions. Membership fees support the organization's operations.
2. Public funding and donations: The organization receives public funding support as noted in news articles about increased operational funding, and accepts donations from supporters.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hjernerådet is Norway's national umbrella organization for brain health. It convenes 78 member organizations spanning patient groups, professional medical associations, research institutions, and treatment providers, then acts as their unified voice in policy advocacy, public awareness, and coordination. The organization produces educational content (a podcast, a digital and print magazine, documentaries), runs an annual public event arena at Arendalsuka (Hjerneteltet), operates a digital science center about the brain (Hjernendin.no), and channels grant funding through Stiftelsen Dam for brain-related research and education projects.

Product overview

Hjernerådet is a Norwegian umbrella organization for brain health that brings together user organizations, professional associations, and research environments working with the brain. The organization operates several products and services including Hjernepodden (a podcast), Min hjernehelse (digital/print magazine), Hjerneteltet (annual event arena at Arendalsuka), Hjernendin.no (digital science center about the brain), educational documentaries, and newsletters. Hjernerådet does not offer a technology product or software platform but rather provides information, education, advocacy, and community-building services related to brain health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hjernepodden (Brain Podcast) A podcast by Hjernerådet that features interviews with experts on brain-related topics, covering how sleep, food, exercise, and brain training affect brain health. Targeted at the Norwegian general public interested in brain health, and available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Acast.
• Min hjernehelse (My Brain Health) A digital magazine published by Hjernerådet, also issued annually in print. Covers brain health topics, research news, and coping strategies for people affected by brain diseases. Targeted at Norwegian patients, caregivers, and the wider public interested in brain health.
• Hjerneteltet (The Brain Tent) An annual event arena at Norway's Arendalsuka political festival where Hjernerådet and its member organizations host more than 30 brain-health events each year, designed to raise public awareness, drive policy engagement, and convene experts, patients, and media.
• Hjernendin.no (Your Brain) A digital science center about the brain providing interactive educational content about brain function, learning, emotions, and coping. Targeted at Norwegian youth and the general public.
• Hjerneabscess (Brain Abscess Documentary) A documentary film about brain abscess (hjerneabscess), a rare diagnosis, providing increased knowledge for patients, relatives, schools, universities, research environments, and the health service. Funded by Stiftelsen Dam via Hjernerådet and created by filmmaker Johnny Dahle.
• Nyhetsbrev (Electronic Newsletter) An electronic newsletter distributed via Mailchimp to individuals who register their email address with Hjernerådet, providing news and updates about brain health, policy work, events, and publications from the organization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Norway launched world's first national brain health strategy
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vitensenter NordlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Collaboration to develop brain education programs for youth aged 13-19. The project combines brain knowledge with practical activities and reflection on learning and everyday life. Funded by Stiftelsen Dam. Project runs 2026-2028.
• Bioteknologirådet (Biotechnology Council)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on neurotechnology topics, including events about brain-machine interfaces and ethical considerations of new technology.
• Opplysningsrådet for veitrafikk (Norwegian Road Traffic Information Council)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on driver brain topics, discussing how the brain develops from youth to adulthood and how this affects choices, risk and behavior in traffic.
• Stiftelsen Dam (The Dam Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHjernerådet is the applicant organization for Dam Foundation grants. Through Hjernerådet, researchers and filmmakers can apply for funding for brain-related projects. Films and projects including the brain abscess documentary and educational initiatives are funded through this partnership.
• Helsedirektoratet (Norwegian Directorate of Health)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHjernerådet participates in the Partnership for Follow-up of the National Brain Health Strategy, led by the Directorate of Health. This partnership brings together key actors from patient organizations, health services, municipal sector, and professional communities.
• Nevroklinikken (Neuro Clinic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on improving interaction between neurology and psychiatry to create more holistic patient pathways.
• Mind-Body Lab and Harald EiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on events about chronic pain, exhaustion, and functional disorders, discussing treatment, understanding and the way forward.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Helsedirektoratet (Norwegian Directorate of Health): Norwegian government agency that leads the Partnership for Follow-up of the National Brain Health Strategy, in which Hjernerådet participates. Comparable as the primary government counterpart that the organization works with on strategy implementation.
• Stiftelsen Dam: Norwegian foundation that channels health-research and advocacy grants through member organizations including Hjernerådet. Comparable as the upstream funder ecosystem in which Hjernerådet operates as an applicant organization.

Broad incumbents

• European Brain Council: Brussels-based umbrella organization advancing brain research and policy at the European level. Directly comparable as a higher-geography counterpart to Hjernerådet's national brain-health coalition model.
• Nasjonalforeningen for folkehelsen: Large Norwegian public health nonprofit focusing on cardiovascular disease, dementia and stroke. Comparable as a Norwegian health nonprofit that combines patient advocacy, research funding and public awareness, with partial overlap in dementia and stroke advocacy.
• European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA): Umbrella group representing European neurology patient associations and advocating for brain health policy. Closely comparable as a pan-European coalition of patient and professional neurology organizations analogous to Hjernerådet's 78-member model.

Direct peers

• National Brain Appeal (UK): Charity raising funds for brain disease research and treatment at Queen Square, London. Comparable as a brain-health focused nonprofit combining fundraising, advocacy and research support in a single national footprint.
• The Brain Charity (UK): UK-based charity supporting people with neurological conditions and advocating for brain health. Comparable as a multi-condition brain-health advocacy and information organization with similar member-based services.
• Alzheimer's Research UK: UK charity focused on dementia research funding, advocacy and public awareness. Comparable as a nonprofit combining research advocacy, public engagement and policy work in the neurological space, though narrower in disease scope than Hjernerådet.
• Hjernesvulstforeningen: Norwegian patient organization for brain tumor patients and families. Comparable as one of Hjernerådet's member organizations, representing the disease-specific patient groups that Hjernerådet aggregates at the national umbrella level.

Regional players

• Forskningsrådet (Research Council of Norway): Norwegian national research funding body that supports brain and neuroscience research. Comparable as a Norwegian stakeholder in the brain-research ecosystem that Hjernerådet engages with on policy and funding priorities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hjernerådet