What NCE Manufacturing does

NCE Manufacturing is an industrial cluster organization headquartered in Raufoss, Norway, operating under the Norwegian Centre of Expertise (NCE) national cluster program. The cluster comprises approximately 60 member companies and roughly 4,000 employees across advanced manufacturing, materials technology, defense, and industrial supply, with combined member revenue exceeding 13 billion NOK. The organization functions as a neutral coordinator connecting manufacturers, technology providers, academic institutions, and public sector partners to accelerate industrial innovation. It was previously branded as NCE Raufoss and has operated as a cluster entity for approximately 15 years.

The organization's service portfolio centers on the cluster network itself and a set of operational infrastructure assets. Core offerings include membership-based networking, the Læringsfabrikken (Learning Factory) — a 1,500 square meter training facility equipped with more than 110 million NOK of industrial equipment — and Produksjonslab services for both startups (launched June 24, 2025) and SMBs. Additional services include GIO basic industrial training and a Språk-lab. NCE Manufacturing holds a 25% ownership stake in Manufacturing Technology Norwegian Catapult (MTNC), a national test and demonstration center, and has research ties to NTNU and SINTEF Manufacturing.

Revenue mechanics rely primarily on annual membership dues from the 60 corporate members, supplemented by fees for training and lab access and project-based public funding. Produksjonslab services are priced at 150,000 NOK per engagement, with an 80% discount available to SMB customers through Innovasjon Norge, indicating a publicly subsidized commercial model. The cluster's strategic positioning has expanded into defense and dual-use industrial themes, reflecting Norwegian industrial policy priorities around security and resilience.

Name

NCE Manufacturing

Legal name

NCE Manufacturing

Website

https://ncemanufacturing.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

NCE Manufacturing is a Norwegian Centre of Expertise cluster organization based in Raufoss, serving roughly 60 manufacturing members with combined revenue above 13 billion NOK through networking, training, and production lab services anchored by the Læringsfabrikken facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Cluster Services

NAICS

Manufacturing (31-33), Miscellaneous Manufacturing (339), Machinery Manufacturing (333)

SIC

Miscellaneous Manufacturing Industries (3990)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Manufacturing (EDABALAP)

akta.pro secondary industries

Product Lifecycle, NPI & Industrialization (Design-to-Operate) (BPAHAHAK), Production Operations & Shop Floor Systems (MPS, MES basics) (EDAOAGAH), Industry-Specific Technical & Certification Prep (e.g., Construction, Manufacturing, Energy) (EDAGANAN), CNC Machining & Programming (EDAOAGAA)

Keywords

• Industrial cluster management
• Manufacturing network services
• Industrial training programs
• Production technology consulting
• Industry research collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

Raufoss

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: NCE Manufacturing generates revenue through membership fees from industrial companies. Members gain access to cluster resources, networking opportunities, and collaboration with research and educational institutions.
2. Training and education services (Læringsfabrikken): The Learning Factory provides training programs including CNC operations, industrial skills, and professional development courses. Services like Produksjonslab offer workshop programs for startups and SMBs with support from Innovasjon Norge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NCE Manufacturing is a Norwegian Centre of Expertise industrial cluster organization that convenes 60 small, medium, and large industrial enterprises (~4,000 employees, combined revenue above 13 billion NOK) with research partners NTNU, SINTEF Manufacturing, and Fagskolen Innlandet. It offers cluster membership, the Læringsfabrikken training facility, Produksjonslab workshops for startups and SMBs, MTNC catapult center services for testing and industrialization, and training programs such as GIO and Språk-lab. The organization focuses on goods production, automation, lightweight materials, and efficient production systems for Norway's export industry.

Product overview

NCE Manufacturing is an industrial cluster/network organization (Norwegian Centre of Expertise) based in Raufoss, Norway. Rather than a single product, the organization offers a portfolio of services including: the NCE Manufacturing Network (facilitating collaboration between 60 industrial companies and knowledge partners NTNU, SINTEF, and Fagskolen Innlandet); Læringsfabrikken (a 1500 sqm training facility with equipment worth 110+ million NOK); Produksjonslab services (workshops for startups and SMBs to help bring physical products to market); and MTNC (Manufacturing Technology Norwegian Catapult) providing test and industrialization facilities. Additional offerings include GIO (Basic Industrial Training) and Språk-lab (language training for industrial work). The ecosystem also includes Vaager Innovasjon (for business development in startup phase) and Komm-In investment fund. The organization focuses on goods production, automation, lightweight materials, and efficient production systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NCE Manufacturing Network (Cluster Membership) An industrial collaboration platform focused on synergy between industry, education, and research, serving as Norway's national competence center for competitive automated goods production. Connects 60 member companies with knowledge partners NTNU, SINTEF, and Fagskolen Innlandet to develop industry capabilities in goods production, automation, lightweight materials, and efficient production systems. Members gain access to events, training, advocacy, and collaboration with research institutions.
• Læringsfabrikken (The Learning Factory) A meeting place for companies, professionals, college students, apprentices, and high school students featuring advanced technology across 1,500 square meters of equipment worth over 110 million NOK. Located in Building 5 at Raufoss Industripark. Offers courses and training in close collaboration with MTNC, Raufoss videregående skole, OFII, and Fagskolen Innlandet.
• Produksjonslab for oppstart (Production Lab for Startups) A workshop-based service for entrepreneurs and startup companies with physical products, providing access to Norway's most experienced production environment and evaluation of ideas from production and industrialization perspectives. The goal is to help get products to market faster and with producible solutions.
• Produksjonslab for SMB (Production Lab for SMBs) A variant of the production lab service tailored for established small and medium-sized companies that want to improve productivity, develop new products, or evaluate production in Norway. Delivered via the same Produksjonslab workshop model with industrial expert access.
• GIO (Grunnleggende Industriell Opplæring) - Basic Industrial Training A practical and targeted training model developed in collaboration with industry at Raufoss. Provides participants with foundational skills and experience, facilitating the path to jobs in industry.
• Språk-lab (Language Lab) A language lab course aimed at participants who need to strengthen Norwegian language comprehension while acquiring industrial competence in areas such as HSE, Lean, and maintenance/production.
• MTNC (Manufacturing Technology Norwegian Catapult) Norwegian Catapult Center for Manufacturing Technology - a central actor in the national catapult system and a driver for technology development in Norwegian industry. Strengthens companies' ability to test, simulate, and industrialize new products and production processes. Organized as MTNC AS, 50% owned by TotAl-gruppen and 25% by NCE Manufacturing since 2022 (with cluster companies holding the remaining stake).

Quantifiable outcome

• Cluster companies generate over 13 billion NOK in combined revenue
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NTNUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) is a key knowledge partner. With headquarters in Trondheim and campuses in Gjøvik and Ålesund, NTNU provides technical-natural science expertise, professional education, and broad academic coverage including humanities, social sciences, economics, medicine, and architecture.
• SINTEF ManufacturingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSINTEF Manufacturing is a research institute for industrial research in materials technology, production technology, and digitalization. Combining manufacturing expertise with industry knowledge to solve complex problems through interdisciplinary approaches. Part of SINTEF, one of Europe's largest research institutes.
• Fagskolen InnlandetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFagskolen Innlandet is one of Norway's largest public vocational schools with approximately 3,000 students. Located at Campus Gjøvik, it has been an educational institution since 1968 at both vocational school and college levels. Offers strong programs in production, technology, automation, and management.
• Manufacturing Technology Norwegian Catapult (MTNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian Catapult Center for Manufacturing Technology, organized as MTNC AS. Strengthens companies' ability to test, simulate, and industrialize new products and production processes. 50% owned by TotAl-gruppen and 25% by NCE Manufacturing since 2022.
• Læringsfabrikken (Learning Factory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn integrated activity within NCE Manufacturing offering courses and training in close collaboration with MTNC, Raufoss videregående skole, OFII (Opplæringskontoret for Industrifag Innlandet), and Fagskolen Innlandet. Provides 1,500 square meters with equipment worth over 110 million NOK.
• Vaager InnovasjoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation and startup development actor focusing on business development and advisory services for companies in startup phase. Leads Interreg project CIRIS (Interregional Circularity in Central Scandinavia) with Värmland.
• Raufoss Eiendomsforvaltning AScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Raufoss Industripark, one of Norway's largest industrial parks. Home to approximately 50 companies with over 3,000 employees, serving international markets in automotive and defense industries.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Teknikföretagen: Swedish industry association for engineering and manufacturing companies. Provides similar industry advocacy, networking, and competence-building services as NCE Manufacturing, but serves Swedish members rather than Norwegian.
• Produktion2030 (Sweden): Swedish strategic innovation program for sustainable production. Comparable mandate in driving industrial collaboration and R&D, but focused on Swedish manufacturing rather than Norwegian, positioning it as a regional peer.

Direct peers

• Catapult Network UK: UK network of technology and innovation catapult centers delivering test, simulation, and commercialization services. Directly parallels Norway's catapult model (MTNC) in which NCE Manufacturing holds ownership and governance roles.
• NCE Energy: Sister NCE cluster focused on energy technology and sustainable energy production. Operates with the same NCE governance framework, member subscription model, and public funding mechanisms as NCE Manufacturing.
• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC): UK-based applied research and training organization for manufacturing technology. Operates with a similar model combining test facilities, training, and industry collaboration—directly comparable to NCE Manufacturing's MTNC and Læringsfabrikken activities.
• Teknologisk Institut (DTI - Danish Technological Institute): Danish applied research and innovation organization offering manufacturing technology services, testing, and certification. Closely parallels NCE Manufacturing's combination of MTNC testing, Læringsfabrikken training, and SME-facing Produksjonslab services.
• NCE Aquaculture: Another Norwegian Centre of Expertise cluster operating under the same national program. Highly comparable operating model—membership fees, R&D collaboration, training services, and Innovasjon Norge support—but focused on aquaculture rather than manufacturing.
• SINTEF Manufacturing: Norwegian research institute for materials, production technology, and digitalization. Direct strategic partner of NCE Manufacturing, but also a comparable entity in its own right providing applied research and cluster-adjacent services.

Broad incumbents

• Norsk Industri: Norway's nationwide industry association representing manufacturers broadly. Operates as a broader industry advocacy and trade body—covering the same constituency NCE Manufacturing serves at Raufoss, but at national scale rather than cluster depth.
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Germany's largest applied research organization with institutes spanning manufacturing technology, materials, and automation. Comparable role in connecting industry with R&D, but at vastly larger scale and broader scope than NCE Manufacturing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ncemanufacturing

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 NCE Manufacturing