FRAM

What FRAM does

FRAM NTNU is a student-run umbrella organization at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway, originally established in 2016 as a continuation of NTNU's Centre for Student Innovation (SSI), which opened in 2015. It serves as the central coordinating body for nearly 30 student-driven innovation organizations operating across disciplines such as robotics, AI, space technology, sustainability, design, and entrepreneurship, and engages 1,000+ active students annually. Its core offering is physical innovation infrastructure: Gruva (a 200-person event and competition venue), Idégarasjen (a fully equipped makerspace with Prusa 3D printers, soldering stations, workbenches, an A0-format printer, and hand/power tools), multiple bookable meeting rooms (capacities 7–40), Scenerommet (a 120-seat flexible venue with PA, lighting, and projector), Podcastrommet (with Rodecaster and production gear), and Fellesrommet (a common area with coffee, kitchen, and ping pong), supplemented by Framkompasset, an interactive matching tool that routes students to relevant member organizations by interest.

The organization operates on a nonprofit, freemium model. All facilities, events, and services are provided free of charge to NTNU students. It does not generate commercial revenue; instead it is funded through corporate partnerships — most notably SpareBank 1 SMN (via the Fremtidsbidraget initiative), Equinor, and DNB — along with NTNU backing and the in-kind support of SFU Engage, a Centre for Excellent Education that helps map the innovation ecosystem. Its go-to-market is community-led: top-of-funnel awareness is built through annual events such as Innovasjonsdagene (a two-day August expo) and the Koble gala, sustained by Instagram, YouTube, and the framntnu.no website, and member organization leaders coordinate internally via Slack.

The leadership and operational team is itself student-based — eight board members (Leder Malin, Nestleder Jonas, plus roles for Arrangement, Verksted, Gruva, and others) rotate annually, with current board year 2026/2027. FRAM is currently planning a relocation in 2027/28 to NTNU's new Økonomi- og innovasjonsbygget (Economy and Innovation Building) in Hesthagen, which will add a dedicated Mediarom for video and content production and substantially upgraded facilities.

Name

FRAM

Legal name

FRAM NTNU

Website

https://framntnu.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FRAM NTNU is a student-run umbrella organization at NTNU in Trondheim that coordinates roughly 30 student innovation organizations and provides free physical innovation infrastructure — including the Gruva event venue and Idégarasjen makerspace — to 1,000+ active students, funded through corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Innovation Hub

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Learning Content Development (eLearning, Labs, Simulations) (BPAEANAD)

Keywords

• Student innovation hub
• University makerspace access
• Student entrepreneurship programs
• Innovation community organizing
• Event venue management

Headquarters

HQ city

Trondheim

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Student Organization Funding: FRAM NTNU operates as a student organization receiving support from NTNU and partner organizations. The organization manages physical spaces and coordinates events without direct revenue generation from services. Financial partners including SpareBank 1 SMN contribute through initiatives like Fremtidsbidraget (future contribution) to support student innovation activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FRAM NTNU is a student-run umbrella organization at NTNU that provides physical innovation infrastructure including the 200-capacity Gruva event venue, the Idégarasjen makerspace equipped with 3D printers and prototyping tools, meeting rooms, and a podcast studio. The organization coordinates approximately 30 student innovation member organizations and runs community events including the annual Innovasjonsdagene expo and Koble gala, all provided free of charge to NTNU students.

Product overview

FRAM NTNU is a physical innovation hub and umbrella organization for student-led innovation and entrepreneurship at NTNU. The core offering consists of physical spaces (Gruva, Scenerommet, Fellesrommet, various meeting rooms, Podcastrommet, Mediarom, and Idégarasjen makerspace) that can be booked for events, workshops, meetings, prototyping, and content production. The organization also runs recurring events including Innovasjonsdagene (annual expo) and Koble (annual gala), and provides Framkompasset as an interactive matching tool for students. FRAM coordinates approximately 30 member organizations and 1000+ active students through its spaces and programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gruva: The heart of FRAM and the largest meeting place for the innovation community at NTNU. Used for workshops, lectures, pitch evenings, competitions, and social gatherings. Capacity of 200 people.
• Idégarasjen
• Koble
• Innovasjonsdagene

Products and services

• Gruva The heart of FRAM and the largest meeting place for the innovation environment at NTNU. Used for workshops, lectures, pitch evenings, competitions, and social gatherings. Capacity for 200 people with over 120 events annually. Free for NTNU students to book.
• Idégarasjen (Student Innovation Workshop) Fully equipped makerspace for building prototypes and bringing ideas to reality. Features 3D printers (Prusa), soldering stations, workbenches, large-format printer (A0), hand tools, and power tools. Provides NTNU students with accessible prototyping and project-building facilities.
• Meeting Rooms and Event Spaces Multiple bookable rooms at FRAM including Store møterom (16 people, most booked room), Lillemøterom (7 people, with large flat screen), Bananrommet (12 people, informal atmosphere), Scenerommet (120 standing/70 seated, with PA system, lighting, projector), Fellesrommet (40 people, open common room), and Podcastrommet (fully equipped with microphones, Rodecaster, headphones for podcast and audio production). Available free of charge to NTNU students.
• Innovasjonsdagene Annual two-day event held in August at Gruva, serving as the most important meeting place for new and current students to explore innovation communities at NTNU. Features organization stands, competitions, free lunch, and networking opportunities. Free admission, drop-in format.
• Koble Gala Annual gala event of the Innovasjonskollektivet for FRAM members, held at Frimurerlogen. Includes show, dinner, speeches, awards, and dancing. Open to member organizations only.
• Framkompasset Interactive tool on the organization directory page that matches students with suitable innovation environments based on their interests (space and rockets, sustainability and energy, AI, design and architecture, entrepreneurship). Helps students discover relevant member organizations within the FRAM network.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SFU Engage (Centre for Excellent Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFU Engage is a Centre for Excellent Education and serves as a facilitator for the innovation environment at NTNU. They help map the ecosystem of student organizations, environments, and opportunities. Engage is described as central to the innovation ecosystem coordination.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Aalto Startup Center: Aalto University's startup incubator program supporting student and researcher founders with workspace, coaching, and investor access. Broader scope than FRAM (includes funding programs and longer-term incubation) but operates in the same Nordic university innovation ecosystem.
• MIT Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship: MIT's central entrepreneurship center providing student founders with programs, mentorship, and events. Comparable as a university-backed umbrella for student innovation at a large technical university, though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Aalto Entrepreneurship Society (Aaltoes): Student-driven entrepreneurship umbrella at Aalto University (Finland) that runs events, manages maker/innovation spaces, and coordinates a large community of student founders. Directly comparable as a Nordic student-led innovation community with similar sponsorship-driven, free-for-students model.
• ETH Student Project House: ETH Zurich's student innovation space offering makerspace equipment, event venues, and meeting rooms to engineering students. Closely comparable physical-infrastructure-driven innovation hub model.
• Chalmers Ventures: Chalmers University's (Sweden) innovation hub supporting student and researcher founders with physical workspace, events, and corporate partner access. Comparable Nordic university-affiliated hub with similar sponsor ecosystem.
• Stanford StartX: Stanford-affiliated student/founder accelerator providing community, programs, and investor access to student innovators. Comparable as a university-affiliated umbrella organization supporting student startup activity.
• KTH Innovation: KTH Royal Institute of Technology's (Sweden) central innovation office providing student-founder support, events, and access to industry partners. Comparable as a Nordic technical university hub serving a similar student-innovator persona.
• DTU Skylab: DTU's (Technical University of Denmark) student innovation hub combining makerspace, event venue, and startup incubation under one roof. Closely comparable physical infrastructure and target audience of technically-oriented engineering students.
• Imperial College Enterprise Lab: Imperial College London's student innovation hub offering programs, events, and physical space for student founders. Comparable as a European technical university innovation hub serving a STEM student base.

Others

• Start NTNU: NTNU's entrepreneurship program partner offering events and exploration support for students interested in startups. Ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor — referenced on FRAM's own website as a complementary pathway.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FramNTNU
• Instagraminstagram.com/framntnu
• Facebookfacebook.com/FramNTNU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fram---studentenes-innovasjonskollektiv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 FRAM