Sustainability Centre Norway

What Sustainability Centre Norway does

Sustainability Centre Norway (legal name: Foreningen Norsk Bærekraftsenter, org. 935628342) is a voluntary, independent non-profit association headquartered at Kjøpmannsgata 40, Trondheim, Norway, operating with 9 employees. The organization works on social sustainability and holistic community development by connecting local communities with systemic-level solutions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, operating primarily in the Trøndelag region. Its activities are organized into three programmes: Kulturveven, a regional internship programme co-developed with NTNU, municipalities, and cultural institutions that uses arts and culture-based methods for place-based development; BÆRUT, a place-based outdoor learning programme for children and youth developed with HopeSpot and financed by Sparebankstiftelsen; and ETE (Independence through Entrepreneurship), a programme supporting refugees and immigrants in building their own businesses, co-developed with Hope Spot Organisation and piloted in Trondheim and Orkland before regional rollout.

The underlying delivery model is based on methodology development, pilot projects, and professional networks rather than technology products. There is no proprietary technology platform, no API, and no software product; the organization's "core technology" is its arts- and culture-based methodology for community engagement (Kulturveven) and its role coordinating stakeholders across municipalities, academia, business, and voluntary organisations. Distribution is direct through collaborative partnerships rather than commercial channels, with no app and no disclosed pricing.

The business model is that of a membership-based voluntary association (Foreningen) rather than a commercial entity. The organization does not generate revenue from the sale of products or services; funding is sourced through project grants, public support, and membership. Named supporters include Sparebankstiftelsen (foundation financing for BÆRUT) and public-sector partners that co-fund the regional ETE rollout. There is no parent company, no institutional investor, no disclosed funding rounds, no subsidiaries, and no ownership changes documented in the source material. Customer segments served include municipalities, academia, the business sector, voluntary organisations, and (as the primary user group) children and youth.

Name

Sustainability Centre Norway

Legal name

Foreningen Norsk Bærekraftsenter

Website

https://norskbarekraftsenter.no

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Norsk Bærekraftsenter (Sustainability Centre Norway) is a voluntary, independent non-profit association in Trondheim that runs three social sustainability programmes — Kulturveven (internships with NTNU), BÆRUT (outdoor learning for children/youth), and ETE (entrepreneurship for refugees/immigrants) — across the Trøndelag region of Norway.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development and Social Sustainability Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA), Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL)

Keywords

• Social sustainability programs
• Community development services
• Internship programmes
• Entrepreneurship training
• Place-based learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Trondheim

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Sustainability Centre Norway is a voluntary, independent nonprofit association that designs and delivers community-based programmes in social sustainability. Its core offerings are three programmes: Kulturveven (a regional internship programme with NTNU, municipalities, and cultural institutions using arts-based methods), BÆRUT (a place-based outdoor learning programme for children and youth developed with HopeSpot and funded by Sparebankstiftelsen), and ETE / Uavhengighet gjennom entreprenørskap (an entrepreneurship programme for refugees and immigrants co-developed with Hope Spot Organisation). These programmes serve municipalities, students, refugees/immigrants, children and youth, voluntary organizations, and the local business sector in the Trøndelag region.

Product overview

Norsk Bærekraftsenter AS is a voluntary and independent organization (Foreningen) that operates as a single unified organizational entity rather than a technology product company. Its activities are organized into three main programs: Kulturveven (regional internship program), BÆRUT (place-based learning program), and ETE (entrepreneurship program for refugees and immigrants). These programs focus on social sustainability and holistic community development through projects, partnerships, and competence building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kulturveven A regional internship programme developed in collaboration with NTNU, municipalities, and cultural institutions that provides students with practice-based opportunities in local communities working on social sustainability and place-based development through arts- and culture-based methods. It is for university students and local partner communities in the Trøndelag region.
• BÆRUT A place-based outdoor learning programme developed in collaboration with HopeSpot and supported by Sparebankstiftelsen, using outdoor-based activities and exploratory participation in the local neighbourhood to connect nature, culture, and community engagement. It targets children and youth and also functions as a practice arena for interns and volunteers.
• ETE (Uavhengighet gjennom entreprenørskap) An entrepreneurship programme co-developed with Hope Spot Organisation that supports refugees and immigrants in developing their own businesses through practical training, mentoring, and networking. After successful pilots in Trondheim and Orkland, it was rolled out regionally across Trøndelag with public support and is integrated into the Kulturveven internship programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• ETE programme contributed to establishment of concrete businesses and new communities
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NTNU (Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTNU is a key strategic partner in the Kulturveven regional internship programme. The programme is developed in collaboration with NTNU, municipalities, and cultural institutions, providing students with practical experience in local communities working on social sustainability and place-based development. Kulturveven connects higher education with transformative learning and practice.
• HopeSpotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHopeSpot collaborated with Norsk Bærekraftsenter to develop the BÆRUT programme — a place-based outdoor learning programme connecting nature, culture, and community engagement for children and youth. HopeSpot Organisation also co-developed the ETE (Independence through Entrepreneurship) programme supporting refugees and immigrants.
• Hope Spot OrganisationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope Spot Organisation co-developed the ETE (Independence through Entrepreneurship) programme, which supports refugees and immigrants in developing their own businesses. The programme is integrated into the Kulturveven internship programme and has been piloted in Trondheim and Orkland before regional rollout in Trøndelag with public support.
• Trondheim MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrondheim Municipality is a key municipal partner in multiple programmes including the Kulturveven internship programme and the ETE entrepreneurship programme. The municipality serves as both a delivery partner and beneficiary of the centre's community development initiatives.
• Orkland MunicipalityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrkland Municipality participated as a pilot location for the ETE entrepreneurship programme alongside Trondheim. Following successful pilots, the programme was expanded regionally across Trøndelag.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Norsk Klimastiftelse: Norwegian climate and sustainability foundation supporting knowledge-building and community engagement on climate. Comparable as a Norway-based sustainability foundation combining convening, capacity building and public-facing programmes.
• Framtiden i våre hender (Future in Our Hands): Norwegian non-profit working on sustainability and global development with community engagement and policy advocacy. Directly comparable as a Norwegian NGO operating at the intersection of social and environmental sustainability with a membership-based funding model.
• Spire: Norwegian NGO combining sustainability, development and student/youth mobilisation through university chapters. Closely comparable mission and target audience to Norsk Bærekraftsenter's Kulturveven internship work with NTNU.
• Norges Vel: Royal Norwegian Society for Development supporting rural community development and entrepreneurship across Norway. Directly comparable as a Norwegian non-profit focused on community-level development, entrepreneurship support and local capacity building.

Broad incumbents

• Hold Norge Rent (Keep Norway Clean): Established Norwegian non-profit running nationwide sustainability and environmental awareness programmes. Comparable as a larger Norwegian NGO with a community engagement and behaviour-change focus on sustainability, though centred on littering/waste rather than holistic community development.
• Naturvernforbundet (Friends of the Earth Norway): Large established Norwegian environmental NGO with broad sustainability, community and advocacy programmes. Comparable as a broader Norwegian non-profit operating in the sustainability space, but far larger and more environmental in focus.
• Zero: Norwegian climate foundation focused on emissions reductions and climate policy. Comparable as a Norwegian sustainability/environmental foundation with grantmaking, but operating at a larger scale and in a more policy-oriented niche.

Emerging players

• Norsk Form: Norwegian foundation for design and architecture promoting sustainable place-making and community development. Comparable as a Norway-based organisation working at the intersection of culture, place-based development and sustainability, with a related but distinct focus.
• Transition Norway: Norwegian node of the global Transition movement supporting community-led sustainability initiatives. Directly comparable as a Norwegian community-based sustainability movement, but operating as a network rather than a single association with programmes.

Regional players

• Cultura Bank: Norwegian values-based bank focused on culture, sustainability and social enterprises. Adjacent comparable as a Norwegian organisation financing and enabling cultural and sustainability-oriented projects, though operating in financial services rather than direct programme delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/norsk-b%C3%A6rekraftsenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Sustainability Centre Norway