What Oslo Science City does

Oslo Science City is Norway's first innovation district, a non-profit membership organization founded in 2020 and headquartered at Gaustadalléen 21 in Oslo. It convenes roughly 8,000 researchers, 40,000 students, and 300 startup and growth companies across four thematic gravitational fields: Health and Life Sciences, Climate/Energy/Environment, Digitalization and Computational Sciences, and Democracy/Inclusion. More than two-thirds of all Norwegian medical research is conducted by member institutions, and the district co-locates the University of Oslo, Oslo University Hospital (Nordic region's largest, with 1.2 million annual patient treatments), SINTEF, NGI, BI business school, and a network of incubators (Aleap, StartupLab, Sharelab) and technology transfer offices (Inven2, SINTEF TTO).

Its core offerings are the Oslo Science City Arena conference series (cross-sector convening on societal challenges), a Strategic Partner Program launched in 2024 with eight global pharmaceutical and healthcare companies (Novartis, GE HealthCare, GSK, Novo Nordisk, Thermo Fisher Scientific, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Roche), and an action-oriented Health Data Roundtable co-run with HelseOmsorg21-rådet. The district also brokers access to innovation funding such as the SmartOslo municipal grant scheme (up to 500,000 NOK per project).

The business model is membership-based rather than commercial: revenues are not disclosed and the organization operates with a 12-person core team, supported by anchor institutions on its board (UiO chair, plus Ferd AS, SINTEF, Oslo University Hospital, Helse Sør-Øst, Allstad, SiO, and Oslo kommune). Physical infrastructure expansion is the main capital-intensive activity, including the 40,000 m² Oslo Science Hub at Campus Radiumhospitalet (50% owned by Ferd AS from June 2026) and a planned 100,000 m² Life Science Building, alongside Campus Ullevål (opened 2024) for climate, energy, and environment research. Christine Wergeland Sørbye serves as Managing Director.

Name

Oslo Science City

Legal name

Oslo Science City

Website

https://oslosciencecity.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oslo Science City is Norway's first innovation district, a non-profit membership organization convening 8,000 researchers, 40,000 students, and 300 startups across health/life sciences, climate, digitalization, and democracy themes. It operates the Arena conference series, a Strategic Partner Program with eight global pharma companies, and physical research hubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation District Services

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Product & Innovation Summits (Roadmap, Launch Readiness, Innovation Days) (THAHAMAG), Health & Biomedical Research Universities (Academic Medical Center–Affiliated) (EDAHABAC), Healthcare Facility Construction (Hospitals, Clinics, Labs) (IMAFACAD)

Keywords

• Innovation district
• Research collaboration platform
• Health and life sciences
• Startup incubation services
• Urban knowledge development

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Innovation Grant Programs: Oslo Science City facilitates access to innovation funding programs such as SmartOslo, a scheme by Oslo municipality offering up to 500,000 kroner for projects developing products and services addressing urban challenges.
2. Strategic Partner Program Membership: Annual strategic partnership program where companies like Novartis, GE HealthCare, GSK, Novo Nordisk, Thermo Fisher Scientific, AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Roche collaborate with Oslo Science City on life science initiatives.
3. Industry Partnership Collaboration: Collaboration with established industry through industrial partnerships that engage established businesses in the innovation district's development work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Oslo Science City operates Norway's first innovation district, providing a collaborative platform and physical infrastructure that connects research institutions, universities, hospitals, startups, established businesses, and public sector actors across four thematic gravitational fields. Its core deliverables include the Oslo Science City Arena conference platform, the Strategic Partner Program engaging eight global pharmaceutical companies, district membership services, and physical innovation hubs such as the Oslo Science Hub at Campus Radiumhospitalet.

Product overview

Oslo Science City is Norway's first innovation district - a platform that facilitates collaboration between researchers, students, startup environments, businesses, and public actors to develop a vibrant urban area where people meet to solve future challenges and create new value. The organization operates through two main offerings: Oslo Science City Arena (a conference/concept platform for cross-sector collaboration on societal challenges) and a Strategic Partner Program (facilitating partnerships between leading research environments, students, businesses, and public sector). The district encompasses four thematic gravitational fields: Health and Life Sciences, Climate/Energy/Environment, Digitalization and Computational Sciences, and Democracy and Inclusion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Oslo Science City Arena: Conference concept developed as a meeting place to highlight particularly important societal challenges where broad collaboration across disciplines and sectors is necessary to find the best solutions.

Products and services

• Oslo Science City Arena

Quantifiable outcome

• Two-thirds of all medical research in Norway conducted by members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NovartiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Norway's largest pharmaceutical companies and strategic partner in Oslo Science City. Focuses on creating more sustainable healthcare services through predictable financing systems and innovative solutions to get innovative medicines to patients faster.
• GE HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in Oslo Science City's life science initiatives. Participated in Norway Life Science 2025 conference, demonstrating value creation in health industry and identifying synergies and gaps that need to be addressed for the initiative to succeed.
• GSKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner focused on real improvements in health data usage by 2026. Participating in Oslo Science City Arena conferences and life science collaboration initiatives.
• Novo NordiskcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner committed to developing Norwegian health industry. Advocating for a national life science strategy similar to Denmark's updated strategy from previous year.
• Thermo Fisher ScientificcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner with capacity to collaborate with both government and small companies. Norway operations can function as a bridge builder when opportunities arise. Aims to help Nordic region develop as next 'Bay Area' in life sciences.
• AstraZenecacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner using Oslo Science City conferences as platform for building relationships and collaboration projects. Views the ecosystem as meeting place for all important health ecosystem players in Norway.
• BayercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of few international actors that both researches, develops, and produces in Norway. Contributing to industry development discussion both as industrial initiative for Norway and for strengthening their own position in life sciences.
• RochecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner focused on public-private partnerships as key to solving complex challenges and creating better health outcomes. Views Norway's health data as unique opportunity that requires collaborative solutions.
• HelseOmsorg21-rådet (HO21)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished action-oriented collaboration platform with Oslo Science City to address bottlenecks in health data utilization. Third strategic roundtable held May 2026 with key decision-makers from healthcare, research, and industry sectors.
• Nordic Hospital Alliance (NUHA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordic hospital alliance mentioned as example of collaborative initiatives discussed at health data roundtable to ensure innovative medical tools can be quickly implemented in healthcare services.
• Copenhagen EconomicsminorOthersPrepared report 'Developing a Thriving Innovation and Venture Capital Ecosystem in Oslo' analyzing capital gaps in Norwegian ecosystem and presenting roadmap for strengthening risk capital access.
• A-LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm that conducted feasibility study for Oslo Science City in 2020, envisioning how to build a world-leading innovation district.
• BIG - Bjarke Ingels GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm that conducted feasibility study for Oslo Science City in 2020, envisioning how to build a world-leading innovation district.
• CBREminorOthersInternational consultancy that prepared prestudy report with recommendations for property and function development in Oslo Science City to become a successful innovation district.
• University of Oslo (UiO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorway's leading university with 8,000 researchers and 40,000 students. Home to Faculty of Medicine with 1,500 academic staff and 1,300 PhD students. Key anchor institution in the innovation district.
• Oslo University Hospital (OUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordic region's largest hospital with 24,000 employees and 1.2 million patient treatments annually. World-leading expertise in multiple medical fields and key research partner in health and life sciences.
• SINTEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorway's largest independent research institute. Strongly represented in Oslo Science City with focus on applied research connecting scientific communities to business and public sector.
• NGI (Norges Geotekniske Institutt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian Geotechnical Institute with over 50 researchers focusing on digitalization. Plans to be physically present at new Campus Ullevål for climate, energy, and environment research.
• Helse Sør-ØstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional health authority hosting health data roundtable discussions. Managing director Terje Rootwelt participates in Oslo Science City board and collaborative initiatives.
• Forskningsparken i OslocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOslo Science Park housing incubators, startups, and research organizations. Hosts Sharelab shared laboratory facility for biology and life sciences companies.
• Oslo Cancer ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCancer research cluster with international leadership in commercialization of cancer research with special focus on immunotherapy. Strong connection to Radforsk for successful commercialization.
• Handelshøyskolen BIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Europe's largest business schools located in Nydalen. Contributes business education and research to the innovation district ecosystem.
• Studentsamskipnaden SiOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent welfare organization providing services to students in Oslo. CEO participates in Oslo Science City board representing student interests.
• AllstadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Norway's largest landowner companies. CEO Cecilie Martinsen participates in Oslo Science City board. Managing property development, land management, and value creation for community.
• Oslo kommunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Oslo through Byrådsavdeling for kultur og næring. Key public sector partner providing SmartOslo innovation grants and implementing campus strategy for knowledge capital development.
• AleapminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIncubator in Oslo Science Park providing favorable environment for medtech, pharma, and diagnostics enterprises.
• StartupLabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology incubator in Oslo Science City supporting startups including Kahoot!, Ardoq, and Spacemaker. Home to Data Science Lab initiative.
• SINTEF TTOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology Transfer Office specifically targeting health and life sciences. Contributes to commercialization of research from SINTEF and partner institutions.
• Inven2minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology Transfer Office managing commercialization of research from University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• JLABS (Johnson & Johnson Innovation): Johnson & Johnson's global network of life-sciences incubators providing lab space, mentorship, and corporate partnership. Comparable as a health/life-sciences-focused open-innovation platform that connects startups with global pharma R&D resources at scale.

Direct peers

• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Global innovation district operator providing co-working, lab, and venture-connection infrastructure around leading research universities (MIT, Cambridge, Boston). Closely comparable as a non-profit-for-profit hybrid running innovation campuses that fuse research, startups, and corporate partners.
• Medicon Village: Life-science innovation park in Lund, Sweden, on the former AstraZeneca campus, hosting research companies, startups, and clinical actors. Comparable as a Nordic life-sciences-focused innovation hub that combines research infrastructure, member companies, and healthcare system partners.
• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation district and non-profit that commercializes research from the University of Toronto and affiliated hospitals. Directly comparable as an urban innovation district connecting a top research university, hospital network, startups, corporates, and government under a single member-driven platform.
• Amsterdam Science Park: Innovation district in Amsterdam co-locating University of Amsterdam, VU Amsterdam, Nikhef, and ~150 companies in AI, life sciences, and sustainability. Comparable as a European university-anchored innovation district with a multi-thematic focus and corporate-membership model.
• Barcelona Science Park (PCB): University of Barcelona's science park hosting research institutes, biotech companies, and university labs. Comparable as a research-intensive, public-private member-based science park in Europe with strong life-sciences focus and corporate partnerships.
• Geneva BioVillage / Campus Biotech: Swiss life-sciences innovation hub co-locating EPFL, University of Geneva, Wyss Center, and industry partners in biotech and digital health. Comparable as a European ecosystem where research institutions, hospitals, and global industry converge on life sciences and digital health.
• Mission Bay (UCSF) Innovation District: San Francisco life-sciences innovation district anchored by UCSF with major pharma expansions (e.g., Pfizer, Bayer) and biotech startups. Comparable as a research-hospital-anchored life sciences district that attracts global pharma for strategic real estate and partnerships.
• Research Triangle Park (RTP): Large research park in North Carolina anchoring Duke, UNC, NC State, and global pharma/tech. Comparable as a geographically concentrated innovation district where research universities, hospitals, and global companies collaborate on commercialization at scale.

Regional players

• Kista Science City: Stockholm's innovation district anchored by KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Ericsson, focused on ICT, mobility, and smart-city innovation. Comparable as a Nordic innovation district using physical clustering, university partnerships, and corporate alliances to drive commercialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oslosciencecity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzJjB1cS6lBvV5xNKJ6Yv5g
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oslo-science-city
• Facebookfacebook.com/oslosciencecity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Oslo Science City