Ingeniører uten grenser

What Ingeniører uten grenser does

Ingeniører Uten Grenser (IUG), founded in February 2011 and headquartered at MESH Youngstorget in Oslo, is a Norwegian non-profit humanitarian engineering organization affiliated with the global Engineers Without Borders International (EWB-I) network. Operating under Norwegian organization number 996 548 651, IUG recruits, trains, and deploys volunteer engineers to provide pro-bono technical expertise to development NGOs, UN agencies, and humanitarian partners across 12+ low- and middle-income countries including Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Syria, Gaza, Somalia, Ethiopia, Mali, and Nepal. The organization runs a portfolio of programs including #ingeniørdugnad for Gaza (emergency infrastructure), STEM Without Borders (Kenya teacher training), Master med Mening (master's thesis placements), Waste for Warmth (recycled plastic insulation via Polyfloss technology), Safe Drinking Water NW Syria (solar-powered filtration serving 40,000 people), and Social Plastics (Somalia waste-to-value). Core technical capabilities span solar energy systems, hybrid microgrids, water purification, climate-adapted construction, and waste recycling, with differentiated technologies including the licensed Polyfloss hot centrifugal extrusion process.

IUG's revenue model is non-commercial and multi-streamed: (1) three-year corporate partnership agreements with Norwegian engineering firms (NITO as gold partner, Multiconsult, Asplan Viak, Fokus Rådgivning, Tekna) providing both funding and employee volunteers; (2) individual giving via monthly fastgiver subscriptions, one-time donations, and annual memberships (no binding period, calendar-year validity); (3) project-based institutional grants from Innovation Norway (Humanitarian Innovation Programme), Grieg Foundation, Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund, and similar funders; and (4) annual Christmas gift campaigns. The organization is governed by a volunteer board (chaired since 2020 by Karl Ove Ingebrigtsen) and led by CEO/Generalsekretær Marianne Nilsen Sturmair, with approximately a dozen local chapters across Norway including university student chapters. Notable outcomes include 40,000 people served by the Azaz water facility, 500+ families reached by the North Gaza well, 48 freelancers supported in the Gaza Innovation Hub, and 23 Aleppo engineers trained in solar technology.

Name

Ingeniører uten grenser

Legal name

Ingeniører Uten Grenser Norge

Website

https://iug.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ingeniører Uten Grenser is a Norwegian non-profit founded in 2011 that deploys volunteer engineers to deliver pro-bono technical solutions (water, energy, waste, construction) to humanitarian and development partners across 12+ low- and middle-income countries, funded by corporate partnerships, individual donations, and institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Engineering Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Educational Support Services (611710)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK), Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Risk Management (BPADALAK)

Keywords

• Humanitarian engineering services
• Volunteer engineering expertise
• Sustainable infrastructure development
• Clean water solutions
• Renewable energy systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Partnerships: Three-year partnership agreements with engineering and consulting firms (NITO as gold partner, Multiconsult, Asplan Viak, Fokus Rådgivning, Gnist, NGI). Companies provide financial support and employee volunteering opportunities in exchange for CSR alignment and access to humanitarian engineering projects.
2. Individual Donations and Memberships: Monthly recurring donations (fastgiver) and one-time gifts from private individuals. Membership fees fund organizational operations and give members voting rights and volunteer opportunities.
3. Foundation and Government Grants: Project-based funding from Innovation Norway (Humanitarian Innovation Programme), Grieg Foundation (STEM Without Borders), Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund. Grants support specific innovation projects like Waste for Warmth and Social Plastics.
4. Christmas Gift Campaigns: Annual year-end fundraising campaigns where individuals and corporations purchase donations as meaningful gifts. Corporate Christmas gifts channel funds to selected projects like Gaza Energy Initiative and Ziada School.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ingeniører Uten Grenser is a Norwegian non-profit humanitarian engineering organization that mobilizes volunteer engineers to deliver pro-bono technical expertise and infrastructure solutions to humanitarian and development projects in low- and middle-income countries. Its core work covers sustainable infrastructure in clean energy (solar PV, hybrid microgrids), water and sanitation (solar-powered filtration), waste management/recycling (Polyfloss plastic-to-insulation technology), food security (greenhouses, cold storage), and STEM education, delivered through a portfolio of country-specific programs (Gaza, Syria, Somalia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nepal).

Product overview

Ingeniører Uten Grenser (IUG) is a non-profit humanitarian engineering organization that provides technology and engineering expertise to vulnerable communities in low- and middle-income countries. Rather than a unified commercial product, IUG operates a portfolio of humanitarian engineering programs and initiatives including: #ingeniørdugnad for Gaza (emergency infrastructure support), STEM Without Borders (teacher training in Kenya), Master med Mening (student field work program), Gaza Energy Initiative (power infrastructure design), Gaza Innovation Hub (freelancer workspace), Waste for Warmth (recycled plastic insulation), Safe Drinking Water in Northwest Syria, Social Plastics in Somalia, and infrastructure projects in Ghana and Tanzania. These programs deliver solar energy systems, water and sanitation solutions, greenhouses, community centers, and cold storage facilities through volunteer engineers and academic partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Master med Mening: A program providing master's students opportunities to use their expertise to solve concrete problems in low- and middle-income countries, with IUG mentors supporting their fieldwork.
• #ingeniørdugnad for Gaza
• Waste for Warmth
• HiP NW (Humanitarian Innovation Programme Northwest Syria)
• STEM Without Borders

Products and services

• Master med Mening Academic program that pairs university students (often in engineering) with IUG mentors to conduct master's thesis fieldwork on real development problems in low- and middle-income countries. Targets engineering students seeking international practical experience.
• STEM Without Borders Teacher training program in partnership with Forskerfabrikken that strengthens STEM education for youth in developing countries through school-based teacher training, piloted in Kenya with expansion to 5 schools in 2024.
• #ingeniørdugnad for Gaza Humanitarian engineering initiative providing solar-powered water systems, electricity for refugee tents, medical cooling, and innovation hubs for displaced people in Gaza.
• Gaza Energy Initiative Collaboration with Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO) to design hybrid solar microgrids and develop training programs for local engineers to restore power infrastructure in Gaza.
• Gaza Innovation Hub Fully equipped co-working facility in Deir al-Balah providing solar power, internet, computers and cameras enabling freelancers to resume work and generate income.
• Waste for Warmth Humanitarian innovation project that locally recycles plastic waste into insulation products using Polyfloss technology for shelters in Syria and Nepal.
• Safe Drinking Water in Northwest Syria (HiP NW) Humanitarian innovation project developing local production of solar-powered water filtration systems, serving 40,000 people in Azaz district of Northwest Syria.
• Social Plastics - Somalia Project in Hargeisa, Somalia developing sustainable business models for plastic recycling to create green jobs for vulnerable populations.
• Trax Ghana Project Multi-year collaboration providing engineering support for food security and girls' education in Northern Ghana, including greenhouse, Youth Empowerment Centre, solar installation, and cold storage facilities.
• Solar Installation Projects Engineering assignments installing solar photovoltaic systems for schools, farms, and communities in developing regions, including a 32-panel PV installation at Trax Ghana.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000 people provided with safe drinking water in Northwest Syria
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NITOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2026NITO (Norwegian Engineers and Technology Association) is a gold partner (gullpartner) providing ongoing financial support. Contributed 100,000 NOK to #ingeniørdugnad for Gaza. NITO has 36,000+ engineer members who can volunteer for IUG projects.
• Asplan ViakcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2025Three-year partnership agreement signed March 2025. Asplan Viak provides financial support and employee volunteering opportunities. The firm has multiple employees already active in IUG projects. Collaboration aims to support projects providing clean water, energy, and infrastructure in developing countries.
• MulticonsultcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner contributing both funding and employee volunteers. Donated 100,000 NOK to Gaza initiative. Staff members actively participate in IUG volunteer teams for assignments.
• Trax GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership spanning over a decade with NGO in Northern Ghana. IUG provides engineering support for food security and girls' education projects including greenhouse, Youth Empowerment Centre, cold storage, and solar installations.
• Field Ready TurkiyecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering network partner specializing in infrastructure repair and humanitarian technology solutions in conflict zones. Collaboration on Waste for Warmth, Safe Drinking Water NW Syria, and Gaza engineering initiatives. Field Ready has local presence and networks in Turkey, Syria, and Gaza.
• Forskerfabrikken (The Scientist Factory)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner20 years of teaching expertise in STEM education. Developed teacher training methodology for STEM Without Borders project in Kenya. IUG engineers serve as teachers in the program, combining Forskerfabrikkens pedagogy with practical engineering knowledge.
• World Vision SomaliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Social Plastics project for plastic waste management and green job creation in Hargeisa, Northern Somalia. Project involves local communities and private sector in behavior change and waste management.
• SEEDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Gaza Innovation Hub, providing digital solutions for freelancers and supporting professional development. SEED helps connect young Gaza freelancers with international markets.
• Kirkens NødhjelpmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian Church Aid partnership on plastic waste mapping in Ethiopian refugee camps. IUG volunteer engineers conducted fieldwork and provided recommendations that informed Kirkens Nødhjelps Waste for Value project.
• The Polyfloss FactorymajorTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for Waste for Warmth project. Provided Polyfloss machine and expertise for converting plastic waste into insulation materials. IPR agreement established for the technology.
• GEDCO (Gaza Electricity Distribution Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGaza's sole electricity company. IUG providing technical support for hybrid solar microgrid design and developing training programs for GEDCO engineers to enable independent installation and maintenance.
• Tanzania ExplorerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal tour operator that facilitated partner and donor trip to Tanzania, organizing field visits, community meetings, and logistics for program combining site visits with knowledge sharing.
• Fokus RådgivningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting firm that renewed partnership for three new years in 2026, providing continued support to IUG's work.
• Basecamp Foundation KenyamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenyan foundation establishing and funding Mara Girls Leadership School. Partner in STEM Without Borders, providing access to schools for teacher training programs.
• Arava Institute for Environmental StudiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the Jumpstarting Hope in Gaza coalition. Israeli-Palestinian partnership coordinating organizations for reconstruction of water and energy infrastructure in Gaza.
• World Food ProgrammemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PREW (Pyrolysis/Gasification Reducing Emissions from Waste) innovation project, focusing on reducing harmful emissions from waste burning in rural areas while utilizing generated heat.
• Strømme FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PREW innovation project, contributing to development of pyrolysis/gasification solutions for humanitarian sector.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RedR UK: International humanitarian charity deploying skilled professionals (including engineers) into disaster relief and development operations. Closely comparable volunteer-professional-for-humanitarian-work model and training/curriculum focus.
• Engineers Without Borders UK: UK chapter of the EWB movement placing volunteer engineers with humanitarian and development organizations. Directly comparable operating model and beneficiary focus.
• Engineers Without Borders Germany (Ingenieure ohne Grenzen): German sister organization within the Engineers Without Borders International network, operating the same volunteer-engineer-for-humanitarian-projects model across developing countries. Directly comparable in structure, mission, and program portfolio (water, energy, education).
• Engineers Without Borders USA: Largest national EWB chapter, deploying volunteer engineers on community-driven infrastructure projects in low-income countries. Shares the volunteer-engineer model and humanitarian-development focus, making it a natural structural and operational peer to IUG Norway.
• Field Ready: Humanitarian technology nonprofit specializing in infrastructure repair and appropriate technology in conflict zones. IUG's direct implementation partner in Syria and Gaza via Field Ready Turkiye, with highly overlapping technology and mission focus.
• Engineers Without Borders Sweden (Ingenjörer utan gränser): Swedish counterpart with virtually identical mission, organizational structure, and Nordic funding context. Operates volunteer-driven engineering projects in developing countries, providing the closest geographic and cultural peer benchmark.

Emerging players

• Engineering for Change: Global community platform connecting engineers with humanitarian and development projects through an online directory and resources. Comparable mission of mobilizing engineering talent for social impact, though primarily digital rather than field-delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity Norway: Larger Norwegian humanitarian organization mobilizing skilled volunteers for housing and infrastructure in vulnerable communities. Overlapping Norwegian volunteer-base, donor ecosystem, and engineering-for-impact mission.
• Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC): Large Norwegian humanitarian organization operating across displacement contexts that overlap with IUG's Gaza and Syria programs. While much broader in scope (shelter, education, legal aid), NRC shares IUG's Norwegian base, donor pool, and target geographies.

Others

• Innovation Norway: Norwegian government's innovation and development finance agency that funds IUG's humanitarian innovation projects (HiP NW Syria, Social Plastics). Acts as enabler/funder rather than competitor but is a key institutional counterpart shaping IUG's growth trajectory.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/iugnorge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iugnorge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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