Technology isn’t only about start-ups and IPOs. The future of technology in Norway could hinge on its relationship with oil and gas companies. As Ben Rooney of The Wall Street Journal writes:
“In much the same way as Israeli startups have a relationship with the military sector, so too can Norwegian ones work with oil and gas,” Mr. Grønsund said. Tech companies “can deliver services to the oil-and-gas industry and that will create spillovers that will give back to the tech scene in general. Startups can use it as a springboard.”
Hallstein Bjercke, Oslo’s vice mayor, said there are moves to diversify away from natural resources. “Even though oil is peak right now—the income has never been bigger—I would say that the focus is shifting in Norway,” he said. “Tech is becoming more and more important. We see knowledge-based industry as the future. You can’t live on resources forever.”