Norway,

February 2021

A bastion of equality with high levels of healthcare spending, excellent research and universities, a global commitment to improving health outcomes, and a deeply entrenched digital footprint, Norway is full of potential as a life sciences investment destination.

This potential, however, has largely remained untapped until now, as the country has focused on its more established oil & gas and fishing industries. Without true governmental support, the Norwegian life sciences industry has been somewhat neglected, with clinical trials numbers declining in recent years and multinational companies feeling hesitant about the market access situation for their most innovative treatments.

Nevertheless, a wave of cautious optimism now permeates the sector, with policy reform promising solutions to pervasive access issues and greater incentives for the conduct of clinical trials, capitalising on the country’s strong footing in areas like immunotherapy and neuroscience. Innovative start-ups – especially in medtech – are also emerging as examples of translational Norwegian creativity.

This exclusive new report, featuring insights from key stakeholders across the healthcare value chain, highlights Norway’s spectacular advantages as well as the long road the Nordic …

This exclusive new report, featuring insights from key stakeholders across the healthcare value chain, highlights Norway’s spectacular advantages as well as the long road the Nordic nation still has to travel to truly become internationally competitive. Featured topics include Norway’s digital excellence, its role in global health initiatives, healthcare system reform, access and reimbursement challenges, and much more.

Articles

The Long Read / Norway: Unlocking Potential

Equality has long been a deeply held ideal in Norway, where the concept of allemannsretten – the legal right to roam – permeates all aspects of society. Notably, surplus wealth produced by Norway’s sizeable petroleum industry is deposited into the Government Pension Fund Global, today the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, which holds 1.4 percent…

Five Norwegian Medtechs to Watch

Norway, known more for its expertise in oil and gas and marine biology than in health innovation, is home to increasing numbers of innovative medical technology start-ups. Here are five of the most exciting such companies, as selected by Kathrine Myhre, founder and CEO of Oslo-based innovation cluster Norway Health Tech. Epiguard Treatment and…

Norway: Ahead of the Curve on Digitalisation

Many countries have struggled to adapt to the shift to remote working and digital communication brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. However, these tools were already well-utilised in the vast but sparsely populated country of Norway and digital is increasingly being seen as a key component in driving the country’s healthcare industry…

Photocure: Swimming in the “Blue Ocean” of Oncology Drug-Device Combinations

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) firm Photocure is probably Norway’s most significant recent international healthcare success story. CEO Dan Schneider explains how the company was able to action a more effective global commercial strategy and carve out a niche in the relatively uncrowded oncology drug-device combination market. Despite its technology being “the gold standard in the…

The Woman Flying the Flag for Norwegian Pharma

Small in terms of market size and without the historic life sciences footprint of neighbouring Sweden and Denmark, Norway nevertheless has excellent credentials as a pharmaceutical hub, with a top notch universal healthcare system, immaculate patient data registries, and high calibre research – especially in oncology – being carried out throughout the country. In…

Norwegian Neuroscience: Nobel Prizes & Enduring Focus

Norway has long held a strong international position in neuroscience and is home to Professors May-Britt and Edvard Moser, a married couple and the 2014 winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The Mosers, along with their former mentor John O’Keefe, won the award for their work on what has been called the…

Norway: Staking a Claim as a Pharma Research Hub

Norway, more well-known internationally as an innovation hub for oil & gas and marine biology, is attempting to reverse the trend of reducing numbers of clinical trials and cultivate a domestic healthcare research industry. Drawing on the country’s comprehensive health registries, universal healthcare system, links with its Nordic neighbours, and impressive talent pool, stakeholders are…