Open Innovation Incubator

Owner: Karin Finnerud

Background

A number of the core member companies in IKT Grenland will colocate at Klosterøya, starting in January 2008. In the renovated old building - renamed "Kunnskapsverkstedet" - there will be an exciting collection of software-based companies.

On the ground floor of this building there is space reserved for a business incubator. There is work in progress to make the incubator an official software and bio-tech-focused incubator. Tor-Arne - what do you mean by official? Also, this is the first mention of bio-tech - can you provide more info? --zak

Goals

The incubator exists to provide Electronic Frontier-focused Norwegian startups with coaching, networking and funding.

The early idea is that the incubator will focus on two kinds of companies:

• those with international ambitions and a globally scalable business model
• those with regional or national ambitions with a focus on providing expert services

Incubator Management

The incubator program will be run by the TEl-Tek Incubator

Cooperation with Entrepreneurship Programs

The incubator will be closely linked the the entrepreneurship program in Norway. This program focuses on motivating and training students aged 16 to 25 to create "born globals". Tor-Arne: What do you by "born globals"? --zak

Standing on the Shoulder of Giants

A key resource in this effort will be the distribution network an partner networks of the largest IKT Grenland members; ie.

• the 24SevenOffice ecosystem
• the eZ ecosystem
• the Imatis ecosystem

This project will be funded by IKT Grenland, Klosterøya, Tel-Tek and others.

The project is owned by Karin Finnerud, Head of Development, Skien Municipality