Norwegian innovation in the oil and gas industry will be celebrated in Houston with the marking of a major milestone this year. Norway is marking its 40th anniversary of attending the Offshore Technology Conference with an impressive line-up of 65 technology companies due to feature in the Norwegian Pavilion.
To help mark the event, Norway’s Royal Crown Prince and Royal Crown Princess will be attending the event and officially opening the pavilion. In addition, Innovation Norway will hold its 2nd Annual Technology Night Live during the evening of May 7 during OTC week.
Innovation Norway is a Norwegian government organization focused on promoting Norway’s industrial development. It assists small to medium sized Norwegian enterprises access business opportunities outside Norway, with its primary focus for OTC being business opportunities in the North American oil & gas industry.
Innovation Norway has already helped some 150 Norway-related companies do business in Houston through support during their establishment overseas. On average, it helps about 10 Norwegian companies a year get established in the Gulf of Mexico region and in total about 50 companies are helped each year through its Houston office.
“Our Houston office concentrates on the oil and gas industry throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the offshore maritime service industry in Louisiana,” said Bjørn Tormod Akselsen, Innovation Norway director. “The overall goal is to help reduce the risk when Norwegian companies are establishing themselves in the North American market.”
One such company is Noreq – a small company with big aspirations. Headquartered in Husnes, Norway, it now has offices in Singapore, Denmark, Dubai, Brazil, and since 2010, Houston. The company manufactures lifesaving appliances, cranes, and fenders.
Noreq has had help from organizations like Innovation Norway to enter new markets. “They provide valuable knowledge and resources to enable Noreq to concentrate on marketing our products and grow our presence in foreign markets," said Bernardo Cuellar, Noreq’s sales manager in Houston. Innovation Norway helps firms by providing detailed market analysis as well as business development and establishment assistance. It also runs roadshow programs. These introduce Norwegian oil & gas technology companies with relevant products and services to the Louisiana market.
“Louisiana is a critical logistics and supply hub for Gulf of Mexico activity, both shallow and deep-water, making it a key market for Norwegian companies working with the maintenance, modification, and operations segments,” said Akselsen.
“These roadshows provide companies with critical insight in how to do business in Louisiana as well as expand their network of contacts, and provide access to some of the key players active in the region.”
The Technology Night Live is a networking reception to help small to medium-sized Norwegian oil and gas technology companies develop and expand their network of key contacts in the Houston area.
Its focus will be connecting sponsorship companies with key local contacts with experience and expertise relevant for their innovative technologies. Last year’s event had close to 200 individuals in attendance as well as 15 Norwegian key sponsor companies.
Globally, Innovation Norway is represented in more than 30 countries worldwide and is closely affiliated with the Norwegian embassies and consulates.
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