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New ideas - Norway

Updated 10/2012

Legal requirements

Innovation has always been important to economic growth. Innovation is doing something new that creates value. By developing new goods and services, new technology and new solutions, and doing things in new ways, enterprises can increase their added-value. Innovation is the key to competitiveness and sustainable growth for businesses and the country.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry coordinates Norwegian government policy for dealing with innovation in the Norwegian economy.

  • Government innovation policy norsk
  • Report to the Storting no 7 - For an innovative and sustainable Norway norsk

Some relevant Acts and Regulations:

  • Patents Act norsk
  • Employee Inventions Act norsk
  • Designs Act norsk
  • Regulation on preliminary studies norsk

Technology and innovation

Technological innovation means the introduction of a new product or a change to an existing product. You can find out more about technological innovation from the Norwegian Industrial Property Office and the Research Council of Norway.

  • Research Council of Norway norsk
  • Norwegian Industrial Property Office norsk

The Norwegian Industrial Property Office plays a key role in protecting inventions. At an early stage, the offer of a preliminary study by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office could be useful.

  • Norwegian Industrial Property Office - Preliminary studies norsk

Non-technological innovation

Non-technological innovation may involve organisational changes in an enterprise. Innovation Norway runs a number of programmes related to the development of new ideas in different industries by way of various initiatives.

  • Innovation Norway norsk

Alongside innovation, access to R&D is essential for businesses to develop and stay competitive.

Intellectual property must be protected to encourage innovation.

Resources

Enterprises that have an idea they wish to develop into a new product can check whether others have had the same idea before. A novelty review can identify any competitors and what options the enterprise has for protecting the technology.

  • Innovation Norway - IPR novelty review norsk

You can find further information on the following web site:

  • Altinn/Start and run a business norsk

Programmes

Innovation Norway provides products and services designed to help develop districts and boost innovation in industry throughout the country, and has offerings suited to these phases. An overview of the programmes can be obtained from Innovation Norway.

  • Innovation Norway - Programmes norsk

The Skattefunn tax deduction scheme is Norway's largest investment in R&D in industry. The scheme applies to all businesses that are liable for tax in Norway. The measure is administered by the Research Council for Norway in collaboration with Innovation Norway and the Norwegian Tax Administration. Skattefunn projects must be aimed at generating new knowledge, information or experience that may in turn result in new products, services or production methods.

  • Skattefunn norsk

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

  • References

    Legal texts

    • Act of 15.12.1967 No 9: Act relating to patents (Patents Act) norsk
    • Act of 03.03.1961 No 4: Act relating to trade marks (Trade Marks Act) norsk
    • Act of 14.03.2003 No 15: Act relating to the protection of designs (Designs Act) norsk
    • Act of 26.03.1999 No 14: Act relating to tax on assets and income (Tax Act) norsk
    • Act of 17.04.1970 No 21: Act relating to rights to inventions made by employees (Employee Inventions Act) norsk
    • Reg. of 21.11.2000 No 1165: Regulation relating to preliminary studies by the Norwegian Patents Office (Norwegian Industrial Property Office) norsk

    Key documents

    • Altinn - Protecting your rights norsk
    • Altinn - Patents guide pdf [289 KB] norsk

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Further help

The Norwegian Industrial Property Office can help with the novelty review, preliminary studies and knowledge of industrial property rights.

  • Norwegian Industrial Property Office norsk

Innovation Norway offers financing, training, consulting, networking and profiling services.

  • Innovation Norway norsk

The Industrial Development Corporation of Norway (SIVA) is a national player that creates a strong value-creation environment in the districts by establishing and improving the national infrastructure for creativity and innovation.

  • Industrial Development Corporation of Norway (SIVA) norsk