www.norway.info

“Norway – the official site” provides extensive

background information on Norway, as well as news and

details of Norwegian-related events abroad. The large

number of articles on politics, travel, culture, business,

education, research and history are presented by the

Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its partners.

“Norway – the official site” has been established in 90

countries and in 18 languages.

Innovation Norway promotes nationwide industrial

development profitable to both the business economy

and Norway’s national economy, and helps realize the

potential of different districts and regions by contributing

to innovation, internationalization and promotion.

The company has approximately 700 employees.

Headquartered in Oslo, Innovation Norway has offices in

over 30 countries worldwide, along with all of the counties

across Norway.

English-language information about Innovation Norway is

available at www.innovationnorway.no/english.

At www.nortrade.com you will find up-to-date information on

more than 4,000 Norwegian manufacturers and exporters within

35 different industries. There you will find a search tool which

allows you to perform searches for companies, products or

services in the Norwegian Export Directory.

The Official Norwegian Trade Portal

find new business partners in norway

Produced in cooperation with:

live & workin bergen

annual 51 • 2008/2009

Work & Grow

Vol. 2008 No. 7 ISSN 0029-3628Published August 2008 by Findexa Forlag ASin cooperation with Innovation Norway, the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Gjerdrums vei 19, NO-0484 Oslo, NorwayTel: +47 21 50 80 00Fax: +47 21 50 80 01E-mail: kundeservice@findexaforlag.noWebsite: www.findexaforlag.no

facts:

The NORWAY EXPORTS series provides timely, in-depth information on a selection of Norwegian companies, products and services in over 15 industrial sectors.

NORWAY EXPORTS is distributed free of charge through the Innovation Norway offices and Norwegian foreign service missions (see inside back cover), selected trade publications and at major conferences and trade fairs around the world.

For participation in or more information about NORWAY EXPORTS, please contact Findexa Forlag AS, tel: +47 21 50 80 00 or send an enquiry to kundeservice@findexaforlag.no

All NORWAY EXPORTS publications can be downloaded at www.nortrade.com

The graphic design of this publication, including the font “Aeroportal”, is used with the permission of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is not to be used without the Ministry’s prior consent.

Copyright © 2008 Findexa Forlag ASNORWAY EXPORTS is printed on chlorine-free paper.

Cover photo: © Espen Lodden

Editor-in-Chief David John Smith

Project ManagerGuro Trønnes Risto

Production ManagerFrode Gulestøl

Copy Editor Robert Moses

Contributing Journalists Nancy Bazilchuk, Lasse Bergesen, David John Smith

CoordinatorMarita Harnes

Profile Reservation Guro Trønnes Risto, Bård Sørby Eriksen, Linda Pettersen

Layout Bjørnulf Jensen Design Blanke Ark

Printing 07 Gruppen AS

Distribution

Norway Exports – Live & Work in Bergen is distributed through the following channels:• InnovationNorway’sofficesandNorwegianembassiesandconsulatesabroad• TheNorwegianMinistryofForeignAffairs’officesabroad• TheNorwegianMinistryofTradeandIndustry• TheResearchCouncilofNorway’scontactsandnetworks• TheAssociationofNorwegianStudentsAbroad’s(ANSA)contactsandnetworks• TheConfederationofNorwegianEnterprise’s(NHO)contactsandnetwork• NorwegianChambersofCommerceworldwide• OfficialstatedelegationsinNorwayandabroad

Recipients of Norway Exports – Live & Work in Bergen will include:• RelevantindustrycontactsinboththepublicandprivatesectorsinNorwayandabroad• Relevantdepartments,politicians,andcountyandtownshipofficesinNorway• Attendeesofinternationalevents,meetingsandtradeshowswhereInnovationNorwayor Norwegian embassies are represented

Norway in BriefSize: 385,155 sq. km(including the islands of Svalbard and Jan Mayen)

Population 4.7 million

Main Cities Population (incl. suburbs)Oslo 811,688Bergen 213,585Stavanger/Sandnes 173,132Trondheim 147,139

GDP 2006 USD $261.7 billion

Exchange Rate:NOK/USD 6.42 (average 2006)NOK/EUR 8.05 (average 2006)

Exports and Imports 2006 NOK bill. USD bill. Amount of GDPTotal Exports 1,002 156 46.6%Total Imports 610 95 28.3%

Main Export CommoditiesOil & gas, metals, machinery, chemical products, fish & fish products, pulp & paper and ferro alloys

Main Import Commodities Transport equipment, machinery, chemicals, textiles and metal products

mexicoMexico D.F. – EmbassyAvenida Virreyes 1460; Col Lomas Virreyes, 11000 Mexico D.F.Tel: +52 55 5540220-21, Fax: +52 55 52023019E-mail: emb.mexico@mfa.no

moroccoRabat – Embassy9, rue de Khenifra, RabatTel: +212 3 7764084-6, Fax: +212 3 7764088E-mail: emb.rabat@mfa.no

mozambiqueMaputo – EmbassyAve. Julius Nyerere 1162, MaputoTel: + 258 21 480 100/+ 258 21 485 072 to 75Fax: +258 21 480 107/+ 258 21 485 076E-mail: emb.maputo@mfa.no

nepalKatmandu – EmbassySurya Court, Pulchowk, LalitpurTel: +977 1 5545307-8, Fax: +977 1 5545226E-mail: emb.kathmandu@mfa.no

the netherlandsThe Hague – Embassy/Innovation NorwayLange Vijverberg 11, NL-2513 AC The HagueTel: +31 70 311 7611, Fax: +31 70 365 9630IN, Tel: +31 70 346 7348; Fax: +31 70 360 7428E-mail: emb.hague@mfa.noE-mail: holland@invanor.no

nicaraguaManagua – EmbassyPlaza España, 100 mtr. al Oeste, ManaguaTel: +505 2 665197-9, Fax: +505 2 663303E-mail: emb.managua@mfa.no

nigeriaAbuja – EmbassyPlot 1529, T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro, AbujaTel: +234 9 3149127, Tel. satellite: +882 165 420 7489/+882 165 420 7515, Fax: +234 9 3149309E-mail: emb.abuja@mfa.no

pakistanIslamabad – EmbassyH 25, Str. 19, F 6/2, IslamabadTel: +92 51 227 9720-23, Fax: +92 51 227 9729E-mail: emb.islamabad@mfa.no

palestinian territoryAl Ram – Representative Office to the Palestinian authorities (West Bank/Gaza)World Bank Building (c/o Rosary Sisters Convent)Dahiat Al-Bareed, Al Ram, West BankTel: +972 2 234 5050, Fax: +972 2 234 5079E-mail: rep.office.alram@mfa.no

philippinesManila – EmbassyPetron Mega Plaza Bldg., 21st floor358 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, Metro ManilaTel: +63 2 886 3245-49, Fax: +63 2 886 3384E-mail: emb.manila@mfa.no

polandWarsaw – Embassyul. Fr. Chopina 2A, PL-00-559 WarsawTel: + 48 22 696 4030, Fax: +48 22 628 0938E-mail: emb.warsaw@mfa.no

Warsaw – Innovation Norwayc/o Royal Norwegian EmbassyWarta Tower, ul. Chmielna 85/87PL-00-805 Warsaw Tel: +48 22 581 0 581, Fax: +48 22 581 0 981 E-mail: warsaw@invanor.no

portugalLisbon – Embassy/Innovation NorwayAvenida D. Vasco da Gama 1, P-1400-127 LisbonTel: +3512 1301 5344, Fax: +3512 1301 6158E-mail: emb.lisbon@mfa.no E-mail: lisbon.trade@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/portugal

romaniaBucharest – EmbassyStrada Dumbrava Rosie 4; 020463 BucharestTel: +40 21 210 0274 / 76 / 77, Fax: +40 21 210 0275E-mail: emb.bucharest@mfa.no

russiaMoscow – Embassy/Innovation NorwayUlitsa Povarskaya 7, RUS-131940 MoscowTel: +74 95 933 1410, Fax: +74 95 933 14 11/12E-mail: emb.moscow@mfa.no Website: www.invanor.no/moskva

Murmansk – Consulate GeneralUlitsa Sofji Perovskoj 5, RUS-183038 MurmanskTel: +7 815 2 400 600Fax: +7 815 2 457 451/+7 815 2 456 871E-mail: cons.gen.murmansk@mfa.no

St. Petersburg – Consulate General/Innovation NorwayNevsky Prospekt 25, RUS-191186 St. PetersburgTel: + 7 812 336 64 20, Fax: + 7 812 336 64 21E-mail: cons.gen.stpetersburg@mfa.no

St.Petersburg – Innovation NorwayKaluzhskij per.3, RUS-193015 St. Petersburg Tel: +7812 326 9037, Fax: +7812 326 9038 E-mail: st.petersburg@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/stpetersburg

saudi arabiaRiyadh – EmbassyDiplomatic Quarter, RiyadhTel: +966 1 488 1904, Fax: +966 1 488 0854E-mail: emb.riyadh@mfa.no

serbia and montenegroBeograd – EmbassyUzicka 43, YU-11040 BeogradTel: +381 11 367 0404-05, Fax: +381 11 369 0158E-mail: emb.belgrade@mfa.no

singaporeSingapore – Embassy/Innovation Norway16 Raffles Quay; No 44-01 Hong Leong Bldg.Singapore 048581Tel: +65 6220 7122, Fax: +65 6220 2191E-mail: emb.singapore@mfa.no

slovakiaBratislava – EmbassyPalisády 29, 811 06 BratislavaTel: +421 2 59 10 01 00, Fax: +421 2 59 10 01 15E-mail: emb.bratislava@mfa.no

sloveniaLjubljana - EmbassyAdjovscina 4/8, 1000 LjubljanaTel: +386 1 300 2140, Fax: +386 1 300 2150E-mail: emb.ljubljana@mfa.no

south africaJohannesburg – Innovation Norway14th Floor, Sandton City Office TowerPO Box 785436, Sandton 2146Tel: +2711784 8150, Fax: +2711784 8153E-mail: johannesburg@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/johannesburg

Pretoria – Embassy1 Parioli Building A2, 1166 Park Street, Hatfield 0083Tel: +27 12 342 6100, Fax: +27 12 342 6099E-mail: emb.pretoria@mfa.no

south koreaSeoul – Embassy/Innovation Norway258-8 Itaewon-Dong, Yongsan-Ku, Seoul 140-200Tel: + 82 2 795 6850, Fax: +82 2 798 6072E-mail: emb.seoul@mfa.no Website: www.invanor.no/seoul

spainMadrid – EmbassyEdificio “La Piramide”, Paseo de la Castellana 31, 9 piso, 28046 MadridTel: +34 91 310 3116, Fax: +34 91 310 4326/319 0969E-mail: emb.madrid@mfa.no

Madrid – Innovation NorwayReal Embajada de NoruegaPaseo de la Castellana, 31-planta baja, 28046 MadridTel: +34 91 344 09 87, Fax: +34 91 344 09 47E-mail: madrid.trade@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/spain

sri lankaColombo – Embassy34 Ward Place, Colombo 7Tel: +94 11 2469 611-12, 2469 609, Fax: +94 11 2695 009E-mail: emb.colombo@mfa.no

sudanKhartoum – EmbassyHouse no. 63, Street 49, Khartoum IITel: +249 183 578336, 578343, 578345, 576788,Fax: +249 183 577180E-mail: emb.khartoum@mfa.no

swedenStockholm – EmbassySkarpögatan 4, S-115 27 StockholmTel: +46 8 665 6340, Fax: +46 8 782 9899E-mail: emb.stockholm@mfa.no

Stockholm – Innovation NorwaySveavägen 64, 5 tr, SE-103 67 Stockholm Tel: +46 8 791 83 00, Fax: +46 8 24 98 00E-mail: stockholm@invanor.no

switzerlandBern – Embassy Bubenbergplatz 10, CH-3011 BernTel: +41 31 310 5555, Fax: +41 31 310 5550E-mail: emb.bern@mfa.no

syriaDamascus – EmbassyShaheen Bldg., 1st floor, Ahmad Shawki Street, Jahez Garden, Malki, DamascusTel: +963 11 611 5053 / +963 11 611 5185Fax: +963 11 613 1159E-mail: emb.damascus@mfa.no

tanzaniaDar es Salaam – Embassy160; Mirambo Street, Dar es SalaamTel: +255 22 211 3366, Fax: +255 22 211 6564E-mail: emb.daressalaam@mfa.no

thailandBangkok – Embassy/Innovation NorwayUBC II Building, 18th floor, 591 Sukhumvit Road, Soi 33, Bangkok 10110Tel: +66 2 302 6415, Fax: +66 2 262 0218E-mail: emb.bangkok@mfa.no Website: www.invanor.no/bangkok

turkeyAnkara – EmbassyKirkpinar Sokak No. 18; 06540 Cankaya, AnkaraTel: +90 312 405 8010, Fax: +90 312 443 0544E-mail: emb.ankara@mfa.no

Istanbul – Innovation NorwayAytar Cad., Aydin Sokak, Aydin is MerkeziA Blok No: 2, D:7,1 Levent, TR-80620Tel: +90 212 2844 362 / 63 / 65 Fax: +90 212 2844 364 E-mail: istanbul@innovationnorway.no

ugandaKampala – Embassy8 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, KampalaTel: +256 41 343621, Fax: +256 41 343936E-mail: emb.kampala@mfa.no

ukraineKiev – EmbassyVul. Striletska 15, 252034 KievTel: +380 44 590 04 70, Fax: +380 44 234 0655E-mail: emb.kiev@mfa.no

united arab emiratesAbu Dhabi – EmbassyHamdan Street, Al Masoud Tower; 10th floor, Abu DhabiTel: + 971 2 621 1221, Fax: +971 2 621 3313E-mail: emb.abudhabi@mfa.no

united kingdomEdinburgh – Consulate General86 George Street, GB-Edinburgh EH2 3BUTel: +44 131 226 5701, Fax: +44 131 220 4976E-mail: cons.gen.edinburgh@mfa.no

London – Embassy25 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QDTel: +44 20 7591 5500, Fax: +44 20 7245 6993E-mail: emb.london@mfa.no

London – Innovation NorwayTrade and Technology OfficeCharles House 5 Lower Regent Street, SW1Y 4LRTel: +44 207 389 8800, Fax: +44 207 9730 189 E-mail: london@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/london

usaBoston – Innovation Norway133 Federal Street, Suite 901, Boston, MA 02110Tel: +1 617 369 7870, Mobile: +1 617 818 3900Fax: +1 617 369 7820E-mail: boston@invanor.nowebsite: www.invanor.no/usaWebsite: www.invanor.no/boston

Houston – Consulate General/Innovation Norway2777 Allen Parkway; Suite 1185, Houston, TX 77019-2136Tel: +1 713 521 2900, Fax: +1 713 521 9648IN, Fax: +1 713 526 1300, Fax: +1 713 521 9473E-mail: cons.gen.houston@mfa.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/houston

Minneapolis – Consulate General800 Foshay Tower; 821 Marquette Avenue, MinneapolisMN 55402Tel: +1 612 332 3338, Fax: +1 612 332 1386E-mail: cons.gen.minneapolis@mfa.no

New York – Consulate General825 Third Avenue; 38th floor, New York, NY 10022-7584Tel: +1 212 421 7333, Fax: +1 212 754 0583E-mail: cons.gen.newyork@mfa.no

New York – Innovation Norway (Tourism)655 Third Avenue, Room 1810, New York, NY 10017-9111Tel: +1 212 885 9700, Fax: +1 212 885 9710E-mail: newyork@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/newyork

San Francisco – Consulate General/Innovation Norway20 California Street; 6th floor, San Francisco, CA 94111-4803Tel: +1 415 986 0766-8, Fax: +1 415 986 3318IN, Tel: +1 415 986 0770, Fax: +1 415 986 7875E-mail: cons.gen.sanfrancisco@mfa.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/sanfrancisco

Washington DC – Embassy/Innovation Norway2720 34th Street N.W., Washington DC 20008-2714Tel: +1 202 333 6000, Fax: +1 202 337 0870IN, Tel: +1 212 421 9210, Fax: +1 202 337 0870E-mail: emb.washington@mfa.no Website: www.invanor.no/washington

venezuelaCaracas – EmbassyCentro Lido, Torre A, Piso 9, Oficina 92-A; Avenida Fransisco de Miranda, El Rosal, CaracasTel: +58 212 953 0671 / 0269 / 1973, Fax: + 58 212 953 6877E-mail: emb.caracas@mfa.no

vietnamHanoi – Embassy/Innovation Norway10th Floor, Block B, Vincom City Towers,191 Ba Trieu Street, HanoiTel: +84 4 974 2930, Fax: +84 4 974 3301E-mail: emb.hanoi@mfa.no Website: www.invanor.no

zambiaLusaka – EmbassyCorner Birdage Walk / Haile Selassie Avenue, LusakaTel: +260 1 252188, 252626, 252637, Fax: +260 1 253915E-mail: emb.lusaka@mfa.no

zimbabweHarare – Embassy5 Lanark Road; Belgravia, HarareTel: +263 4 252426, Fax: +263 4 252430E-mail: emb.harare@mfa.no

norway abroad

1live & work in bergen

table of contents 2: Foreword by the Minister of Trade and Industry

3: Foreword by Herman Friele – Business Region Bergen

4-7: Presentations of Cooperative Partners

8-27: Live & Work in Bergen Articles

8: A Place for all Seasons – Introduction to the Bergen Region

12: Working Together – Business Region Bergen

13: INN Bergen – At your Service

14: The Gateway to the Fjords

15: Show me the Money

16: Festivals, Music and Art

17: A Life in Balance – Living & Working in Bergen

18: The Best & Brightest – Education in the Bergen Region

20: Teach your Children

21: The Subsea Cluster

22: Energy Abounds – Energy in the Hordaland Region

24: Bergen – Norway’s Aquaculture & Fishing Capital

26: A Maritime Powerhouse

30-54: Company & Organization Profiles

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Sylvia Brustad (Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry), Ivar Engan (Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry), Vidar Totland (Business Region Bergen),

Hans Martin Moxnes (Bergen Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Berit Øxnevad Lie (Bergen Scenario 2020)

Aker Solutions ASA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Bergen Energi AS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Bergen Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Bergen Marine Research Cluster . . . 33Bergen Teknologioverføring AS (BTO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34BKK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Christian Michelsen Research AS (CMR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Fjell Industries AS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38FMC Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Frank Mohn AS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Gasnor AS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Handelsbanken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Marine Harvest Norway AS . . . . . . . . 43Norwegian Contractor’s Association (EBA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Odfjell Drilling AS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Odfjell SE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Ross Offshore AS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Scandinavian Electric Systems AS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49SkandiaBanken AB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50TTS Marine ASA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Wema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51West Business Council (Vest Næringsråd) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

alphabetical list of participating companies

2

business region bergen – part of the dynamic norwegian business environment

Norway’s economic growth has been favourable for many decades. Some of the

contributing factors are the abundance of natural resources, an openness to trade and

capital movement and a skilled work force.

Globalization

and cyclical

developments have

largely been kind to

Norway. We have

experienced falling

prices for our imported goods relative to

our exports. Businesses have responded

quickly to increased international

competition by continuously seeking

to develop new and better products

and making better use of their existing

resources.

The positive Norwegian business

climate can partly be explained by

the technological expertise acquired

by Norwegian businesses over the

past decades, combined with a solid

economy and a reputation for conducting

transparent and honest business. Our

social model and extensive labour market

measures have eased the burden on

workers adjusting to changes related to

globalization. The labour force is highly

educated and skilled.

One Norwegian region that excels in

multiple business sectors is Hordaland,

located on the west coast of the

country. Bergen, the major city in this

region, has traditionally proved to be

a stronghold of creativity, business

excellence, culture, tourism and sport.

The organization Business Region Bergen

was established to promote cooperation

both within Norway as well as abroad.

This organization is the driver in a process

that has the goal of coordinating and

stimulating business growth, and aims

to attract people and businesses to this

thriving region.

The business region of Bergen is a

region in growth, with economic success

reflected in a wide range of industries

related to oil and gas, maritime, seafood

and aquaculture. The region is well-

supported by local, regional and national

governmental bodies that actively pursue

robust commercial policies that promote

healthy, transparent and profitable

business activities. Success in this context

leads to benefits that are felt far outside

of the business environment, providing a

positive synergy to society in general.

Norway’s current economic situation is

fortunate and strong, and the business

region of Bergen provides an excellent

example of this strength. With low

unemployment, high productivity and a

strong, consistent growth, this region

– and Norway in general – provides an

outstanding destination for individuals,

companies and investors.

I hope that these perspectives will tempt

people and businesses to take a closer

look at this magazine and to examine the

possibilities to invest, live and work in

the region of Bergen and other parts of

Norway.

sylvia brustad The Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry

live & work in bergen 3

the bergen region – the future of solutions

The Bergen Region is known as a vibrant, scenic, creative and industrious part of

Norway. The region contains more than two-thirds of the population of the Hordaland

County on the west coast of Norway, and has potential only limited by the imagination.

At the heart of the

region is Bergen,

known as one of

Europe's great

scenic cities, and

as the gateway

to western Norway. This city is the seat

of the Hordaland County administration

and home to an impressive number of

international companies.

The investment opportunities are many,

business development has been a historic

strength, recreational activities abound –

in other words, there are tremendous

opportunities to building both a career and

a life here.

As an important initiative from the different

local governments in the region as

well as the Hordaland County Council,

Business Region Bergen (BRB) has now

been established. BRB’s main focus will

be to communicate and promote this

region as an attractive arena for profitable

business development. This work will be

addressed nationally and internationally,

as well as to the region itself. The regions

main merits are: The unique blend of

competence, innovation, creativity and

market know-how – combining to advance

development.

The main message is; Bergen Region –

The Future of Solutions, and the

communication process is well underway

to show the potential within sectors

that include oil & gas, maritime, energy,

aquaculture and others.

Initiatives that include participation in

international exhibitions and conferences

together with representatives for the

companies from the industry in the region

will only increase the positive profile

regarding what the Bergen Region has to

offer.

The industry here represents a great

variety of branches, and more and more

of the products and services are linked

to and based upon R&D from the Bergen

Region.

Within R&D, the Bergen Region is unique

in Norway. The petroleum field is a good

example, as it is home to a Centre of

Expertise (Subsea Technology), a Centre

of Excellence (Centre for Integrated

Petroleum Research), and a research-

based competence building program that

is part of the Research Council of Norway.

The educational opportunities go hand in

hand, and the Bergen Region is home to a

thriving student environment.

This issue of Norway Exports presents

a taste of the possibilities that await

you as an investor, business developer,

researcher, student – to become one of

the thousands who will chose to “Live

and Work in Bergen” and to be a part of

the future of solutions that this region will

experience.

For more information about

Hordaland County, see the website

www.hordaland.no.

Enjoy this magazine, and let yourself be

inspired!

herman friele Chairman of the Board – Business Region Bergen

44

BRB goals and tasks include:

• Clearlycommunicatetheadvantages

of the region for potential employees,

investors, projects and companies

• Contributetothestrategicpositioningof

the region on an international level, both

short and long-term

• Functionasadrivingforceinincreasing

focus on aspects of the region that can

be further developed, contributing to

synergies that will increase success

across the BRB area

• Contributetothecontinuedpositive

development of the fundamental

aspects of the region from an

educational, economical, social and

cultural perspective

Close cooperation will provide the basis

for continued growth and success to be

enjoyed by all who live and work in the

Bergen Region.

business region bergen (brb)

Business Region Bergen offers unique

possibilities, created to make the region

more visible and better marketed, working

towards a vision of making the Bergen

region the most pioneer-friendly region

in Norway. Close cooperation with the

thriving business sector will be one key to

the organization’s success. The numbers

achieved within business and industry

here are impressive:

• Representsacorecentreforfisheries

and fish farming

• MoreexportsthananyotherNorwegian

county

• HighportionofNorwegianelectricity

production

• AmajorNorwegiantouristdestination–

Bergen as the Gateway to the Fjords

• Sustainedhighlevelsofemployment

within the oil and gas industry

The oil and gas sector is of major

importance, with tens of thousands

employed and world leading competence

that has made the region Norway’s

leader within operation, production and

maintenance activities. As a hub for

technological R&D and education on the

highest level, the region will continue to

develop expertise and knowledge that will

reinforce its position as a complete high

quality supplier cluster. Fifty percent of

the Norwegian offshore installations are

operated from Bergen, with annual total

revenue of nearly 50 billion USD.

A “Grassroots” InitiativeBusiness Region Bergen is truly a joint

effort that has arisen as an initiative from

regional and local governments throughout

the region. The ownership represents this

“bottom-up” communication strategy, with

ownership of the company being shared

between the Hordaland County (35%),

the Bergen municipality (35%) and other

municipalities in the Bergen region (30%).

BRB is working towards achieving the

best cooperative model – incorporating all

essential elements of the regional structure

– government, industry and business,

educational institutions, tourism, and, of

course, the people who live and work in

the Bergen region.

Goals and TasksBusiness Region Bergen has been

established to support and increase

cooperation with industry and business

sectors, representing the interests of the

Bergen Region as a whole in relation to the

international environment.

55live & work in bergen

6

Innovation Norway offers products and services to increase innovation in industry throughout Norway,

to help develop the national regions and promote Norwegian industry and internationalization and to

promote Norway as a tourist destination.

With offices in more than 30 countries

worldwide and in all Norwegian counties,

Innovation Norway is easy to reach.

Its staff has knowledge of local and

international factors that will help turn

its customers’ ideas into business

successes.

Products Tailor-Made to Customers’ RequirementsInnovation Norway assists the entirety of

Norwegian industry, but has particular

responsibility for aiding entrepreneurs

and assisting small and medium-sized

companies with an ambition and potential

for growth.

Innovation Norway offers:

•Fundingprovidedasloans,guarantees

and equity capital programmes

•Advisoryandexpertisedevelopment

measures

•Nationalandinternationalnetwork

building and technology transfer

•MarketingofNorwegianindustryand

Norway as a tourist destination

With these measures as a point of

departure, Innovation Norway customizes

its products and services according

to the needs of each individual client.

Through its offices in Norway and

abroad, Innovation Norway’s clients

also gain access to services from other

public agencies – such as the Research

Council of Norway, the Norwegian Design

Council and the Industrial Development

Corporation of Norway (SIVA).

Dynamic & Result-OrientedInnovation Norway supports the profitable

development of industry in both individual

companies and in society at large:

•InnovationNorwaycontributestothe

creation and securing of 9,000 jobs

annually

•Customersurveysshowthat90%

of Innovation Norway’s funds have

been allocated to projects viewed as

important to companies’ survival and

profit growth

Innovation Norway

PO Box 448 Sentrum

NO-0104 Oslo, Norway

Tel: +47 22 00 25 00

Fax: +47 22 00 25 01

E-mail: post@innovationnorway.no

Website: www.innovationnorway.no

– We give local ideas global opportunities

Innovation Norway took over the tasks of the Norwegian Trade Council, the Norwegian Industrial and Regional Development Fund, the

Govt. Consultative Office for Inventors and the Norwegian Tourist Board on January 1, 2004.

live & work in bergen 7

www .careerinnorway .no

Search for jobs and career opportunities in Norway

The Norwegian economy has never been in better shape.

While this is obviously good news, it’s also a problem:

Norwegian companies don’t have enough qualified personnel to handle high-tech applications and ad-

vanced Norwegian technology in order to keep pace with market growth. Therefore, Norwegian

businesses are eager to recruit skilled labour from all around the world.

At www .careerinnorway .no job seekers can search for different vacancies by keywords, job title,

categories or company name. This is the first service providing information and available positions for

foreign employees looking for a career in Norway. The website also contains articles and other relevant

information about working and living in Norway.

For more information send an email to post@careerinnorway.no

www .careerinnorway .no

By Lasse Bergesen

a place for all seasons – introduction to the bergen region

The Bergen region features a wide variety

of industries and business areas. With

Bergen at the heart, cities and towns

such as Stord, Odda, Husnes, Ålvik,

Øygarden and Mongstad represent

important commercial and industrial

centres. A leading region within the area

of petroleum, aquaculture, hydroelectric

power, maritime operations and ICT, just

to name a few areas, the synergies being

developed leading to success are being

felt far outside of the region’s borders.

Hordaland County as a whole is Norway’s

second most popular tourist area during

the summer, with Voss and Hardanger

being key to the thriving tourist business.

The tourist industry employs a significant

number of people and represents one

backbone in the continued development

of commercial activity, growth and renewal

within the Business Region Bergen.

Dynamic & InternationalBusiness Region Bergen (see separate

article) is an organization working with

business and industry to help maintain

Hordaland as the most attractive region

to work, live and thrive in Norway.

Established in 2007, Business Region

Bergen promotes the region as an

attractive venue for new and profitable

business development, and whose main

objective is to create more long-term

jobs. Together with such organizations as

the Bergen Chamber of Commerce and

Industry and Bergen Scenarios 2020, unity

is strength.

The prognosis is excellent, as this region

has a diversity of business and industry,

nature, culture and infrastructure, all of

which attract people who want to stay, live

and work here. Historically, the region was

built up through successful import and

export activities, something that has made

Bergen a “window to the world” for the

Nordic countries.

According to Marit Warncke, the CEO

of the Bergen Chamber of Commerce,

“Bergen is an open city with great diversity

in businesses. Within our most important

industries, such as shipping, oil, gas and

energy, seafood, aquaculture, marine

industry and tourism, we have strong

industrial clusters complete with research

and technology. Business and industry,

academia, politicians and the authorities

are working closely together.”

For people looking for a place to settle down and further their career at the same time, the city of

Bergen and the county of Hordaland is the place to live and work. Known as “the Bergen region”, with

its geographical location, growing economy, high quality education, research institutions and solid

infrastructure, this area has continued to expand its reputation for value creation and quality of life.

88

Voss is not far from Bergen and is famous for

skiing and other recreational activities.

© V

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live & work in bergen 999

Bryggen’s 58 historic wooden

buildings date from the early 18th

century, when the Hanseatic League

painstakingly rebuilt them after the

devastating 1702 fire.

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Throughout the years the Bergen region

has developed to become a dynamic and

international centre for trading, handicrafts,

industry and finance. Today, the region has

a good foundation for development of new

alimentary enterprises such as energy,

culture, tourism, shipping and fish industry.

Here, there is a diversity of business and

industry, nature, culture and infrastructure,

which attract people who want to stay,

live and work here. Unemployment is at

a record low level – and businesses in the

Bergen region have the need for creative,

talented and experienced employees who

share the vision of this region’s bright

future.

Deep Historical RootsThe Bergen region is unique. Located

in the county of Hordaland, on the west

coast of Norway, Bergen is Norway’s

main maritime city. The close connection

between nature and business is evident,

especially the connection the region has

to the sea.

Ever since the city of Bergen was founded

by Olav Kyrre in 1070, the city itself and

the surrounding region has never stopped

growing. The region has developed itself

as Norway’s most important trading

connection to Europe. The geographical

location by the sea has provided the

foundation for increasing trade and the

exchange of merchandise with European

ports and the rest of Norway as well.

Clean EnergyThe Bergen region is a central national

region of value creation and competence.

Energy is the region’s main industry

(see separate article ‘Energy Abounds’),

covering both hydroelectric power

production and the oil and gas industry.

No county in Norway exports more than

Hordaland. In fact, export from the west

coast is higher than those of the other

regions in Norway put together. Hordaland

produces 80% of the total amount of

crude oil exported from Norway, and

supplies gas to Europe from Norway’s

largest gas field, the Troll field.

Since the early 1980s the subsea industry

in the region has expanded into one of the

world’s most complete environments for

subsea technology. In the Bergen

region dealing with the seas and

the weather is a necessity, so the

industry has been built around this

to use it to its advantage. This is a

very powerful force in the industry

in the region today.

The city of Bergen is committed

to maintaining its clean,

pristine surroundings for future

generations, and is taking action

to achieve this goal. In January

of 2008, the Bergen City Council

ensured through a contractual

agreement with Fjordkraft that

the Bergen Municipality would purchase

power that comes from renewable energy

sources. The signal is clear – Bergen

is committed to a continually stronger

climate and environmental profile and will

continue to look for creative and practical

solutions in the future to make Bergen and

Hordaland an excellent region in which to

live and work.

Strength in Shipping & AquacultureThe city of Bergen is home to some of

the largest niche shipping companies

on the planet, such as Star Shipping,

Odfjell SE and Grieg Shipping, along with

all the businesses that have developed

to provide secondary services to the

10

maritime community. Some of these

companies, such Frank Mohn AS, which

manufactures pumps, has contributed to

Bergen’s maritime community developing

the technologies that helped build the

niche shipping markets in the first place.

The area also has an extensive shipping

industry that includes shipyards for vessels

and oilrigs.

The Bergen region has the only complete

marine environment in Norway. The

Institute of Marine Research, with its 400

scientists, is located in the city of Bergen,

as well as the main navy base of Norway.

The maritime industry alone employs

approximately 19,000 people. The Bergen

area is also strong in fish farming and

fishing.

The Norwegian Seafood Export Council

lists 33 major fish exporters in the Bergen

area, many of which have their roots

in the city’s centuries-old tradition of

harvesting fish from the sea. See the

separate articles in this issue of “Living

and Working in Bergen” that tell the story

of opportunities that abound within the

areas of shipping, aquaculture and the

fishing industry.

Learning, Researching & RenewalMany national and private research and

educational institutions in the region,

together with Haukeland University

Hospital, the region’s largest public

employer, make the region both a national

and an international centre of research and

education. The many research institutes in

the region are internationally recognized as

being excellent. Bergen is also a university

city with a strong connection between

education, research and development,

and industries.

The are a large number educational

institutions from which to choose,

including the University of Bergen (UiB),

the Norwegian School of Economics and

Business Administration (NHH), Bergen

University College (HIB) and the Bergen

National Academy of the Arts (KHiB). The

Bergen region is an important area of

research and education. All together, these

research and educational authorities have

more than 25,000 students and 4,200

employees, including 2,800 professional

posts. Altogether Bergen hosts more than

25,000 students. See the separate article

“The Best and the Brightest” for more.

A Part of NatureLiving in the Bergen region means that

you are not just near the nature, you are

in the nature. Bergen city is surrounded

by mountains, and you can easily go on

a hike in the mountains beginning from

a walk downtown. The entire region is

basically surrounded by nature, mountains

and fjords, with breathtaking landscapes

as if taken directly out of a master

photographer’s book. This beauty creates

Bergen’s Fish Market has a centuries-long

history as a busy marketplace.

© B

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The city of Bergen is known for both its stunning views

as well as its international business successes.

© P

ål B

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live & work in bergen 11

a major tourist industry, and the region

is excellent at taking advantage of the

opportunities that this presents all year

round.

As a region almost surrounded by the sea,

water activities such as boating, fishing,

water skiing, kayaking and scuba diving

take place throughout the region. Along

the coastline there are many excellent

places to scuba dive for fish and to explore

the seafloor and its many secrets. With

the short distance to the mountains, the

region has a lot of winter resorts. The town

of Voss is very well known throughout the

world for its Olympic medalists in winter

sports. Voss will be the hosts of the World

Championships in freestyle skiing in 2013.

Every year, performers from the world

over come to Voss to enjoy extreme

sports, including the annual Extreme

Sport Week held each year in June. This

event brings together the best within

a wide range of extreme sports that

include base, skydiving, paragliding,

rafting, climbing, kayaking, longboarding

and others. The tourist industry in the

Voss region is booming, and can offer

numerous opportunities for those seeking

to combine the best of the nature with

their career.

A Sporting ExperienceBergen’s major soccer team is SK Brann

in the Norwegian national league and it

enjoys broad regional support with 15,000

to 20,000 spectators attending each home

match. Also, the Ulriken Eagles, located

in Bergen, is one of the best basketball

teams in Norway. There are also clubs for

activities like American football, handball,

ice hockey, speed skating, underwater

rugby, swimming and curling, among

others.

During recent years several golf courses

have been built and the interest in golf

is increasing. The Bergen area has two

18-hole golf courses and several 9-hole

courses. Fana Golf Course is located

within a 10 minute drive from the airport,

while the Meland Golf Course is located

30 minutes north of the city centre. With

its brilliant design and spectacular view,

the 6,203 metre par 73 Meland course

Troldhaugen is the home of Norwegian

composer Edvard Grieg, now home to a

intimate performance hall and a museum

honouring the composer and his work.

© B

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is ranked as one of Europe’s most

challenging golf courses. Once you have

played it, you will never forget it!

The Sound of Music, Culture & FunThe Bergen Region is also known for its

active music scene, a scene that spans

the spectrum from classical to folk and

from opera to rock. The city has several

theatres and stages, and “Den Nationale

Scene” is the oldest one in Norway. The

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra – one of

the oldest in the world – was established

in 1765. Bergen was the European City of

Culture in 2000. Every year famous music

performers visit Bergen to hold concerts.

There is something for everyone here.

There are approximately 150 restaurants,

cafés and coffee shops, 70 museums

and collections, and several bars, pubs,

concert venues, cinemas and other places

to go for relaxing and having fun.

12

By Lasse Bergesen

working together – business region bergen

Strength through CooperationThe Bergen region has dedicated

individuals, organizations and

municipalities that are working for

business development that will benefit

all. Through Business Region Bergen,

these stakeholders cooperate, making a

powerful engine that can coordinate and

stimulate innovation in the areas where the

Bergen region can play an important role

nationally and internationally.

Business Region Bergen provides service

and guidance to people and businesses

within a wide spectrum of topics. In

addition to providing important

information to those who want

to start new businesses, BRB

provides guidance to businesses

to help develop employee skills,

and also provides the basis for

developing networks between

stakeholders in various industries.

Last but not least, Business

Region Bergen plays an influential

role in promoting innovation

and development in the Bergen

region.

Through the development

of strategy, policy, lobbying,

marketing and PR in close

cooperation with stakeholders

such as municipalities, network

organizations, businesses

and research throughout the

Bergen region, BRB is playing an

important role in the continuing

development process.

The region’s status as a leader within

aquaculture, energy-related activities,

finance, research and maritime operations

makes it a natural magnet for those

seeking career opportunities. Combined

with the fact that this part of Norway is

a very popular tourist destination and

employs a significant number of people,

these provide an excellent starting

point for BRB activities that stimulate

commercial activity, growth and renewal

within the community – decisive for the

region's future.

According to Herman Friele, Chairman of

the Board, "Business Region Bergen is

promoting the Bergen region in Norway

and in key regions in the rest of the world.

Business Region Bergen will provide

guidelines and help for innovators who

want to settle down here, and BRB will

facilitate access to industrial areas. Our

mission is not to compete with skilled

interest groups, but complement them.”

Attractive Across the BoardBusiness Region Bergen is an inter-

municipal organization established to

act in the best interest of business,

organizations and employees throughout

Hordaland County, highlighting the

region's competitive edge both nationally

and internationally. Business Region

Bergen works to ensure that Bergen

and Hordaland County have the best

conditions for people and companies’

value-added activities.

The organization was established

in October 2007 by the Bergen

municipality, Hordaland County Council

and municipalities in the Bergen region

to promote the region as an attractive

venue for new and profitable business

development, and with a main objective to

create more long-term jobs.

BRB works to ensure the best conditions for

people and companies.

© T

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Business Region Bergen (BRB) is a joint venture acting to keep the Bergen area as the most attractive

region to work, live and thrive in Norway. The Bergen region has a diversity of business and industry,

nature, culture and infrastructure, which attract people who want to stay, live and work here.

live & work in bergen 13

By Lasse Bergesen

inn bergen – at your service

their new environment, thus expatriates

also become a more efficient resource

for the employer from day one. During

the integration the programme arranges

language classes, provides info on leisure

and activities and social support through

meeting place and networking.

Many INN Bergen services are valuable,

including the spouse career services,

which helps spouses find employment

well suited to his or her career path .

For INN Bergen, it is important that the

entire family feels at home with living and

working in Bergen.

Surveys conducted by Bergen Chamber

of Commerce and Industry shows that

there is a great need to recruit qualified

personnel to the Bergen region. The

Bergen region is the second largest

business area in Norway, with a wide

variety of industries and services. The

companies in the region are attracting the

best expertise available form other regions

in Norway, and from abroad. This often

means relocating international employees.

In order to facilitate the conditions for new

workers in the Bergen region, the Bergen

Chamber of Commerce and Industry

established the International Network

Bergen (INN Bergen).

Making a Home in BergenINN Bergen is a unique concept tailored

to meet the needs of the corporations and

ease the everyday challenges for families

coming to the Bergen Region. INN Bergen

offer companies in the Bergen region

services relating to the recruitment of

foreign labour.

The goal is to support member company

activities related to the recruitment

process – and once recruited, help the

employees to thrive in the Bergen region.

The process starts early, with INN Bergen

providing assistance and information

about Bergen prior to arrival, on arrival and

during the integration. The programme

includes housing, finding kindergartens

or schools, as well as assistance with

support immigration papers.

The INN Relocation Program eases

the everyday challenges of moving to a

foreign country, and enables expatriates

and families to adjust more easily to

INN Bergen focuses on the everyday

challenges for families moving

to the Bergen Region.

© T

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Moving to a foreign country and settling down in a new city becomes much easier when you have someone

to help you. Not surprisingly, Bergen is an attractive destination for these many temporary or permanent

employees who relocate from other countries. Reasons for this include the booming national economy,

in addition to the fact that it is just a great place to live – the United Nations Human Development Report

has rated Norway the best place to live for the sixth straight year.

14

By Lasse Bergesen

the gateway to the fjords

Norway and the largest city in the north.

Situated where sea and mountains meet,

Bergen grew up around its colourful

harbour, surrounded by the seven great

mountains, creating a truly unique

atmosphere. The city has attracted people

from all quarters of the world, and many of

them decided to make Bergen their home.

Bergen is a World Heritage City and was

the European City of Culture in 2000,

hosting a number of international music

and cultural events throughout the year.

With plenty of charm, atmosphere,

fascinating architecture and a vibrant

cultural life to offer those who want to

experience something new, the people

of the Bergen region greet visitors and

newcomers with open arms.

Imagine yourself in the centre of Bergen

on one of its pedestrian streets, the sun

is shining and you take the time to make

the short walk to the waterfront. It is not

a long walk in any direction. Bergen is

surrounded by fjords, which have now

been included on UNESCO's World

Heritage List.

One aspect of these beautiful

surroundings is the economic potential

and opportunities that lie in the tourist

industry. This is of major importance in

the region – not only in Bergen, but in a

number of other areas that include Voss

and Hardanger. Winter or summer, there

are career and employment possibilities

that are open to those who have the

creativity and experience to provide

added-value to an already thriving

industry.

Scenery Everywhere you TurnFrom Bergen, beautiful scenery is just

a short trip away by boat, car or train.

Whether you want to experience the

breathtaking Flåm Railway Line, the

narrow and astonishing fjords or you want

to swing off the main roads and drive

along dramatic steep old roads – once

state-of-the-art engineering projects –

these are all within a driving distance of a

couple of hours.

The Hardanger area, with its famous

waterfalls, gently sloping mountains and

idyllic fruit farms, is easy accessible, only

an hour away. The Hardanger Fjord, the

third largest fjord in Norway, stretches

179 kilometres from the coast, guarded

by snow covered peaks, the Hardanger

Plateau and the glacier Folgefonna.

In the North, the Sognefjord stretches 204

kilometres eastwards from the west coast,

with a depth of 1,308 metres, and it winds

its way between steep mountains. In the

west, beyond islands and islets protecting

the Bergen Harbour from harsh weather,

lays the North Sea with its rich fisheries.

Colorful HistoryThis beautiful nature embraces the city of

Bergen. Bergen is more than 900 years

old, and was once the first capital city of

Beautiful nature embraces Lofthus

in Hardanger.

© F

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Bergen is not only the gateway to the fjords, it is also known as the capital of the fjords. It is also the

gateway to the mountains and nature which certainly makes a lasting impression on all who visit Bergen

and the west coast of Norway.

live & work in bergen 15

By Lasse Bergesen

show me the money

house in a new and unique energy

market. The company’s 150 employees

are experienced in systems, products and

expertise for optimizing energy purchases,

offering high-quality services to customers

of the growing Norwegian energy market.

Insurance ClusterBergen has Norway's largest cluster for

insurance. Vital, Norway's largest privately

owned life and pension insurance company,

operates its head office at the district

Fyllingsdalen west of the city centre. A

stone's throw away, the Danish insurance

giant Tryg Vesta has operated its Norwegian

headquarters here for many years.

The financial cluster is also characterized by

a number of local savings banks that want

to participate in value creation in the city and

the region, some with activities all over the

western part of Norway.

This stable, secure

and innovative financial

environment ensures that

investors feel that their

money is well-placed in the

Bergen region.

Shipping, fisheries and in recent years

oil and gas have formed the basis for the

development of a very strong financial

sector in Bergen. Educational institutions

such as the University of Bergen and the

Norwegian School of Economics and

Business Administration have provided

excellent added-value intellectual capital on

many levels, and strong support of local and

regional government institutions have laid

the groundwork for a finance sector in the

Bergen region that is solid, stable and an

important employer.

Creating Commercial ActivityThe strong background in banking and

finance is an important impetus for the

creation of new commercial activity in the

region. Banks with a high level of local

activity are close to the market and familiar

with the companies, industries and activities

in the region, thus they can act as strong

partners for investors who want to build up

new business here.

Norway's largest bank, DnB Nor, has its

headquarters for investments in Bergen.

Handelsbanken is one of the largest financial

corporations in the Nordic region, with

over 10,000 employees and 700 offices,

responsible for management of nearly NOK

2 billion, and Nordea has major offices in the

city and a high level of regional activity.

A great deal of financial activities also

provides fertile ground for new business

within the sector. In 2000 Skandiabanken

was founded in Bergen as the first internet-

based bank in the country. During the

last few years, several strong professional

groups for the management of funds have

also been established. Among others,

Holbergfondene has built up one of

Norway’s most recognized environments for

funds management.

The energy sector is a vital and thriving

financial element of this region in growth.

Bergen Energi was established in 1991 as

the first independent energy brokerage

Banks such as Handelsbanken continue

the Bergen tradition of solid investment

consulting and performance.

© H

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n

Bergen is an historic Hanseatic city with a long history in trade. Investment and finance have always been

an important part of the city’s vibrant business and industry. In addition, a strong professional environment

at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration has contributed to make banking and

finance a driving force for the city’s business and industry.

16

by Nancy Bazilchuk

festivals, music & art

Not to be outdone, Bergen’s museums

present a pleasing mix of internationally

renowned artists and designers and

Nordic talents, all combining to make

Bergen’s cultural and artistic scene among

the finest in Scandinavia. Troldhaugen

is also a part of Bergen’s museum

alliance, which includes the Siljustøl

Museum, former home of composer

Harald Sæverud and his wife Marie; the

Lysøen Museum, consisting of the house

of the Norwegian violinist Ole Bull and

located the island of Lysøen in the Os

municipality; Permanenten, the West

Norway Museum of Decorative Art; and

the Bergen Art Museum, which is one of

the Nordic region’s largest art museums,

with collections from the Renaissance

to contemporary art, including a special

exhibit in 2008 on Picasso.

The Festival CityProbably the best known of the city’s

events is the Bergen International Festival,

the largest of its kind in the Nordic

countries, with 160 events over 14 days

in late May and early June. What’s most

striking is the festival’s diversity: theatre,

dance and opera range from works based

on Wagner to Italian Renaissance music to

a Baroque music jam.

The International Festival may feature

many different forms of artistic expression,

but Bergen’s annual NattJazz festival

features just one: Jazz, eleven full days –

and nights, with more than 90 concerts

overall, a selection of which are free

and outdoors. Contemporary music

enthusiasts will also enjoy Carte Blanche,

Norway's only permanent contemporary

dance company which has called Bergen

home since 1989.

In 2008 artists such as REM, Neil Young

and Eric Clapton performed in the Bergen

Region. In addition there are a number

of music festivals held each year that

include the Bergenfest, Borealis, Bergen

International Film Festival, Hole in the Sky,

Raptus and the Oktoberfest. Other major

festivals include the annual Lost Weekend

Festival held at Askøy, which brings

together the best of pop, rock and folk in

idyllic natural surroundings. Other festivals

of note include the Periferifestivalen, held

each year in August on the charming

island of Sotra outside of Bergen.

Classic Venues & Museums But Bergen can be forgiven if its musical

leanings are more towards Grieg’s world

and other classical composers. A prime

example is the Grieg in Bergen Summer

Festival, with concerts offered over a 10-

week season starting in June and ending

in mid-August. Great music demands

a great performance space, and in that

respect Bergen’s Grieg Hall is second

to none. The hall is home to the Bergen

Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1765,

but the concert hall also features exhibition

and conference space in its striking glass

building.

Bergen’s Grieg Hall features stunning

architecture and a performance hall with

superior acoustics.

© B

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Edvard Grieg, Norway’s most famous composer, had his home in Bergen, a fact known to classical music

lovers worldwide. It’s a legacy that might overwhelm a city’s cultural offerings – but not Bergen. Grieg

lovers won’t be disappointed by a visit to Norway’s second largest city, but the city’s streets also ring with

folk and jazz music, while opera, contemporary theatre and dance play in its performance venues.

live & work in bergen 17

By Lasse Bergesen

a life in balance – living & working in bergen

Shortly after moving to the small island

in Os outside Bergen nine years ago, the

couple established Vedholmen Galleri.

In addition to their own products they

exhibit and sell work from other artists

as well. The gallery has six different

exhibitions every year - not only ceramics

but also glass art, oil paintings, weaving,

handmade bags, etc. Quality is the major

criteria for choosing artists.

“We are living and working here on the

island, but we keep in close touch with

the artist community in Bergen and the

rest of Norway. We feel very lucky! We

live so to say in the middle of the beautiful

nature which western Norway is famous

for. The local community has welcomed us

and helped us in establishing our own art

gallery. This is where we want to live. This

is quality living,” says Vibeke.

There is a wide range of careers to choose

from in the Bergen Region, covering

the entire span of industry, commerce

and creative activities. Bergen Group is

a maritime industrial group specialized

within Shipbuilding, Maritime Service,

Offshore and Technology. The company

employs more than 1650 employees from

Kirkenes in the far north of Norway to

Stavanger in the south

The group has a number of employees

from abroad, including Beata Pilaczyk,

with roots in Poland and a Masters Degree

in Engineering. Says Pilaczyk; “It was a

coincidence that I ended up in Bergen.

I was supposed to stay here and work

for Bergen Group for six weeks. Bergen

Group wanted me to stay another six

weeks, and at the end of that period

the company offered me a permanent

job”. After two years in the city she has

settled down, working as head of the

Pipe Department in Bergen Group, with

responsibility for 11 employees.

An Artistic LifeArtists from all over Europe are living

in Bergen due to the Bergen National

Academy of the Arts, which is the

top centre of excellence in Europe in

ceramic and 3-D arts. The Academy has

300 students and a staff of 100. More

than 50% of the teaching staff have

qualifications corresponding to professor

or assistant professor criteria.

“We found this small island by chance and

fell in love with it immediately. It was pure

luck, says the Danish artist Vibeke Harild.”

Together with her artist husband Peter

Marron from Ireland she runs an art gallery

with a surprisingly high level of quality

on one of the most beautiful islands in

Norway, 40 kilometres south of Bergen.

Artists from all over Europe are living in

Bergen due to the Bergen National Academy

of the Arts, including Vibeke Harild.

© C

ato

Bru

arø

y

Living and working in Bergen means a certain lifestyle where work is complemented by recreation – and life.

As John Lennon once wrote, “Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans.” People

in Bergen find that life is good – and that the balance with their professional lives often is a perfect fit.

18

By David Smith

the best & brightest – education in the bergen region

finance, as well as students from all over the

country and from abroad.

The Bergen University College is a vocational

school that offers a range of Bachelor’s and

Master’s degrees within three faculties that

include Education, Engineering, and Health

and Social Services. Five different campuses

around the city of Bergen provide the

institution with a strong base and position

both in regards to the university college

system in Norway as well as in regards to

regional industry.

University of Bergen – Learning, Research & LivingThe University of Bergen (UiB) is an excellent

example of the important positive impact

that the higher educational environment

can have on a region. With nearly 15,000

students, it is the region’s largest educational

institution, the student body and academic

Nils Mæhle, Chairman of Education in

Bergen and Director of Bergen University

College reflects, “With over 25,000 students

from over 110 countries, the Bergen region

attracts the best and the brightest. The

environment in the region is conducive to

learning, and the close alliance between

educational institutions and the business

world create a positive synergy effect that

provides added-value on all levels, including

R&D, employment opportunities and

improved mercantile possibilities.”

The organization Education in Bergen has

its finger on the pulse of the educational

possibilities in the region, with a staff and

web-based information (www.studybergen.

com) that covers the spectrum of what

this vibrant region has to offer. Education

in Bergen is a collaborative project that

provides information, coordination services

and guidance to the public related to the

higher educational institutions, the Student

Welfare Organisation, Bergen Municipality,

Bergen Chamber of Commerce and the

County Council of Hordaland.

Spanning the Spectre of EducationThe education offered in the region is wide,

varied and professional, and includes

the Bergen National Academy of the Arts

(KHiB), one of two national institutions

with a special responsibility for providing

education within art and design in Norway.

KHiB offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees

in areas that include Design, Fine Art, and

Specialized Art. Other specialized colleges

include the Bergen Architect School, the

Norwegian Teachers’ Academy, the Betanien

Deaconal University College as well as the

Betanian Deaconess University College.

The Norwegian School of Economics and

Business has long been known as an

excellent provider of education, ranking

highly among European universities. The

academic programme covers an excellent

business education on various levels,

including Bachelor’s, Master’s, Executive

MBA and doctorate programmes. The

school is an internationally highly recognized

educational institution, attracting the leading

specialists in Norway's economy and

The University of Bergen is a place to learn

and grow.

© G

reth

e M

elin

g

Part of living and working in the Bergen region is making the most of the educational opportunities that

are available here. The link between education, research and business makes the Bergen region a truly

international environment – a “centre of knowledge” – where the University of Bergen (UiB) as well as a wide

range of colleges appeal to a wide range of students from Norway and beyond.

live & work in bergen 19

The connections between the university

environment and business are close,

stimulating a creative and productive culture

with a positive synergy effect that is felt far

beyond the campus environment here in

this region. This educational environment

plays an important role in a very strong

R&D network here, working closely with

government, research institutions and private

companies.

The Mathematics and Natural Science

Faculty provides a number of excellent

examples showing how the University of

Bergen integrates the world of academia

with R&D and business development.

Departments include Biology, Molecular

Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science,

Geophysical Institute, Informatics,

Mathematics, and the Department of Physics

and Technology. This faculty is also home

to several “Centres of Excellence”, initiated

by the Research Council of Norway. These

UiB-based centres include:

• TheBjerknesCentre,thelargestclimate

research centre

in the Nordic

countries, with

a focus on the

natural science

aspects of

climate change

life benefit from the rich mix of cultures and

countries represented on campus with 60

different specialized departments, centres

and institutes, and 3,200 faculty and staff.

The University of Bergen has the reputation

of being Norway’s most international

university. In addition to the excellent

scholastic environment, the University of

Bergen has a wide range of ‘free time’

activities that include choirs and 0rchestras,

culture and music, international student

organizations, groups related to politics and

society, student religious organizations, as

well as those related to sports, diverse clubs,

and the media.

The University's academic landscape

is characterized by its great variety and

breadth. Six faculties cover most of the

traditional university disciplines and

include Humanities, Laws, Medicine and

Dentistry, Psychology, Social Sciences and

Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

Close Cooperation – UiB & the Business SectorAccording to the UiB Vice-Chancellor

Sigmund Grønmo, “I believe that one of

the reasons for the excellent educational

environment at the University of Bergen is

the fact that we are consistently working with

the international environment, seeking to

establish communication, projects, activities

and cooperative initiatives.”

• TheNorwegianCentreofExcellence

in Petroleum Technology, developing

fundamental knowledge aimed at

maximizing recovery and increasing

recoverable reserves in existing oil and

gas field with a focus on Improved Oil

Recovery (IOR)

• CIPR-CentreforIntegratedPetroleum

Research. CIPR regularly arranges

workshops to communicate results

and invite national and international

researchers to present recent advances

on ongoing efforts in IOR relevant areas of

science

• TheCentreforGeobiology,witha

focus on the immense microbial

biosphere associated with deep-ocean

spreading zones, undertaking integrated

interdisciplinary studies that will generate

new, fundamental knowledge about the

interaction between the geo-biosphere

and the origins of life

Sigmund Grønmo, Vice-Chancellor of the

University of Bergen.

© P

ål-E

rik

Lill

holm

20

By Lasse Bergesen

teach your children

From the very beginning in 1975, the

school has had close relations with

companies working in the oil industry in

the North Sea, as well as key players in

finance, shipping and marine technologies.

These companies appreciate the

importance of the presence in the Bergen

region of an international school with

recognized standards of quality to the

recruitment of key personnel to the area.

An education at the International School

of Bergen is recognized as quality far and

wide. ISB was first accredited in 1985, and

then re-accredited in 1995 by both the

European Council of International Schools

(UK) and the New England Association of

Schools and Colleges (USA). The school

is also accredited by the International

Baccalaureate Organization.

The Bergen Katedralskole has a long

tradition of excellent educational

instruction – and is arguable one of

the oldest schools in the world, being

established in the year 1153 by Cardinal

Brekespear – who later became Pope

Hadrian IV. The school was religiously

affiliated until the year 1800, and since

then has been a non-denominational high

school.

The level of educational quality is high

at the Bergen Katedralskole – and the

student performance is excellent. The

students at the school have some of

the highest grades in western Norway.

Offering studies within scientific studies,

social studies, and languages, the school

carries with it a prestigious reputation as a

result of its deep traditions, history as well

a quality of education.

Internationally Recognized – & a Local Tradition The International School of Bergen

provides high standard educational

programmes in English to children

between the ages of 3 and 16. A non-

profit foundation, ISB is open to all

students – with priority admission given

to internationally-mobile families who are

dependent on an English-medium school.

Cultural and social interaction is important

for ISB, and the school also enrols children

of non-mobile families who choose ISB as

an alternative to the local school system.

The school enrols 200 students from

more than thirty different nationalities and

employs 25 teachers, all holding university

degrees and appropriate teaching

qualifications.

The ISB educational programme has

been developed to help prepare its

students for a successful future, whether

that future is in the Hordaland region or

outside the borders of Norway. Parents

also chose ISB for the English language

learning environment, the small class sizes

and the challenge of the International

Baccalaureate programmes. According

to June Murison, Director of ISB, “Our

mission is to fulfil the role in Bergen to

educate students

to become active,

compassionate

learners and

responsible

citizens through

internationally

accredited

programmes.”

June Murison, Director of

the International School of Bergen.

© L

asse

Ber

ges

en

Research has shown that one of the most important factors that families look at when considering a

move to a new area are the educational possibilities for their children. Bergen offers a range of top-quality

elementary and secondary schools, including the widely respected International School of Bergen (ISB) and

Bergen Katedralskole.

live & work in bergen 21

By David John Smith

the subsea cluster

At Bergen Science Centre, VilVite, NCE

Subsea and partners have installed a 3D

simulator where children and adults can

experience parts of the subsea world

through the virtual operation of a Remote

Operated Vehicle (ROV) at the Ormen

Lange installation.

As the market expands, globalisation

spreads and technologies develop, the

subsea cluster in the Bergen region will be

ready to meet the challenge and defend

and develop its position as the subsea

capital for maintenance, modification and

operation.

In the year of 2006 the industrial cluster

was appointed as the Norwegian Centre

of Expertise Subsea, by the Norwegian

Government. The Bergen region is a

global focal point and is widely recognized

as the subsea capital for maintenance,

modification and operation of subsea

installations, as well as condition,

environment and resource monitoring,

providing a full spectre of products and

services to the industry.

Leading operators and main contractors

are working close with numerous

innovative third-party contractors and

educational and research institutes in the

region. In addition, there are a vast number

of companies supporting the industry.

The region has over a hundred companies

and organizations with subsea as their

main business area. The subsea industry

in the region involves more than 4,000

employees, and international activity is

high. Complete information regarding NCE

Subsea, its long list of affiliates, and it wide

spectrum of activities can be found on the

website http://eng.ncesubsea.no/.

Looking outwardsThe ever growing economic globalisation

makes all companies increasingly more

exposed to competition in their own home

market. At the same time this also gives

huge opportunities for expansion and

growth in new markets, especially now

that the demand for products and services

is at a high. One of NCE Subsea’s main

objectives is therefore to contribute to the

internationalisation of regional industry.

Shaping the futureThe key to continued development is

the competence that the organizations

possess in the shape of staff and network.

NCE Subsea initiates and arranges

courses, education and projects on subsea

technology, collaboration and innovation.

NCE Subsea works to improve the access

to a qualified workforce for members of the

cluster. Challenging jobs in combination

with a rich cultural life, magnificent nature

and Scandinavian working environment

makes more and more people choose to

move to and settle in Hordaland.©

NC

E S

ubse

a

Since the early 1980s the subsea industry in the region has expanded into one of the world’s most

complete environments for subsea technology. In the Bergen region you are forced to deal with the seas

and the weather, so the industry has been built around this to use it to an advantage. Adversity has created

a very powerful force in the industry today in the region.

22

Living and working in the

Bergen region is fun as well as a

good career choice

energy abounds – energy in the hordaland region

By David Smith

Hordaland produces 80% of the total amount of crude oil exported from Norway, and supplies gas to

Europe from Norway’s largest gas field, the Troll field. The industry here is the largest employer – with

approximately 20,000 talented individuals working within the oil and gas cluster in Hordaland. In addition,

the strong hydroelectric industry is well-represented by companies whose activities are being felt far

beyond the Norwegian border.

The oil and gas cluster here covers

the entire value chain, from exploration

and development, production and

operation, to decommissioning. The

industry develops new technology and

competence to increase oil and gas

production, and simultaneously maintain

the strict regulations for health, safety and

environment. With the far-ranging successes

being achieved, it is clearly evident that the

skills, experience and technology developed

here are being utilized by the international

oil and gas industry all over the world – and

attracting expertise to the Bergen region to

fill positions demanding experienced and

ambitious employees.

The Bergen region is the home

to a number of powerhouses

within hydroelectric power.

One of the cleanest forms of

energy is hydroelectric power,

and the combination of the

wealth of water in Hordaland,

combined with the ingenuity

and environmental awareness

of the region results in success

on all levels when it comes to

water power.

Clean Water EnergyThe energy company BKK has its roots in

western Norway, with activities including

production, transmission and wholesales

of electric power as well as consulting and

business development services. BKK has

approximately 1,000 employees and has

its headquarters in Bergen. Together with

corporate partners, the company provides

secure, renewable energy and related

services to 175,000 customers. In 2007

BKK recorded a production record of 8,4

TWh, making the company the fifth largest

power producer in Norway. The company

generates hydroelectric power from 30

power plants either wholly or partially owned

by the company.

Bergen Energi was established in 1991 as

the first independent energy brokerage

house in a new and unique energy

market. As European countries continue

to deregulate their energy markets in

accordance with EU directives, Bergen

Energi is well positioned to aims to expand

their international services. Other Bergen-

based energy companies include Fjordkraft,

which purchases energy from the Nordic

power exchange Nordpool and resells it to

customers nationally.

Alternative forms of energy are also in

focus here in the region as part of the

R&D programmes of the major energy

corporations as well as core business

areas of companies such as CMR Protech,

working to develop energy technologies

for efficient power production, lower CO2

emissions and reduced environment energy

impact.© M

auri

cio

Pav

ez

live & work in bergen 23

An Energy Region Hordaland is a region in growth in many

respects and this is certainly true when it

comes to energy. From hydroelectric power

to alternative forms of energy to oil and gas,

this region has major employers who are

on the cutting edge of the industries that

produce energy.

The Norwegian oil and gas industry has

come far in the past half century. From a

time when it played no role in the county’s

economy and society, it is now the largest

industry in a country that ranks as the fifth

largest oil exporter and the tenth largest oil

producer. Not only that, Norway is the third

largest gas exporter and the seventh largest

gas producer – and nowhere in this country

is the positive effect of the oil and gas

industry more evident than in Hordaland.

Norwegian companies in the oil and gas

industry are renowned for bringing home

projects on time and under budget, and

many of these companies are either

represented or headquartered in the

Hordaland region. These include well-

known international companies such as

StatoilHydro, Odfjell Drilling, Aibel, Kværner

Offshore Parter, Framo Engineering and

the AGR Group. This oil services company

headquartered in Bergen offers a wide

range of services ranging from constructing

and managing drilling programs to providing

services and technologies for exploration,

production and maintenance.

The GiantStatoilHydro is internationally known for its

cutting-edge technology and high return

on investment, with benchmark studies

showing that the company uses the most

innovative solutions and is highly cost

efficient due to the technology employed.

One reason is the company’s ability to

work closely with other companies as well

as the Norwegian Government. Another

is StailoilHydro’s large and demanding

portfolio in the harsh environment of the

Norwegian Continental Shelf, an area that

demands nothing less than excellence.

Bergen is the corporate headquarters for

global drilling operations, exploration, and oil

facility services.

Never ceasing to impress with their

innovative activities, StatoilHydro is the

largest employer in Hordaland. The numbers

are large, including over 3,000 employed at

the Sandsli facility – just one of several office

complexes in Hordaland. The Technology

and New Energy business area is led from

here by Executive Vice-President Margareth

Øvrum, who is also responsible for the

Odfjell Drilling’s new ultradeepwater

semisubmersible drilling rig Deepsea Atlantic

with delivery from Daewoo shipyard in

South Korea 31 October 2008. The second

rig Deepsea Stavanger is scheduled to be

delivered in June 2010.

© O

dfje

ll D

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ng

Sandsli site. The Mongstad refinery is

Norway’s largest exporter, with 10 million

tonnes of fuel being produced annually, and

is ranked one of the world’s most energy-

efficient refineries. Mongstad employs

over 1,000 people, as do the StatoilHydro

installations at Kollsnes, the Sture terminal

and the base at Ågotnes.

High Levels of SuccessThe organization with its finger on the pulse

of the oil and gas industry in this region is

the member organization Hordaland Oil

and Gas, the coordinating organization

for the petroleum activities in this region.

According to Managing Director Sjur

Storaas, “The aim of the organization is to

utilize Norwegian oil and gas resources for

economic growth in Hordaland. The level of

activity here is high, with new fields being

developed on the Norwegian Continental

Shelf and an excellent business environment

that facilitates further development and

growth for businesses in Hordaland, as

leading producers and suppliers to the

petroleum sector locally, nationally and

internationally.”

24

bergen – norway’s aquaculture & fishingcapital

By Nancy Bazilchuk

The success of the Bergen region within aquaculture and fishing activities has been achieved through

the combined effort of targeted research, a strong financial environment, experienced fish farmers and

governmental support. This governmental infrastructure is important and unique – this area is home to

much of the national administration and expertise within the industry.

The Directorate of Fisheries leads the way

though guidance, support and promotion

of sustainable management of resources

– vital in helping the Bergen region to

achieve long term success, but the list

doesn’t end here. The Norwegian Food

Safety Authorities Department of Fish and

Seafood is located in the city, as well as the

National Veterinarian Institute leadership

for seafood health. World leaders within

marine research abound here, including

the Institute of Marine Research and

the National Institute of Nutrition and

Seafood Research (NIFES). In addition,

the University of Bergen’s strong research

and educational environment is widely

recognized and respected internationally.

The employment possibilities are

numerous, both within research as well

as with the prospering companies that

abound here. Lerøy Seafood Group, one of

the world leaders within salmon production

can be found here, as well as the second

largest salmon feed producer in the world,

Ewos. The Norwegian Seafood Center

(Norsk Sjømatsenter) is located in Bergen,

working to coordinate and better help the

industry with marketing, communication

and practical support. Finally, from a

seafood finance perspective, it is interesting

to note that Bergen hosts the only

authorized salmon financial exchange –

called logically enough – “Fish Pool”.

Fish Exporters through the MillenniaThe Norwegian Seafood Export Council

lists 33 major fish exporters in Bergen,

many of which have their roots in the city’s

centuries-old tradition of harvesting fish

from the sea. In fact, Hordaland hosted

over 20% of all the people associated with

the Norwegian fishing community in 2005,

according to Statistics Norway. That’s the

second largest number of fishermen in the

country; only the county of Nordland had

more.

The steady supply of fish has fuelled

the growth of companies such as the

Lerøy Seafood Group, which traces its

operations to the end of the 19th century.

The company’s roots can be traced to

fisherman-farmer Ole Mikkel Lerøen, who

sold live fish at the Bergen fish market.

Lerøen gradually expanded his business

to include exports, and by 1939, two of his

employees established one of the Group’s

principal companies – Hallvard Lerøy AS.

The Synergies of ExpertiseIn 2008, eight research institutes decided

to formalize a synergy of expertise by

creating the Bergen Marine Research

Cluster, which is composed of Christian

Michelsen Research AS, the Institute

of Marine Research, Helse Bergen HF,

Nansen Environmental and Remote

Sensing Centre, National Institute of

Nutrition and Seafood (NIFES), Nofima

(formerly Fiskeriforskning), UNIFOBAS and

the University of Bergen.

Commercial fishing has long been an

economic backbone of the Bergen region,

but recreational fishing, here in Nautnes

north of Bergen, is also important and relies

on the knowledge generated by the Bergen

Marine Research Cluster to protect the health

of fish stocks.

© P

er E

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Fjo

rd N

org

e as

live & work in bergen 25

“Here in Bergen, we have unique expertise

and capabilities within marine research,

which we will use to solve large-scale

local, national and regional challenges,”

Peter M. Haugen, the cluster’s scientific

leader, and a professor and head of the

Geophysical Institute at the University

of Bergen said when the cluster was

announced in January, 2008. “Today, we

face an increasing number of issues for

which it is not sufficient to be an expert in

a limited field. There is an increasing need

for interdisciplinary work, and the creation

of Bergen Marine Research Cluster is a

decisive contribution in enabling us to face

new challenges in an effective manner.”

The cluster has identified a number of

topics as their top priorities, including

climate research, the marine environment

and resources, marine technology, and

research on seafood and health.

Seafood & HealthAmong the most intriguing research being

undertaken in Bergen is the work being

done to better understand the relationship

between seafood and health. “We all know

that seafood is good for you; that is a well

known statement,” says Livar Frøyland,

Head of Research for the Seafood and

Health Programme at NIFES, the National

Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research

in Bergen, and an adjunct professor of

nutritional physiology at the University of

Bergen. “But most of the research that has

been performed uses components such as

fish oil. Intervention trials with seafood are

quite rare.”

Frøyland’s group is working hard to change

that, with a variety of integrated research

projects that look at the effects of seafood

consumption on human health. The Bergen

Marine Cluster’s Haugen sees this research

as critical in the worldwide battle against

preventable diseases such as diabetes and

heart disease.

Another cutting-edge project is AquaMax,

a 4-year, EUR 16 million project that started

in 2006, and which is being coordinated at

NIFES by Dr. Øyvind Lie, NIFES Director.

The project has 32 partners from 14

countries, including cooperators in China

and India, and has as its primary goal to

replace as much as possible of the fish

meal and fish oil currently used in fish feeds

with sustainable, alternative feed resources.

Climate Effects StudyWhen Vilhelm Bjerknes, a Norwegian

scientist and one of the founders of modern

meteorology, came to Bergen in 1917 to

start the Bergen Geophysical Institute, he

Marine Harvest is one Bergen region

company with unique expertise and

capabilities.

© M

arin

e H

arve

st/S

tein

ar J

oha

nsen

laid the cornerstone for world-class climate

and weather research that continues in the

city to this day, often with a focus on the

marine environment.

One collaborative project, including the

Institute of Marine Research, Marine

Harvest Norway, Nofima Akvaforsk/

Fiskeriforskning AS, Skretting and NIFES

Statistics, is looking at the effects of

climate change – but in this case they’re

looking at how climate change affects feed

utilization and growth in farmed salmon.

Rising sea temperatures have already

been experienced by Norwegian fish

farmers, who have also noted that higher

temperatures lead to lower feed intake in

salmon.

Ernst Morten Hevrøy, a NIFES researcher,

says the Research Council of Norway

funded project will identify how much fat

and protein salmon use for growth and how

much they use to maintain bodily functions

when the sea is 19 oC. “The goal is to

come up with a feed whose combination of

nutrients ensures the growth and wellbeing

of salmon and efficient feed utilization in

warmer water. This is also important in

order to ensure good fish health,” he adds.

26

Based in Bergen, Grieg Shipping

is an important force in the global

shipping industry.

a maritime powerhouse

By Nancy Bazilchuk

Anyone who’s ever studied a map of Norway can see instantly why shipping and maritime activities are

such a crucial part of the nation’s economy. The country’s coastline spans 2,200 kilometres as the crow

flies, but 10 times that if you follow the crenulations of the coastline, creating perfect natural harbours.

It is not only the city of Bergen that has

traditionally looked to the sea, but much

of the economy and activities of the

surrounding region has also been built

around the maritime industry. The island

of Askøy on the outskirts of Bergen has

a thriving economy with employers such

as the shipyard Bergen Group; Ølensvåg

to the south features West Contractors;

Os is the home of Norwegian Deck

Machinery; and Kvinnherad is bustling with

activities with employers such as Maritime

Equipment.

It seems that everywhere you look in

the Bergen region there are maritime-

related activities that impress. Stord

is not only home to thriving maritime-

related activities; it also features the Stord

Maritime Museum, which can give visitors

an excellent taste of the Hordaland region

as a shipping hub. Accessible by regular

ferry boat routes, Austevoll Municipality is

not only idyllically situated on the western

coast approximately 40 kilometres

southwest of Bergen – it is also home to

a solid economy and an excellent living

environment.

The Ocean HighwayA view of the ocean as a highway, which is

the result of the region’s fascinating blend

between mountains and sea, also explains

why Bergen is home to some of the largest

niche shipping companies on the planet,

such as Odfjell SE and Grieg Shipping,

along with all the businesses that have

developed to provide secondary services

to the maritime community. Some of these

companies, such as pump manufacturer

Frank Mohn AS, helped Bergen’s maritime

community develop the technologies that

helped build the niche shipping markets in

the first place.

Since Bergen has always relied

on the sea as a highway, Bergen

businessmen have been far

more willing to invest in new

technologies that would help

them compete in the world

market. A crucial example

is during the technological

transition that took place in the

late 1880s, when shipowners

shifted from sailing ships to

steam or, later, to diesel. Most

Norwegian shippers made

this transition later rather than

sooner, electing instead to

switch to less time-sensitive cargoes, such

as timber or ores, rather than invest in

costly new ships.

But this was not so in Bergen. There,

merchants and residents were so reliant

on the oceanic highway to bring them

all manner of goods from the world at

large that the city’s shipping industry

was among the first in Norway to make

the critical transition from sail to faster

ships powered by steam, and then by

diesel. “They made the shift 10-15 years

before everyone else in Norway,” Tenold

says. “They were engaged in fruit and fish

© G

rieg

Shi

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ing

live & work in bergen 27

trades, they had perishable products, and

they needed to move goods as quickly as

they could.”

Expanding Market, Services & EmploymentThese days, Bergen’s considerable

maritime and shipping community has

expanded to serve Norway’s offshore

petroleum trade. For example, LMG

Marin AS grew out of a naval engineering

company founded in Bergen in 1943. The

company now designs ships and offshore

installations, as well as offering a range of

other consulting services. Scandinavian

Electric Systems produces innovative

electrical propulsion systems, while

Vestdavit AS makes and designs davits for

the seismic and offshore industry, as well

as for the Navy.

Companies such as Framo Engineering

are often looking for new engineering

talents who can work with the

development and supplying of total system

solutions to the oil industry, securing a

cost-efficient development of marginal and

deepwater fields. Framo has more than

260 employees and an annual turnover of

NOK 1.3 billion. Other companies, such

as Schlumberger, a global leader in oilfield

services provider, have a focus on quality,

environment and employee development

make them a company that attracts the

best talent available.

Niche SuccessesThe highly technological nature of

extracting oil and gas from the Norwegian

Continental Shelf has fostered the growth

of highly specialized maritime companies

that can respond to the rapidly evolving

nature of the industry. Seaproof Solutions

specializes in the growing niche of sealed

subsea installations, which is becoming

the industry standard in newer Norwegian

oil and gas fields, such as Snøhvit in the

Barents Sea, and Ormen Lange.

Frank Mohn AS has grown from providing

pumps for ships to being the leading

manufacturer and supplier of submerged

pumps for the world tanker and offshore

markets. The company makes water

injection pumps and systems, fire water

Pictured is one of Odjell SE’s nearly

100 ships.

© O

dfje

ll

pumps, seawater lift pumps, cavern

pumps, portable pumps, oil recovery

equipment and pumping systems for

subsea applications.

Niche shipping remains a highly important

sector in the Bergen market, particularly

in chemical and bulk liquid transport

and open hatch bulk shipping, for forest

products. Among the traditional specialists

has been Star Shipping, recently

divided, whereby the demerged part will

operate as Westfal-Larsen Shipping,

and the remainder, under the name Star

Shipping – will continue as a 100% owned

company of Grieg Shipping Group. Grieg

Shipping Group is an important force in

open-hatch general cargo vessels. The

company currently owns and manages

23 of these ships, with four new

ships scheduled for delivery in

2009 and 2010. Another Bergen

shipper, Odfjell SE, is one of

world’s largest providers of

specialized chemical transport,

with nearly 100 ships at its

command.

28

ansa (association of norwegian students abroad)

ANSA was founded by Norwegian

students in 1956, and through the years

ANSA has worked to improve and change

the rules and regulations governing grants

and loans for students abroad. ANSA

believes that all students should have the

right to study any subject in any country

they wish.

ANSA provides a broad range of services

to students before, during, and after their

studies abroad:

Before StudiesANSA is the national Information Centre

for higher education abroad. The

Information Centre is funded by the

Ministry of Education and Research

and gives unbiased advice on higher

education abroad. Its five full-time

educational advisers visit schools and

student recruitment fairs, give individual

counselling, and publish information both

in print and on the Internet.

During StudiesAs the welfare organization of Norwegian

students abroad, ANSA offers services

and funds social events for its members

during their studies. Members are

organized locally in 21 groups spread

all over the world, and more than 500

volunteers arrange various events and

represent ANSA where they study.

Members also run professional

committees in a variety of subjects.

These committees arrange meetings for

professional development and networking,

often in close collaboration with

Norwegian organizations such as Tekna

(science and engineering), Siviløkonomene

(business administration) and Den norske

lægeforening (medicine).

In cases of international crises, ANSA

cooperates closely with the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs to secure the safety of

Norwegian students abroad. ANSA also

works with the Norwegian Church Abroad

(Sjømannskirken) and the Student Health

Services at the University of Oslo in giving

individual aid to students in difficulty.

In cooperation with Norwegian service

providers, ANSA offers high-quality and

cost-effective banking and insurance

solutions tailored to the needs of students

abroad.

On the political front, ANSA acts as an

advocate for students and studying

abroad through its relations with the

Ministry of Education and Research, the

Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund

(Lånekassen) and other players in the field

of higher education. Six hundred yearly

quotations in the media make ANSA’s

views known both to politicians and the

general public.

After StudiesANSA Alumni is a career network set

up to help former students gain access

to the Norwegian job market. ANSA

Alumni arranges seminars, cooperates

with ANSA’s professional committees

and offers an extensive network for job

recruitment.

ANSA also maintains close connections

with both public and private Norwegian

employers, and with the Confederation of

Norwegian Enterprise (NHO). Employers

regularly advertise for candidates in

ANSA’s magazine ANSAnytt and through

ANSA’s mailing list. Every year ANSA

organizes a Symposium where employers

and students meet to discuss job

opportunities.

Storgata 19

NO-0184 Oslo, Norway

Tel: +47 22 47 76 00

Website: www.ansa.no

ANSA – the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad – is a non-profit, independent organization voicing

the interests of Norwegian students who study abroad. Currently 22,000 Norwegian students are studying

abroad in over 60 countries at over 1,200 educational institutions worldwide.

ANSA attends to the professional, economic, social, and cultural interests of Norwegian students abroad, and strives to strengthen the

appreciation of the resources these students represent because of their international experience and qualifications.

29live & work in bergen

Aker Solutions’ International Trainee ProgrammeAker Solutions’ international trainee

programme is an intensive two year ‘on-the-

job’ learning experience, consisting of three

assignments covering different businesses

and geographies within the company. The

programme’s focus is to expose recent

graduates to a range of roles, to broaden their

experiences and to provide guidance through

their first professional steps.

Upon successful completion of the

programme, trainees are encouraged to

further develop their skills in a fulfilling and

long-term career with Aker Solutions. More

information about the programme and other

career opportunities can be found on the

website www.akersolutions.com.

33,000 Reasons why Aker Solutions is Thriving From the urgency of energy delivery to the

ongoing need for reliable industrial processes,

the worldwide demand for engineering has

never been greater. Aker Solutions delivers on

this demand thanks to a team 33,000 strong.

Together they design, develop and deploy

comprehensive industrial solutions for their

customers.

The expertise and innovation of Aker Solutions’

people are exceeded only by their drive to

deliver. Customers have been counting on

this combination of ability and attitude for

more than 150 years. Today, Aker Solutions

continues to meet some of the world’s most

critical engineering challenges.

The mission is crystal clear: to provide

services that are expert and reliable and that

earn the trust of world-class customers, time

after time. This is achieved thanks entirely to

the people, 33,000 of the very best reasons for

working with Aker Solutions.

Competence & People Development Profile Aker Solutions is an international company

with a vision to be the preferred partner as well

as the preferred employer. At Aker Solutions

employees have the opportunity to develop on

the job, through challenging tasks, coaching

and training. It is therefore not a coincidence

that the company has been repeatedly ranked

as one of the most attractive employers in

Norway.

Aker Solutions is continuously searching for

talent that can further develop the company’s

success. The company offers the right

opportunities for people with the right attitude,

global positions, world class challenges and

professional growth.

Aker Solutions is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products

and integrated solutions. The business within Aker Solutions comprises several industries, including oil and

gas; refining and chemicals; mining and metals; and power generation. With over NOK 58 billion in revenue

and approximately 33,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, the company’s impact is truly global.

AkeR SoluTIonS ASASnarøyveien 36, Fornebu • PO Box 169 NO-1325 Lysaker, NorwayTel: +47 67 51 30 00 • Fax: +47 67 51 30 10Website: www.akersolutions.com

engineering, construction, technology & integrated solutions

30

Quality Conscious & Highly QualifiedBergen Group’s main office is situated in

Bergen, and other locations are strategically

placed along the coast of Norway, from

Kirkenes in the north to Stavanger in the

south. The group has approximately 1,650

permanent employees, in addition to the

same number of contract workers. All Bergen

Group employees are quality-conscious

and highly qualified, providing an excellent

foundation on which to build the corporate

vision: to use local know-how to achieve

global added- value.

StrategyBergen Group’s strategy is to grow within

activities requiring a high degree of

competence and strict demands on quality.

The company will specifically direct this

strategy to special purpose vessels and the

offshore industry. The company’s intention is

to establish itself as a significant participant

in the areas of ship

building, maintenance

and repair, offshore

related services, and

further development

of high-technological

products.

RecruitmentThe Bergen Group is recruiting manpower

to all its companies in Norway, with a main

focus on engineers, operators in the area of

machining, piping, electronics, welding, plate

work, etc. See the corporate website

www.bergengroup.no in the recruitment

section for further details.

Bergen Group is a maritime industrial concern with its main focus on the offshore market within fixed and

floating constructions and special purpose vessels. Bergen Group serves the high technology segment

of the offshore and shipbuilding industries. Through a range of strategic acquisitions, Bergen Group has

specialized in the following four business fields: shipbuilding, maritime service, offshore and technology.

BERGEN GROUPPO Box 14 Laksevåg • NO-5847 Bergen, Norway Tel: +47 55 54 25 00 • Fax: +47 55 54 25 01 e-mail: post@bergengroup.noWebsite: www.bergengroup.no

fixed & floating constructions & offshore vessels

31live & work in bergen

www.bergengroup.no

SHIPBUILDING MARITIME SERVICE OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY

BERGEN GROUPHigh-tech development in the offshore and shipbuilding industries

Bergen Group is a maritime industrial group with the main focus on the offshore market within fixed and floating constructions, and special purpose vessels. Today, Bergen Group covers all segments within the high-tech development in the offshore and shipbuilding industries. Through a number of strategic acquisitions, Bergen Group has specialised in the following four business areas: Shipbuilding, Maritime Service, Offshore and Technology.

BERGEN GROUP OFFSHOREBergen Group’s Offshore division is a full-range supplier of services to the offshore market. The business area is built around three key resources in order to consolidate its position as a major supplier of offshore-related services. Bergen Group’s Offshore division possesses a vast range of expertise and experience, plus well established facilities and strategically-located plants that enable the business area to take on large and small EPCI commissions within the areas of newbuilds, modifications and maintenance, subsea and onshore facilities for all types of oil and gas installations. The company’s main focus areas are the further development of the oil and gas activity in the North Sea, the development of the fields in the maritime zones in the north and other offshore-based activity.

OFFSHORE

DESIG

N BY MARITIM

E COLO

URS

32

At the start of 2008, Bergen Energi’s offices

are located in Norway, Sweden, Denmark,

Finland, Germany, the Netherlands,

France and the UK, with the head office in

Bergen. The company’s 150 employees

are experienced in systems, products and

models for optimising energy purchases,

offering high quality services to customers of

the growing European energy market.

Services offered Brokerage of Energy Contracts

Brokerage has constituted one of Bergen

Energi’s most important business areas since

the company was formed. Clients purchasing

electricity under bilateral contracts sign a

brokerage agreement that authorizes Bergen

Energi to monitor market developments

continuously on behalf of its client, obtaining

prices, evaluating offers and arranging

matters to enable the client to sign energy

contracts on competitive terms.

Brokerage of gas is based on the same

model as electric power and the markets

have many common features.

Portfolio Management

Portfolio management is Bergen Energi’s

most important business area in the Nordic

and European energy market. Over the years

Nord Pool, the Nordic power exchange, has

built up liquid marketplaces for physical and

financial contracts. As a portfolio manager,

Bergen Energi attends to trading in physical

and financial contracts on behalf of its clients.

Bergen Energi is an established trading

representative on the energy exchanges EEX

in Germany, APX in the Netherlands and the

Nordic power exchange Nord Pool.

Administrative Services

Administrative services include various

supportive tasks offered by Bergen Energi

to assist its customers in optimizing use

of energy – and save money. Many energy

companies are struggling with their own

procedures and systems, making it in the

customer’s best

interest to quality

assure invoices

received. This requires

time and resources,

and this is just one area

where Bergen Energi

provides valuable

assistance.

Major consumers

of energy with

consumption spread

over a number of sites

receive a large number

of invoices in the

course of a year, and

the work involved in checking that everything

is correct takes time and resources. Clients

buying invoice administration services

delegate the work associated with the

receipt, registration, control, payment and

accounting of invoices to Bergen Energi.

Bergen Energi has built up comprehensive

programmes and systems capable of

providing a wide-range of support and

information services related to management

of energy consumption. These services

can be provided in relation to portfolio

management and brokerage services, or

even on an independent basis.

Bergen Energi AS was established in 1991 as the first independent energy brokerage house in a new and

unique energy market. As European countries continue to deregulate their energy markets in accordance

with EU directives, Bergen Energi is well positioned to expand its international services.

BERGEN ENERGI ASStoretveitvegen 98 • NO-5072 Bergen, NorwayTel: +47 55 36 37 00 • Fax: +47 55 36 37 01e-mail: info.no@bergen-energi.com Website: www.bergen-energi.com

energy broker

33live & work in bergen

benefits of seafood in human diet have been

acknowledged in a number of assessments.

The cluster will take advantage of the Bergen

region as a world leader within marine

aquaculture research to strengthen this

expertise by carrying out research throughout

the food chain, from fish feed to seafood to

enhance human resistance to diseases. This

will not only improve human health but also

innovation in science and the food industry.

Recruitment The Bergen Marine Research Cluster provides

a unique and exciting environment for R&D

and education within the marine sciences. As

such it aims at recruiting talented students

and young scientists, both in Norway and from

abroad, in order to meet the challenges posed

by the industry and society at large, at the

national and international levels.

A Cooperative effortThe Bergen Marine Research Cluster,

which gathers about 700 scientific and

technical positions, is a binding and strategic

collaboration between the following research

institutions: Christian Michelsen Research AS,

Institute of Marine Research, Helse Bergen

Haukeland University Hospital, Nansen

Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre,

National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood,

Nofima, Unifob AS and the University of Bergen.

The collaboration seeks to strengthen marine

R&D and education in order to provide answers

to large-scale local, regional and national

challenges around the topics of climate,

environment and resources, technology and

health. By joining forces, the cluster will act as

a catalyst of activities by coordinating existing

competence, skills and infrastructure more

effectively under a common profile.

Strategic ResearchClimate Research

Bergen Marine will focus on the understanding,

monitoring and prediction of climate change

and its impact on the environment, industry

and society. The research will be coordinated

by the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, a

national centre of excellence on climate studies.

Marine Resources & the Environment

Bergen Marine will focus on research,

monitoring and management of marine

resources (including aquaculture) and the

environment by exploiting its partners’ expertise

within marine geology and geophysics,

oceanography, biodiversity and evolution, and

ecosystem based management.

Marine Technology

Bergen Marine will promote synergies among

the research communities for the novel

application of existing technologies across the

cluster’s areas of expertise in order to boost

industrial innovation and development in this

field.

Seafood & Human Health

It is estimated that almost half of nowadays

human diseases are lifestyle related, while the

By virtue of large resources, scientific personnel, research infrastructure and student population, the region of

Bergen amasses unique expertise and capabilities within marine research and education. The major marine

research centres in Bergen thus seized the opportunity to tighten the regional cooperation, resulting in 2008

with the launch of the Bergen Marine Research Cluster as a step towards realising the vision of “Bergen – a

European marine capital”.

BERGEN MARINE RESEARCH CLUSTER Secretariat: Department of Research ManagementUniversity of Bergen PO Box 7800 • NO-5020 Bergen NorwayContact: Dr. Beatriz Balinoemail: bergenmarine@fa.uib.no Website: www.bergenmarine.no

marine research

© U

nive

rsity

of B

erge

n

© U

nive

rsity

of B

erge

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34

Recognized Owners & PartnersBTO supports eight research institutions in

commercialization and technology transfer

of research results: The University of Bergen,

Helse Bergen, Institute of Marine Research,

Bergen University College, National Institute

of Nutrition and Seafood Research, Christian

Michelsen Research AS, Unifob AS, and

Fiskeriforskning AS.

These institutions employ a total of

approximately 2,800 researchers who

are involved in a broad range of projects.

Researchers, faculty and students from these

institutions provide BTO with about 100 new

innovative ideas and technologies

each year.

BTO ExpertiseBTO has legal and market expertise

as well as the core business is to

perform business development

within the following focus areas:

• Lifescience/medicaltechnology

• Marinetechnology

• Energyandpetroleumtechnology

• Materials/chemistrytechnology

• ICT/software

BTO Services BTO covers all traditional tasks of a technology

transfer office. In addition to handling all

intellectual property issues (IP), BTO services

include:

• Strengthencultureforcommercialization

• Searchforideasandideadevelopment

• Projectdevelopmentandcommercialization

BTO’s services are also available to industry

interestedinhelpwithbusiness/project

development and commercialization. BTO

has access to a wide range of research-

based technologies and ideas, as well as the

network of researchers involved in cutting edge

projects. Companies and industry sectors

interested in or in need of research-based

technologiesfromBergen,and/orwithdefined

research results, are welcome to contact us.

unique Innovative Work environmentBTOislocatedattheVILVITEBergenScience

Centre together with other companies and

organizations within the Bergen model of

research-based commercialization. This centre

is a unique working environment for technology

development and innovation activities, and is

part of the Marineholmen Technology Park.

Marineholmen is in the process of rapid

growth and development, and aims

to become a leading environment for

research and business development

and an attractive place to work.

Top Ranked Public Tech Transfer officeAccording to FORNY, the joint

programme between the Research

Council of Norway and Innovation

Norway within technology transfer

activities, BTO was the top performing

public technology transfer office in

2007.

Bergen Teknologioverføring AS (BTO) is the technology transfer office for eight research institutions in

Bergen. BTO’s mission is to stimulate the creation of new jobs, and to facilitate the delivery of research

results to the commercial sector. Since its founding in December 2004, BTO has been involved in

the launching of 12 spin-off companies, and licensed several technologies. Today, several innovative

technologies are in the pipeline or are already available for licensing.

BERGEN TEKNOLOGIOVERFØRING ASThormøhlensgate 51 • NO-5006 Bergen Norway Tel: +47 55 58 30 50 • Fax: +47 55 58 30 56 E-mail: post@bergento.no • Website: www.bergento.no

technology transfer & innovation

35live & work in bergen

The group consists of 150 employees who

carry out a great variety of research and

development projects that range from basic

research and concept development through

applied research, prototyping, field testing,

engineering, certification and industrialization.

CMR InstrumentationCMR Instrumentation’s main focus is on

research and development of advanced

measurement technologies for a wide range

of applications based on unique expertise

within measurement science, sensor-design,

simulation and modelling, electronics, software

and signal processing. The business unit

has particular expertise within acoustics and

electromagnetic measurement technologies,

and carries out complete projects including

every phase from idea and initial concept

through building and testing of prototypes to

qualification of ready commercial products.

Website: www.cmr.no

CMR Computing CMR Computing works in the field of

information technology with the primary aim

to develop system solutions that improve client

productivity. The business unit has an excellent

track record. 20 years of experience and

close collaboration with customers, ensures

deliveries with high quality solutions. Its

expertise includes visualization, virtual reality,

and web technology. Website: www.cmr.no

Prototech Prototech provides technical solutions, product

design and manufacturing services, with

applications ranging from space applications

to products for the consumer market. The

company is divided in three departments:

Design and Engineering, Energy Systems and

Production. Website: www.prototech.no

GexConThis company is active all around the world

with offices in Sweden, USA and UK. In total,

the staff has more than 300 years of explosion-

related experience. This makes GexCon a

preferred supplier of consultancy services,

experimental testing and software products

within fire, gas dispersion and explosion safety.

Website: www.gexcon.com

Picture a collection of companies that are dedicated to finding new innovative solutions for exciting

technological challenges. Christian Michelsen Research (CMR) is such a group – versatile and flexible, with

a long tradition for invention, and with leading scientists within industrial development.

CHRISTIAN MICHELSEN RESEARCH ASPO Box 6031 • NO-5892 Bergen NorwayTel: +47 55 57 40 40 • Fax: +47 55 57 40 41Email: info@cmr.no • Website: www.cmr.no

research, invention & innovation

CMR Highligts 2007 (from left): Wood chips - our new gold (Prototech) – Better facts finds fish (CMR Computing) –

“Fixed” cash register saves money (CMR Instrumentation) – Identifying the explosion’s cause (GexCon)

36

In 2007 BKK recorded a production record of

8.4 TWh, making the company the fifth largest

power producer in Norway. The company

generates hydroelectric power from 30 power

plants either wholly or partially owned by the

company.

Clean, environmentally Friendly energyBKK has been a respected power producer

since 1920, based on a clean and sustainable

resource – water. The company believes that

a renaissance is in the making concerning

construction of new, more efficient hydroelectric

power plants. Due to climate changes the world

is searching for renewable energy solutions,

and hydroelectric power is one of them – an

important part of a total energy strategy that

focuses on clean, sustainable and renewable

energy sources as well as energy saving.

The generation of hydroelectric power will

continue to make up the majority of BKK’s

sustainable power production. Another part

will be the emphasis on developing other forms

of power generation that include wind-based

power plants on land and at sea, as well as

other alternative forms of power production.

BKK has the ambition to continue to produce

an increasing percentage of environmentally

friendly energy, with the goal of increasing these

sources of energy by 750 GWh (hydroelectric),

400 GWh (wind power) and 300 GWh (district

heating) by the year 2015 – enough to supply

electricity to over 70,000 homes. In addition,

the company is involved with an innovative

cooperative project with the R&D cluster in

Bergen – the goal is to develop a new type of

environmentally friendly energy through the use

of high temperature fuel cells.

International ActivitiesBKK is involved in a number of international

energy-related projects, including hydroelectric

power activities in Nepal and on Greenland.

Involvement in constructing hydropower plants

internationally are on the increase. Other

international activities last year include projects

in the Congo, Russia, Greenland, Canada and

the USA.

Career with BKKBKK has always focused on the future and sees

a large demand for innovative technological

solutions. Excellent human resources will be

an essential key to company success. In 2007

BKK hired over 100 new employees, and are

always looking for new, quality personnel

who can become part of the BKK team.

People choosing a career with BKK have the

opportunity to be a part of the company’s

search for solutions to the world’s climate crisis.

The energy company BKK has its roots in western Norway, with activities including production,

transmission and wholesale of electric power as well as consulting and business development services.

BKK has approximately 1,000 employees and has its headquarters in Bergen. Together with corporate

partners, the company provides secure, renewable energy and related services to 175,000 customers.

BKK PO Box 7050 • NO-5020 Bergen NorwayTel: +47 55 12 70 00 • Fax: +47 55 12 70 01E-mail: firmapost@bkk.no • Website: www.bkk.no

power production, wholesales & transmission of electric power

37live & work in bergen

38

Advanced Workshop & Design CapabilitiesFjell Industries uses new technologies in

supplying products and services related to

the following areas of activity:

• Design,fabricationandrepairoftubular

heat exchangers

• Design,fabricationandrepairoffinned

heat exchangers

• Design,fabricationandrepairofpressure

vessels

• Designandfabricationofvariousprocess

equipment that include evaporators,

driers, freshwater makers, coolers and

Waste Heat Recovery Units (WHRU) for

offshore high temperature gases

• Prefabricationofspoolsendpiping

systems

• Fabricationofalltypesofskidand

structures

• Serviceandrepairworkonvarioustypes

of drilling equipment

Innovation & CommitmentFjell Industries is a company committed to

the offshore industries, and invests in the

future through acquisition of new technology

and the best employee resources available.

Innovation and commitment are two key

words in company projects that include:

• AnewassemblymethodforWasteHeat

Recovery Units

• Developmentofanewfrictiondrier(patent

pending)

• Developmentofanewdesignofa

freshwater maker

An Experienced Work ForceFjell Industries’ staff of skilled and dedicated

employees always place client needs first.

Staff includes certified welders for most

materials that include:

• Stainlesssteel(alltypes)

• Duplexmaterials

• Titan

• 6MO

Fjell Industries is a modern, well equipped ISO 9001:2000 and NS-EN ISO 3834-2 certified workshop,

located in Straume, on the island of Sotra, in the heart of the on- and offshore activities in western Norway.

The company specializes in design, production and repair of heat exchangers, pressure vessels, driers,

evaporators and piping systems.

FJell InDuSTRIeS ASPO Box 404 • NO-5343 Straume, NorwayTel: +47 56 31 26 00 • Fax: +47 56 33 07 30e-mail: post@fjellindustries.com Website: www.fjellindustries.com

on- & offshore production & repair

39live & work in bergen

supported by FMC Customer Service

professionals trained to assist and provide

guidance within a wide range of areas:

• InstallationServices(drilling,XT

completion, tie-ins, controls etc.)

• Warmwellintervention(RLWI,TTRD,

medium well intervention)

• Coldintervention(controlpodchange-out,

well stimulation etc.)

• Maintenance,Modification,Repairand

Storage (MMRS)

• Toolrental

• TrainingofPersonnel(internal,customer,

e-learning)

• AdditionalEquipmentSales(spares&

spares management)

• P&A/Decommissioning

World’s largest FMC Technologies is the world’s largest

subsea service engineering group, with

broad service technician expertise related to

wellhead and topside, completion, control

andinterventionandRLWI.Thecompanyis

globally located in Norway, Scotland, Angola,

Nigeria, Ivory Coast, United States, Canada,

Brazil and Singapore.

New challenges require specific solutions.

FMC Customer Support provides specialist

service and strategic life of field planning

and solutions to operators worldwide.

Norwegian operations are part of the

global FMC Technologies corporation –

leading experts in energy production and

processing systems, provides solutions

for customers engaged in petroleum

exploration, production, measurement and

transportation. Those solutions include

the design, manufacture and supply of

technology and equipment.

Focus on PeopleFor FMC Technologies, a company in a

technology-based business, the critical

factor is not technology itself, but human

resources, the people that do the job. A

close partnership with customers, suppliers,

research and educational institutions and

other advanced industries has created a

unique environment for development of high-

level technology and has been an important

basis for company success.

FMC customers are provided with

customized packages of services to satisfy

installation and intervention requirements –

The Customer Support Eastern Region headquarters at Ågotnes in the Bergen Region is the single

point of contact for the expertise, personnel, systems and tools needed for installation and field service

management and support. FMC Technologies works with its customers in maximizing the productivity of

oil & gas fields, providing support through the entire life of a field. The company provides expertise that not

only helps increase production – but helps to extend the life of the field.

FMC TECHNOLOGIESPO Box 103 • NO-5346 Ågotnes, NorwayTel: +47 56 32 32 32 • Fax: +47 56 32 32 35Website: www.fmctechnologies.com/subsea

customized service & support packages

40

1. Frank Mohn Fusa AS.

2. Frank Mohn Flatøy AS.

several different training programmes to choose

from, including the Framo Academy and the

Framo Evening College.

Frank Mohn AS also has several companies

located worldwide. Selected employees get the

opportunity to pursue an international career.

Frank Mohn Rotterdam, Frank Mohn Singapore

and Frank Mohn Houston are the company’s

main international offices with both workshops

and a stock of spare parts. Frank Mohn AS also

has offices and workshops in Pusan, Tokyo,

Shanghai and Rio de Janeiro.

RecruitingAll Frank Mohn companies, both Norwegian

and international, are always interested in

evaluating experienced professionals. Frank

Mohn AS continuously employs new people,

so job seekers are encouraged to visit the

company’s website to look for specific available

positions or to send a general application via

email at jobb@framo.no. English is the company

language.

Frank Mohn Companies in norwayAll Frank Mohn pumping systems are

manufactured in Norway. In addition to

manufacturing and servicing pumping

systems, the company also services drilling

equipment and provide logistics services for the

Norwegian offshore market. The companies are

located in and around Bergen.

Frank Mohn Fusa AS manufactures Framo

Cargo Pumping Systems and Anti-Heeling

Systems for the marine industry. It is located

in Fusa, 40 minutes from Bergen city centre.

The company employs approximately 600

people, and has 60,000 square metres of

manufacturing, assembly and storage areas.

Frank Mohn Flatøy AS manufactures pumping

systems for the oil and gas industry. It is

located on the island of Flatøy, 25 minutes from

Bergen city centre. The company employs

approximately 410 people, and has 33,000

square metres of manufacturing, assembly and

storage areas.

Frank Mohn Piping AS manufactures hydraulic

piping systems. It is located at Hjertås, 40

minutes from Bergen city centre. The company

employs approximately 100 people, and has

30,000 square metres of manufacturing and

storage areas.

Frank Mohn Services AS provides service,

commissioning, training and spare parts for

Framo Pumping Systems. It is located in Helldal

in Bergen and employs approximately 230

people.

Frank Mohn Mongstad AS provides services

for drilling equipment. It is located adjacent

to Mongstadbase and the StatoilHydro oil

refinery at Mongstad. The company employs

approximately 185 people and has 75,000

square metres of service and storage areas.

Mongstadbase AS provides logistics services

for offshore oil and gas installations. It is

located at Mongstad, a one hour drive from

Bergen city centre. Mongstadbase AS employs

approximately 190 people, and has 500,000

square metres of workshop and storage areas.

It handles over 2,000 calls per year.

Career opportunitiesFrank Mohn companies employ a wide range

of engineers, CNC specialists, welders and

mechanists. The companys’ employees have

Frank Mohn AS is a leading supplier of pumping systems for marine and offshore applications. The

company was founded in 1938 and is located outside Bergen in western Norway. Frank Mohn AS employs

a total of approximately 1,650 people.

FRANK MOHN ASPO Box 98 Slåtthaug • NO-5851 Bergen, NorwayTel: +47 55 999 000 • Fax: +47 55 999 380E-mail: marine@framo.no • Website: www.framo.no

pump systems manufacturer

1

2

41live & work in bergen

Natural Gas Replacing oil ConsumptionGasnor has continually expanded its

distribution network for natural gas at

Karmøy and in Haugesund, and has now

replaced most of the oil consumption for

industry and commerce in this region. In

the Bergen area there is less industry, and

the supply of CNG started here. This is

well suited for smaller-scale customers and

necessary so that the busses in Bergen are

able to have access to natural gas. A smaller

local network of pipes has been established

here based on the gas being transported and

storedasCNGorLNGbeforeitissentoutto

the users.

Small-scale LNGGasnor saw that there was a need for

cost-effective logistics for reaching a larger

geographical area. Therefore, in 2003

the company opened its first production

installationforLNG.Thisalsoprovides

possibilities for delivering natural gas as fuel

to ships and opened the door for five large

natural gas-driven ferries.

Gasnor’sconceptforsmall-scaleLNG

consists of smaller, user-adapted installations

forstorageandregasificationofLNG.These

localLNGterminalscansupplyoneor

several users, and be enlarged according to

need. The gas is transported from Gasnor’s

production installation by tank lorries after it

is brought in by ship. This solution for small-

scaleLNGdistributionhasarousedattention

and interest from other countries where the

traditionalsolutionforLNGwithlargetankers

and terminals built into a specific space is not

feasible.

Gasnor has three production installations

forLNGanddeliverstoaround30local

terminals, which, among other things,

supplies the largest aluminium works in

Norway. Beginning in the winter of 2009

Gasnor will operate a new ship and it will be

usedforimportingLNG,alongwithother

uses. Import will strengthen the company’s

reliability of supply and open up delivering

larger amounts of gas without being

dependent on increasing its own production.

environmental ProfitThe environmental aspects of energy usage

continually receive more attention, and

the replacing of natural gas for oil in ships

contributes to the environment profiting

considerably. Among other things, emissions

of NOX are reduced by about 90%. This is

part of the background for an EU-supported

project which delineates the possibilities

forLNGforcoastaltrafficintheBalticSea.

Gasnor is the project leader for this.

Gasnor AS was established at Karmøy in 1989 and began delivering natural gas to Hydro Aluminium in

1994. This opened the supply of natural gas to Norway. Gasnor’s goal is to offer natural gas to industry

and other enterprises throughout Norway and the company also has ambitions to supply LNG to selected

markets in northern Europe. Gasnor has offices and operations at Karmøy (head office), Bergen, Kollsnes,

Trondheim and Oslo.

GASNOR ASPO Box 63 • NO-4299 Avaldsnes, NorwayTel: +47 81 52 00 80 • Fax: +47 55 21 43 01E-post: gasnor@gasnor.no • Website: www.gasnor.no

distributor of natural gas, lng & cng

42

nordic Financial leaderEstablished in 1871, Handelsbanken is the

largest bank in Sweden and the third largest

in the Nordic area. Its record of success

shows a better return on equity for nearly

four decades running, lower loan losses than

competitors, a high financial rating and a high

percentage of satisfied customers.

The Hordaland region of western Norway is

important to Handelsbanken with a strong

economy, solid corporate infrastructure and

the healthy national and international trade

taking place in this region. Handelsbanken’s

customers react positively to the fact that

financial solutions are specially developed

that suit their specific needs. The result of

this is that the bank has had the highest level

of customer satisfaction for the past 18 years.

employee SatisfactionHandelsbanken’s employees are trained –

and encouraged – to better ascertain

and understand customer needs, and to

select their customers in seeking to attain

a “win-win” financial relationship for all

parties involved. A high degree of authority

combined with individual responsibility

provides company employees with the

opportunity to develop their personal,

professional and corporate skills within a

dynamic environment.

Responsibility is delegated to each

Handelsbanken branch office, emphasizing

a focus on customer profitability rather than

product profitability. Creative communication

and solutions are encouraged, marketing

is undertaken by each branch and

the profitability of the overall business

relationship with the customer lies with each

individual branch office.

Flexibiity & Decisiveness = SuccessFor corporate employees, an emphasis is

placed on flexibility and decisiveness, with

a clear delegation of responsibility that

facilitates a complete focus on customer

needs. Decentralization has been one key to

corporate success, providing an environment

for employees that allows the development of

leadership skills.

At the same time, Handelsbanken corporate

financial control is strong. This combined

with consistent policies, routines and a

central credit policy ensures that the bank

will maintain its leading position within the

Nordic financial environment during the years

to come.

Handelsbanken is one of the largest financial corporations in the Nordic region, with over 10,000 employees

and 700 offices, responsible for management of nearly NOK 1.7 billion. Outside of the Nordic area,

Handelsbanken is represented in 18 countries. In Norway, the bank has 48 branch offices that offer a total

range of banking and financial services.

HANDELSBANKEN PO Box 892 • NO-5808 Bergen, NorwayTel: +47 55 54 01 00 • Fax: +47 55 54 01 30Website: www.handelsbanken.no

banking & financial services

43live & work in bergen

sales, research and technical development,

veterinarians, operators of boats, people that

take care of the fish as well as health, safety

and environment personnel.

The fish farming industry is a relatively new

one and it is continually developing, and

at Marine Harvest Norway there is hardly

a boring day at the job. Working in an

international, listed company with a high

level of attention from both investors and

customers, as well as working with living

organisms and the challenges that come

from this are just some of the things that

makes working for Marine Harvest Norway

AS an exciting company to work for.

largest Fish Farmer in norwayMarine Harvest has been the largest fish

farmer in Norway for a long time, and

globally, after the merger of Marine Harvest,

Pan Fish and Fjord Seafood, the company

stands behind 30% of the total salmon and

trout production in the world. Marine Harvest

offers a wide range of seafood products and

has several processing plants in a number of

European countries.

Company locationsMarine Harvest Norway’s head office is

located in Bergen. The company is divided

in four regions (southern, western, mid- and

northern Norway) concentrated around four

factories located in Ryfisk, Eggesbønes,

Ulvan and Herøy. The company’s sales

office is in Ålesund, and its competent and

experienced staff of 1,100 is spread out

along the coast from the Agder to Nordland

regions.

Wide Variety of Employment opportunitiesMarine Harvest Norway AS has a constant

need for new people – permanent

employees, apprentices and trainees. The

company operates in the whole value chain

from broodstock, roe, smolt, processing,

distribution and to sales. When most people

think about fish farming, they usually think

about people who work on the edge of

a net cage feeding fish, or working with

slaughtering and processing fish at a modern

processing plant. Not everyone knows that

the company has around 50 different types

of positions. These include everything from

people that work with finance, management

at different levels, personnel development,

Marine Harvest Norway AS is Norway’s largest fish farming company and it produces 25% of the

Norwegian salmon production. In 2007 the company had a turnover of NOK 5.7 billion. The company’s

products are sold mainly in Europe, Asia and Russia. Marine Harvest Norway AS is a subsidiary of Marine

Harvest ASA. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and has operations in 20 countries.

MARINE HARVEST NORWAY ASPO Box 4102 Dreggen • NO-5835 Bergen, NorwayTel: +47 21 56 23 00 • Fax: +47 21 56 23 01e-mail: norway@marineharvest.comWebsite: www.marineharvest.com

fish farming company

44

EBA MembershipMesta AS – www.mesta.no

Stoltz Entreprenør AS – www.stoltz.no

JM Byggholt AS Region Bergen –

www.byggholt.no

Backer Entreprenør AS – www.backer.no

W. engelsen ettf. AS – www.wengelsen.no

Amundsen Diving AS –

www.amundsendiving.com

Betonggulv AS

Byggekompaniet AS –

www.byggekompaniet.no

Byggservice AS – www.byggserviceas.com

Bøe & Lepsøy Byggmester

og entreprenørforretning AS

eltel networks AS – www.eltelnetworks.no

Entreprenør Magne Heldal AS –

www.heldaleiendom.no

HS Bygg AS – www.hs-bygg.no

nCC Construction AS

NCC Roads AS Region Vest

Sjøentreprenøren AS –

www.ncc.no

Larsen, Atterås og Brosvik AS –

www.lab.no

Entreprenør Magnar Sivertsen AS –

www.sivertsenas.no

nordgreen & Frønsdal AS – www.nf-as.no

Høyer odda AS – www.hoyer–odda.no

IMC Diving AS – www.imc-diving.com

kleiven Sogn AS – www.kleivensogn.no

lemminkäinen Infra oy Finland,

filial Sverige

lemminkäinen norge AS –

www.lemminkainen.no

Moelven Nordia AS –

www.moelven.nordia.no

OBAS Vest AS – www.obas.no

Rør-Dykk AS

Gunnar Røsseland

entrerprenørforetning AS

Skanska norge AS – www.skanska.no

Veidekke Entreprenør AS –

www.veidekke.no

Strand AS

Brødrene Ulveseth AS – www.ulveseth.no

Åmodt Entreprenør AS – www.jamodt.no

Tertnes entreprenør AS –

www.tertnes-ent.no

o.l. kythe AS

G&H Skjelnes Entreprenør AS

Spilde entreprenør AS – www.spilde.no

Allbygg Florø AS – www.allbygg.no

Jon Strømsnes AS

Sunnfjord Dykker Service AS –

www.dykkerservice.net/sunnfjord.php

B. Telle Trearbeid AS – www.telle-tre.no

Brødrene Rio AS

unu AS – www.unu-as.no

The Norwegian Contractor’s Association’s (EBA) Western Branch covers the provinces of Hordaland and

Sogn & Fjordane, consisting of 51 members and a total of over 3,000 employees. Covering all areas within

construction from land to sea, more information is available through EBA or members companies below.

NORWEGIAN CONTRACTOR’S ASSOCIATION (EBA) Vestenfjelske avdelingVeiten 3 • NO-5013 Bergen, NorwayTel: +47 55 90 72 50 • Fax: +47 55 90 15 12Website: www.ebanett.no

Since 1916

constructing the future

45live & work in bergen

odfjell TankersThe deep sea transportation of chemicals

and other liquids is Odfjell’s core business.

The company has unique experience in this

complex field of transportation. Its operations

are fully integrated with in-house functions for

chartering, operation and ship management.

Odfjell’s specialized fleet consists of more

than 100 ships including newbuildings

on order, with a total capacity of about

2.6 million dwt.

odfjell TerminalsOdfjell’s terminals operations give synergies

with the transportation activities and improves

quality and efficiency throughout the

transportation chain. Odfjell has fully owned

tank terminals in Rotterdam and Houston as

well as partially owned terminals in Singapore,

Korea and China. The company also works

closely with eight terminals in South America

through associated companies. Odfjell is

currently expanding its tank terminal activities

with new facilities under construction in China

and in the Middle East.

Career in odfjellHighly Qualified Staff

As a major service provider within shipping

and tank terminal activities worldwide, Odfjell

continuously develops its know-how, skills

and business model. The company has

highly qualified staff ashore and on board its

vessels, and is always looking for competent,

dedicated and reliable employees to be part

of its team.

Interesting & Challenging Jobs

Odfjell offers interesting and challenging

jobs with opportunities for development

of individual skills. For Odfjell it is vital

that all parts of the organization perform

professionally and Odfjell will support

employees with all relevant training. For

mariners, the company has an in-house

training academy in Subic Bay, Philippines.

International Working Environment

With its worldwide presence, Odfjell offers

an international working environment. For

some positions there are job opportunities in

different parts of the world.

Employee Satisfaction

Odfjell focuses on health, safety, environment

and individual job satisfaction. In addition to

an interesting job, Odfjell offers competitive

salary, pension and insurance benefits and a

good working environment.

Odfjell SE is a leading company in the global market for the transportation and storage of chemicals and

other speciality bulk liquids. Established in 1916, the company pioneered the development of the parcel

tanker trades in the middle of the 1950s and the tank storage business in the late 1960s. Odfjell owns and

operates parcel tankers in global and regional trade as well as a network of tank terminals. Odfjell is listed

on the Oslo Stock Exchange and has an annual turnover of about USD 1.2 billion.

oDFJell SePO Box 6101 Postterminalen • NO-5892 Bergen, NorwayTel: +47 55 27 00 00 • Fax: +47 55 28 47 41e-mail: bgo.mail@odfjell.comWebsite: www.odfjell.com

transportation & storage of chemicals & bulk liquids

46

The Vision to CreateOdfjell Drilling’s strategy is to create the

ultimate team to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

Building on experience, the company’s 2,600

motivated and dedicated employees have

delivered high quality services and added

value to the offshore oil industry for more than

35 years.

Those who choose a career with Odfjell

Drilling will work in a company that

appreciates talent and helps to maximize

employee potential. Company business is

constantly growing, employing operational

personnel, engineers and administrative

personnel to support North Sea and global

activities. To ensure a strong organization

prepared for further growth, the company

constantly works to remain the employer of

choice, for both current employees as well as

new recruits.

Four Business Units – Many employee opportunitiesSemi-submersible Drilling Rigs

Odfjell Drilling has entered into a contract for

two new, sixth generation ultramodern deep

water rigs, “Deepsea Atlantic”, with delivery in

2008 and “Deepsea Stavanger” in 2010. The

company has entered into a number of long-

term contracts providing a strong foundation

for new investments and continuous growth

in both the North Sea and internationally. At

present Odfjell Drilling operates two out of

three drilling rigs on the NCS.

Platform Drilling

Odfjell Drilling is the preferred drilling

contractor for StatoilHydro, ConocoPhillips,

Norway and Talisman Energy Services. Odfjell

Drilling is a leading platform drilling contractor

with operations on fixed and floating

production platforms.

Odfjell Drilling Technology (ODT)

ODT is one of the largest engineering centres

within offshore drilling in Northern Europe.

ODT offers substantial

expertise and know-how

in project management,

design verification,

conceptual engineering,

platform newbuildings

and rig modifications.

The division also provides

well management and

consultancy services.

Odfjell Well Services (OWS)

OWS is a market leading offshore service

company that supplies cost-efficient solutions

to the oil industry within casing services and

rental of drilling equipment globally.

Career opportunities in a Dynamic, Growing CompanyOdfjell Drilling has recruited more than 700

new employees over the last two years.

Company growth estimates signal recruiting

at this same high rate, or even more the

next two years. This includes both on- and

offshore personnel within engineering, drilling,

marine and subsea disciplines as well as

various staff positions. All vacancies are

continually published at

www.odfjelldrilling.com.

Odfjell Drilling is an international drilling and engineering company headquartered in Bergen, Norway.

The company is one of the leading drilling contractors on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) and has

significant activity on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. In addition to its head office, the company

has operations in Stavanger, Stjørdal, Aberdeen, London, Denmark, the Netherlands, Dubai, Philippines

and Korea. Odfjell Drilling is a privately owned, financially strong company with a total turnover of

NOK 4.0 billion in 2007.

ODFJELL DRILLING ASPO Box 33 Kokstad • NO-5863 Bergen, NorwayTel: +47 55 99 89 00 • Fax: + 47 55 99 89 01e-mail: email@odfjelldrilling.com Website: www.odfjelldrilling.com

drilling & engineers products & services

47live & work in bergen

ODFJELL DRILLING - IN PEOPLE WE TRUST

Odfjell DrillingSandslimarka 63P. O. Box 33 – Kokstad5863 BergenNorwayTel.: +47 55 99 89 00 www.odfjelldrilling.com

Odfjell Drilling is an international drilling- and engineering company headquartered in Bergen, Norway. Odfjell Drilling is also one of the leading drilling contractors on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) and has significant activity on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. In addition to the head office, the company has operations in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Netherlands, Dubai, Philippines, and Korea.

Odfjell Drilling’s strategy is to create the ultimate team to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Building on experience, the company’s 2,600 motivated and dedicated employees have delivered high quality services and added value to the offshore oil industry for more than 35 years.

The vision to createThose who choose a career with Odfjell Drilling will work in a company that appreciates talent and helps to maximise employee potential. Company business is constantly growing, employing operational personnel, engineers and administrative personnel to support North Sea and global activities. To ensure a strong organisation prepared for further growth, the company constantly works to remain the employer of choice, for both current employees as well as new recruits.

Career Opportunities in a dynamic growing companyOdfjell Drilling has recruited more than 700 new employees the last two years. Company growth estimates signal recruiting at this same high rate - or even more the next two years. This includes both on- and offshore personnel within engineering, drilling, marine and subsea disciplines as well as various staff positions.

Read more about our growing company and vacant positions at www.odfjelldrill ing.com

PLATFORM DRILLING

ODFJELL WELL SERVICES

ODFJELL DRILLING TECHNOLOGY

MOBILE DRILLING UNITS

48

Bergen – A Good Place to WorkRoss Offshore has approximately 100

consultants working in Bergen, Stavanger

and Oslo – and about 20 of them are foreign

consultants.

Many of the consultants work under Ross

Offshore’s frame agreement with StatoilHydro.

One of them working for StatoilHydro in

Bergen is Alan Robertson.

“I work as a consultant in Ross Offshore AS,

and came to Bergen to work on a specific

project that is very challenging and exiting.

I come from Scotland, and I commute on a

weekly basis and travel home every weekend.

For that reason I am only partly integrated in

the Norwegian society. I would still say that

I like it here in Norway and the Norwegians

are easy to get in touch with. The work

environment is good and so are the wages.

I can recommend Bergen and Norway as

a good place to work, especially since the

Norwegians speak English very well,” says

Robertson.

For more info, contact Key Account Manager

in Bergen Linda Fagerbakke on:

E-mail: linda.fagerbakke@rossoffshore.no

Mob.: +47 95 82 50 45

Ross offshore AS opportunitiesRoss Offshore AS is constantly in need of

more personnel with experience as engineers

and supervisors within the areas of sub-

surface, drilling, completion, subsea and

HSE&Q. The company’s main disciplines

include:

• Geologyandgeophysics

• Reservoir

• Productiontechnology

• Fielddevelopment

• Drilling

• Geo-mechanics

• Completion

• Interventionandworkovers

• Welltesting

• Subseacompletion

• Subseaprojectsandoperations

• Subseacontrolsystems

• Vesseloperations

• HSE&Q

• Projectmanagement

• Riginspection/qualification

In order to optimize every day routines and

economical benefits, Ross Offshore offers its

consultants back-office products and services

– everything needed to work as a consultant

in Norway. In addition, the company focuses

on long-term agreements and achieving the

best terms possible for company personnel.

Ross TotalProducts and services have been established

to give the consultants in Ross Offshore easier

everyday routines and economical benefits.

Within Ross Total, foreign consultants

get information about working in

Norway as a consultant, and which

routines to follow up. Thereafter, they

can make use of the other services

that will secure their company an

easy and effective way of business

management, favourable insurance

arrangements and correct handling

of contracts, in order to secure high

quality and economical benefits.

Ross Offshore AS is one of the leading Norwegian consultancy companies – supplying senior engineers,

supervisors and managers to the major Norwegian operator companies, relying on an extensive network

of candidates. Ross Offshore AS has over 10 years experience in finding the best qualified personnel to fit

into its clients’ organizations.

RoSS oFFSHoRe ASLeif Weldingsvei 14 • NO-3208 Sandefjord NorwayTel.: +47 33 48 46 90 • Fax: +47 33 48 46 91e-mail: firmapost@rossoffshore.no Website: www.rossoffshore.no

Bergen Office:Kokstadflaten 19b • NO-5257 Kokstad, Norway

consultancy & recruiting

©G

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49live & work in bergen

SCANDINAVIAN ELECTRIC SYSTEMS ASPO Box 80 Godvik • NO-5882 Bergen, NorwayTel: +47 55 50 60 70 • Fax: +47 55 50 60 52E-mail: ses.mail@scel.no • Website: www.scel.no

electric system solutions & products for the international marine market

Scandinavian Electric Systems (SES) is a system house and producer of innovative electrical propulsion

systems, products and services for ships within the low-voltage area. SES’s systems and products are

installed in several different ship types. The company has more than 3,000 references in the marine market

and employs 170 people both in Norway and internationally. In addition to its know-how and experience,

the company has a philosophy of quick response times, flexibility and service.

Areas of Expertise • System,designandproductdevelopment

• Rotatingelectricalmachines

• Drivesandotherstartingequipment

• Engineering

• Production

• Supervisionoftotalprojects

• Training

• Testing

• Commissioning

• Totalsystemcalculations(shortcircuit

levels, electrical balance, power flow, THD,

starting current and voltage drop)

• After-salesservices

SeS Systems & Products • Diesel-electricpropulsionsystemsand

multi-purpose propulsion solutions

• Generatorsupto4,500kVA

• Mainandemergencyswitchboards

• Electricmotorsandstarterarrangements

up to 4,500 kW per unit

• Double-jacket,water-cooledmotors,

250–3,000 kW range, known for their

compact volume, low vibration, low noise

and excellent electrical properties

• ActiveFrontEndconvertertechnologyfor

diesel-electric propulsion, eliminating the

need for large and heavy transformers.

THD levels lower than 3%

• Frequencyconverterswithsoftware;water

and air cooled up to 4,500 kW

• Frequencyconverterdrivesystems,

including software, for propulsion, electric

winches and cranes

• Powermanagementsystems

• BlackoutPreventionSystem(BPS)

• Cleanpowersystems(rotatingconverters/

static converters)

1. One of the world’s largest seismic vessels,

with a total generator power of 16,800 kVA and a

SES Active Front End propulsion system.

2. The new innovative Havyard 845 design for

offshore supply vessel with hybrid propulsion

system from SES, designed for high reliability.

3. Double-jacket, water-cooled motor – 2,200kW.

4. Water-cooled frequency converter –

Active Front End (AFE).

1

2

3

4

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to: M

ariti

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to

50

Core Concept & Customer PromiseSkandiabanken's main concept is user-

friendly Internet bank with competitive prices

and good customer service. The bank has

very competent employees. Many part

time workers at call-centre are students

from local collages an universities such

as the Norwegian School of Economics

and Business Management (NHH), The

Norwegian Scholl of Management (BI) and

the University of Bergen.

Skandiabanken was recognized as the best

service company in Bergen last year by the

Bergen Customer Service Forum (Bergen

Kundeserviceforum).

norway’s First Free of Charge BankThrough the last seven years

Skandiabanken's customers have been

the most satisfied according to the

Norwegian Customer Satisfaction Index. As

of today the bank has 320,000 customers

and the number is steadily increasing.

Skandiabanken promise a user-friendly

Internet bank, no fees and service customer

satisfaction in mind. Skandiabanken

introduced the concept of self-service

banking in Norway, and it was Norway's first

free of charge bank.

Great AccessibilitySkandiabanken's main office is located in

Bergen. The bank has no branches as such,

but is easily accessible. The bank's customer

service centre is open between 6:00 am and

midnight every day of the year. In addition,

Skandiabanken is the first bank that launched

a chat service so that customers are able to

chat live with advisers when they are logged

into the Internet bank.

ProductsSkandiabanken’s products include:

• Freeofchargebankservices

• VisaDebitCard,YouthCardandcredit

card

• Cellphoneservices(phonebankandtext

message services)

• Automobileandhousefinancing

• Savingsbonds–openexchangeofabout

270 funds, the best Norwegian and foreign

ones in one place

• Shareandstocktrading

• Lifeandchildinsurance

• Housesavingsprogrammeforyouth(BSU)

Skandiabanken is Norway’s leading and first pure internet bank for private customers. Skandiabanken

Norge was established 27 April 2000.

SKANDIABANKEN ABPO Box 7077 • NO-5020 Bergen, NorwayTel: +47 55 26 00 00 • Fax: +47 55 60 01 00Customer Service: 810 01 001e-mail: webmaster@skandiabanken.noWebsite: skandiabanken.no

internet bank

51live & work in bergen

American and Japanese emission limits will

require more rigorous measures, mainly

through employment of Selective Catalytic

Reduction (SCR) technology.

one Single unit for Cost-efficiencyInterfacing the AdBlue quality sensor with a

standard Wema AdBlue sensor allows Wema

to offer its customers a complete system,

interfaced into one unit with features such as:

• Highandlowlevel

indicator

• Suctionand

return of AdBlue

• Heatingtubesformelting

of frozen AdBlue

• Temperature

• Filter

• Airvent

• AdBluequalitymeasurements

• CANBusoutputformeeting

On-Board Diagnostic (OBD)

requirements

Wema is the worldwide leading manufacturer

of AdBlue sensors, supplying 95% of all

European SCR equipped trucks, providing

an important contribution to efficient SCR

operation. All sensors are custom made

in terms of length, dimensions of tubes,

thawing capabilities, filter and electrical

characteristics, and can furthermore be

integrated with a Wema urea quality sensor.

The urea quality sensor addresses quality

control concerns by ensuring a specific

quality of urea is delivered into the exhaust

gas stream. The introduction of a urea quality

sensor into the SCR system also reduces

the risk of tampering or accidental mis-filling

and helps ensure compliance, thus satisfying

concerns of users and legislators alike. This

contributes to the overall success of SCR as

a NOx reduction technology.

Markets & Product QualityWema’s markets include the automotive,

marine, agricultural and construction

industries. As supplier to these industries,

Wema satisfies all relevant international

standards. Wema supplies many types of

liquid level sensors, and has a product range

that also includes AdBlue quality sensors,

temperature and pressure sensors, gauges

and smoke detectors. All of Wema’s products

are customized solutions for specific needs.

The company has an effective timeframe for

development-to-market and a wide range of

testing facilities to ensure product quality.

Designed for Trouble-free FunctioningMore than two-thirds of the new trucks

built for Scandinavian roads are equipped

with Wema fuel sensors. Scandinavian

roads are notorious for their variable quality,

and vibrations combined with extreme

temperature variations expose sensors to

considerable stress.

Designed to ensure trouble-free function

even in extreme Nordic climates, Wema’s fuel

and AdBlue sensors for commercial vehicles

are the most reliable on the market. With

a minimum of moving parts and carefully

selected materials, they are hardly vulnerable

to wear and tear. Moreover, all Wema

products are designed for easy and cost-

effective installation.

Meets Global Emission legislationGlobal emission legislation for diesel engines

is becoming increasingly stringent. While the

exhaust gas composition requirements for

prior iterations of emission legislation could

be met with improvements in the engine’s

combustion process, future European, North

Wema, established in 1986, delivers quality tank sensors. Wema’s yearly production surpasses one million

units and many of the earliest manufactured units are still in service. Over the years the company has

gained a global reputation for providing some of the most reliable sensors in each of its markets.

WEMAJohan Berentsensvei 41 • NO-5161 Laksevaag, Norway Tel: +47 55 60 37 00 • Fax: +47 55 60 37 69E-mail: wema@wema.no • Website: www.wema.no

supplier of tank sensors

52

Working for TTS in Bergen Headquartered in Bergen, TTS excels in

the market of marine and offshore handling

equipment. In line with its long tradition

as supplier of handling equipment to the

maritime and oil and gas industry, TTS

remains a leading supplier with more than 40

years of experience. The TTS Group includes

1,500 employees and 26 operative units in

12 countries. TTS is in rapid expansion, and

will in 2008 have a turnover exceeding NOK

3 billion. The company is listed on Oslo Stock

Exchange.

TTS Marine’s dedicated staff primarily

focuses on engineering, project management

and after-sales service, with emphasis on

providing the best possible solutions and

service to its customers. TTS Marine ASA

is present in Bergen with the following

companies: TTS Ships Equipment AS,

TTS Marine Cranes AS and TTS Offshore

Handling Systems AS.

TTS Ships equipment ASTTS Ships Equipment AS supplies different

types of side-loading systems and equipment

for cruise vessels, as well as

equipment for offshore vessels.

TTS Marine Cranes ASTTS Marine Cranes AS delivers offshore

and marine cranes, performing engineering

projects as well as assembly and testing of

deliveries to clients.

TTS offshore Handling Systems AS TTS Offshore Handling Equipment AS

supplies offshore winches and subsea

handling equipment to a worldwide market.

TTS Marine ASA (TTS) emphasizes the recruitment of the highest calibre people and working on skill

development through employment that is challenging, stimulating and rewarding. It is this approach, and

the company’s emphasis on providing the very best service to its customers, that enabled TTS to become a

world leader in the development and supply of handling equipment for ships, shipyards, ports and offshore

facilities.

TTS MARINE ASAPO Box 32 Laksevåg • NO-5161 Bergen Norway Tel: +47 55 94 74 00 • Fax: +47 55 94 74 01e-mail: info.bgo@tts-marine.no Website: www.tts-marine.com

handling equipment for ships, shipyards, ports & offshore

53live & work in bergen

54

Business Development & AlliancesThe three municipalities established an

innovative organisation, Gode Sirklar, in

2005. The aim of the organisation, which

is managed by SINTEF, is to improve work

and living conditions through developing

business and coordinating activities in the

region. SINTEF ensures that highly skilled

resources participate in the projects. Gode

Sirklar divides its many projects within three

areas: Education, Industrial development and

Place development. The education projects

collaborate with similar initiatives in Austria

and Poland.

The company was heavily involved in the

establishment of the Norwegian Centre of

Expertise in Subsea at Ågotnes. Gode Sirklar

collaborates closely with the West Chamber

of Commerce. The latter arranges

networking events for its business members,

and coordinates matters for its members with

regional organisations and municipalities.

employment opportunities Production of oil and gas takes place at the

Sture Terminal, the Kollsnes Gas Processing

Plant, and Kollsnes Industrial Area. In

addition, a wide range of technological

activities is located at Ågotnes Industrial

Area and Straume Technology Park. Fishing

and the marine industry are still important

employment fields. There is also a great

potential for tourism and related trades, in the

stunning coastal scenery.

For jobseekers, the region can offer:

Sture Terminal (Øygarden)

• Overhalfamillionbarrelsofoilarrivesfrom

the North Sea daily and is distributed to

refineries in Europe, the Far East, USA and

Canada

Straume Technology Park (Fjell)

• Featuresarangeofindustriesfromhigh

technology oil and gas companies to

leading technology and production plants

• Sportsarenaandaprivatejuniorhigh

school

• AtechnologycentreandBergenUniversity

College

Kollsnes Gas Processing Plant

(Øygarden)

• KollsnesprocessesgasfromtheTroll,

Kvitebjørn and Visund oil and gas fields

• Theplanthasacapacityof150million

cubic metres of gas and 7,000 cubic

meters of natural gas liquids per day

Ågotnes Industrial Area (Fjell)

• Aworld-leaderinsubseatechnology

• Asupplybaseknownasoneofthemain

pioneers of Norwegian oil activity

• Thebasecurrentlysuppliesthemainfields

of Statfjord, Gullfaks, Veslefrikk, Troll,

Kvitebjørn and Huldra

• 2,000shipcallsperyear

• Hometo130companiesand1,600

employees

The municipalities of Fjell, Sund and Øygarden are located west of Bergen by the North Sea. The region has

experienced a rapid economic growth in the last decade, making it one of Norway’s growth regions. The oil

and gas industry has been a major contributor to the growth on the island communities.

WEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (VEST NæRINGSRÅD)Tel: +47 56 31 36 75e-mail: vnr@vnr.noWebsite: www.vnr.no

The municipalities:Gode Sirklar: www.godesirklar.no

the innovative growth region

55live & work in bergen

find new business partners in norway

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56

afghanistanKabul – EmbassyTel: +870 762 596 925, Fax satellite: +870 6000 61156E-mail: emb.kabul@mfa.no

albaniaTirana – EmbassyRr “Dëshmorët e 4 shkurtit”, nr 5, Tirana Tel: +355 4 256923, +355 4 221666, Fax: +355 4 221507E-mail: emb.tirana@mfa.no

algeriaAlger – EmbassyChezChikiken,LotissementNo04,Vald’Hydra16035 Alger Tel: +213 215 91 41014, Fax: +213 215 91 415E-mail: emb.alger@mfa.no

angolaLuanda – EmbassyRuadeBenguela17,BairroPatriceLumumba,LuandaTel:+224222447522/222447922/222449936Fax: +244 222 446248Tel. satellite: 871 761 964840, Fax satellite: 871 682 421256E-mail: emb.luanda@mfa.no

argentinaBuenos Aires – EmbassyEsmeralda 909, 3B, 1007 Buenos AiresTel: +54 11 4312 2204, Fax: +54 11 4315 2831E-mail: emb.buenosaires@mfa.no

azerbaijanBaku – Embassy6-10 Vagif Mustafa-zade kucesi, 370004 BakuTel:+994124974325/4974326/4974327Fax: +994 12 4973798E-mail: emb.baku@mfa.no

austriaVienna – EmbassyReisner Str. 55, A-1030 ViennaTel: +43 1 715 6692, Fax: +43 1 712 6552E-mail: emb.vienna@mfa.no

australiaCanberra – Embassy17HunterStreet;Yarralumla,CanberraACT2600Tel: +61 2 6273 3444, Fax: +61 2 6273 3669E-mail: emb.canberra@mfa.no

bangladeshDhaka – EmbassyRoad 111, House 9, Gulshan, Dhaka 1212Tel: +880 2 881 6276, Fax: +880 2 882 3661E-mail: emb.dhaka@mfa.no

belgiumBrussels – EmbassyRue Archimede 17, B-1000 BrusselsTel: +32 2 646 0780, Fax: +32 2 646 2882E-mail: emb.brussels@mfa.no

bosnia-hercegovinaSarajevo – EmbassyFerhadija20;2nd floor, 71000 SarajevoTel: + 387 33 254 000, Fax: +387 33 666505E-mail: emb.sarajevo@mfa.no

brazilBrasilia – EmbassySES807AvenidadasNacões;Lote28,CEP70,BR-418-900Brasilia - DFTel: +55 61 3443 8722, +55 61 3443 8720, Fax: +55 61 3443 2942E-mail: emb.brasilia@mfa.no

Rio de Janeiro – Consulate GeneralPraiadoFlamengo,344/9,BR-22210-030RiodeJaneiroTel: +55 21 2553 5505, Fax: +55 21 2553 1925E-mail: cons.gen.riodejaneiro@mfa.no

Rio de Janeiro – Innovation NorwayRuaLauroMuller,116-Suite2206TorredoRioSul/Botafogo-RJ,BR-22290-160Tel: +55 21 2541 7732, Fax:+ 55 21 2275 0161E-mail: riodejaneiro@invanor.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/brazil

bulgariaSofia – Embassy54 B, Dondukov Blvd., Sofia 1000Tel: +359 2 92 11 95, Fax: +359 2 981 90 10E-mail: emb.sofia@mfa.no

canadaOttawa – EmbassyRoyalBankCentre;Suite532;90SparksStreet,Ottawa,Ont.K1P 5B4Tel: +1 613 238 6571, Fax: +1 613 238 2765E-mail: emb.ottawa@mfa.no

Toronto – Innovation Norway2 Bloor Street West Suite 2120, TorontoOntario M4W 3E2 Tel: +1 416 920 0434, Fax: +1 416 920 5982E-mail: toronto@invanor.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/canada

chileSantiago de Chile – EmbassySanSebastián2839;Of.509,LasCondes,SantiagoTel:+5622342888/89,Fax:+5622342201E-mail: emb.santiago@mfa.no

chinaBeijing – Embassy/Innovation Norway1,DongYiJie;SanLiTun,CN-Beijing100600Tel:+861065322261/1329/4176,Fax:+861065322392IN Tel: +86 10 5870 1901, Fax: +86 10 5870 1902E-mail: emb.beijing@mfa.no Website:www.invanor.no/beijing

Shanghai – Consulate General/Innovation Norway12 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road, CN-Shanghai 200002Tel: +86 21 6323 9988, Fax: +86 21 6323 3938IN, Tel: +86 21 6323 9988E-mail: cons.gen.shanghai@mfa.no Website:www.invanor.no/shanghai

colombiaBogota – EmbassyEdificio Fuducafe, Piso 8 #801, Carrera 9 no 73-44, BogotaTel: +57 1 317 7851-54, Fax: +57 1 317 7858E-mail: emb.bogota@mfa.no

croatiaZagreb – EmbassyPetrinjska 9, HR-10 000 ZagrebTel: +385 1 492 2831, Fax: +385 1 492 2832E-mail: emb.zagreb@mfa.no

cubaHavana – EmbassyCalle 30 #315, betw. 3rd and 5th Avenue, Miramar, Playa. LaHabanaTel+5372040696/+5372044411,Fax:+5372040699Tel satellite: +47 22 24 03 10, Fax satellite: +874 600059661E-mail: emb.havana@mfa.no

czech republicPrague – EmbassyHellichova 1, CZ-11800 Prague 1 Malá StranaTel:+420257323737,57321768/69,Fax:+420257326827E-mail: emb.prague@mfa.no

Prague – Innovation NorwayRoyal Norwegian Embassy, Commercial SectionNa Prikope 21, PO Box 102, CZ-11001 Prague 1 Tel: +4202 2481 0923, Fax: +4202 2481 0002 E-mail: prague@invanor.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/prague

denmarkCopenhagen – Embassy/Innovation NorwayAmaliegade 39, 1256 Copenhagen KTel: +45 33 140124, Fax: +45 33 140624E-mail: emb.copenhagen@mfa.noE-mail: copenhagen.trade@invanor.noE-mail: copenhagen.travel@invanor.no

egyptCairo – Embassy8,ElGezirahStreet;Zamalek,ET-CairoTel: +20 2 735 3340, Fax: +20 2 737 0709E-mail: emb.cairo@mfa.no

eritreaAsmara – EmbassyStreet 173-1 # 11, PO Box 5801, AsmaraTel:+2911122138/122148,Fax:+2911122180E-mail: emb.asmara@mfa.no

estoniaTallinn – Embassy/ Innovation Norway Harju 6, EE-15054 TallinnTel: +372 62 71000, Fax: +372 62 71001IN, Tel:+372 6313 466, Fax: +372 6313 468E-mail: emb.tallinn@mfa.no E-mail: tallinn@invanor.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/tallinn

ethiopiaAddis Abeba – EmbassyBuna Road, Mekanissa, Addis AbebaTel: +251 137 107 99, Fax: +251 1 711255E-mail: emb.addisabeba@mfa.no

finlandHelsinki – EmbassyRehbindervägen 17, FIN-00150 HelsinkiTel: +358 9 686 0180, Fax: +358 9 657 807E-mail: emb.helsinki@mfa.no

Helsinki – Innovation NorwayEriksgatan 2, FIN-00100 Helsinki Tel: +358 9 612 9690, Fax: +358 964 0053 E-mail: helsinki@invanor.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/finland

franceParis – Innovation Norway22 rue de Marignan, F-75008 ParisTel: +33 1 56 59 20 40, Fax: +33 1 56 59 20 41IN, Tel: +33 1 5659 2040E-mail: paris.trade@invanor.no Website:www.invanor.no/france

Paris – Embassy28 Rue Bayard, F-75008 ParisTel: +33 1 53 67 04 00, Fax: +33 1 53 67 04 40E-mail: emb.paris@mfa.no Website: www.norvege.no

germanyBerlin – EmbassyRauchstr. 1, D-10787 BerlinTel: +49 30 505050, Fax: +49 30 505055E-mail: emb.berlin@mfa.no

Hamburg – Innovation Norway ABC-Strasse 19, DE-20354 HamburgPostfach 11 3317, DE-20433 HamburgTel: +49 40 22 94 15 0, Fax: +49 40 22 94 15 88 E-mail: hamburg@invanor.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/hamburg

greeceAthens – Embassy23, Vas Sofias avenue, GR-106 74 AthensTel: +30 210 7246173, Fax: +30 210 7244989,E-mail: emb.athens@mfa.no

guatemalaGuatemala – Embassy14 Calle 3-51, Zona 10, Edificio Murano Center, Nivel 15, Ca-Guatemala 01010Tel: +502 2366 5908, Fax: +502 2366 5928E-mail: emb.guatemala@mfa.no

hungaryBudapest – Embassy/Innovation NorwayHorvát utca 14-24, H-1027 BudapestTel: +36 1 201 9395, Fax: +36 1 201 9396E-mail: emb.budapest@mfa.no E-mail: budapest@invanor.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/budapest

icelandReykjavik – EmbassyFjólugt. 17, IS-101 ReykjavikTel: +354 520 0700, Fax: +354 552 9553E-mail: emb.reykjavik@mfa.no

indiaNew Delhi – Embassy/Innovation Norway50CShantipath;Chanakyapuri,IND-110021NewDelhiTel: +91 11 51 77 92 00, Fax: +91 11 51 68 01 45IN, Tel: +91 98 18 49 55 79E-mail: emb.newdelhi@mfa.no Website:www.invanor.no/india

indonesiaJakarta – EmbassyMenara Rajawali Building, 25th floorJlMegaKuninganLotno5.1,Kawasan Mega Kuningan, Jakarta 12950Tel: +62 21 576 1523, Fax: +62 21 576 1537E-mail: emb.jakarta@mfa.no

iranTeheran – EmbassyNo201Dr.LavasaniSt.(Ex-Farmanieh),CornerofSonbolTeheranTel: +98 21 2229 1333, Fax: +98 21 2229 2776E-mail: emb.tehran@mfa.no

irelandDublin – Embassy34MolesworthStreet,IRL-Dublin2Tel: +353 1 662 1800, Fax: +353 1 662 1890E-mail: emb.dublin@mfa.no

israelTel Aviv – Embassy40 Einstein Street, Canion Ramat Aviv, 13. Etg., 69101 Tel AvivTel: +972 3 744 1490, Fax: +972 3 744 1498E-mail: emb.telaviv@mfa.no

italyRome – EmbassyVia delle Terme Deciane 7, I-00 153 RomeTel: +39 06 571 7031, Fax: +39 06 571 70326E-mail: emb.rome@mfa.no

Milan – Innovation NorwayReale Ambasciata di Norvegia Ufficio Commerciale e del TourismoVia G. Puccini, 5, I-20121 MilanTel: +39 02 854 514 11, Fax: +39 02 854 514 30 E-mail: milan@invanor.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/milano

ivory coastAbidjan – EmbassyImmeubleN’Zarama,BoulevardLagunaire,5th floor, AbidjanTel:+22520222534/212166,Fax:+22520219199E-mail: emb.abidjan@mfa.no

japanTokyo – Embassy/Innovation NorwayMinamiAzabu5-12-2;Minato-Ku,J-Tokyo106-0047Tel: +81 3 3440 2611, Fax: +81 3 3440 2620E-mail: emb.tokyo@mfa.no E-mail: tokyo@invanor.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/tokyo

jordanAmman – Embassy25 Damascus Street, Abdoun, AmmanTel: +962 6 593 1646-48, Fax: +962 6 593 1650E-mail: emb.amman@mfa.no

kenyaNairobi – EmbassyLionPlace,WaiyakiWay,NairobiTel:+254204451510/1/2/3/4/5/6,Fax:+254204451517E-mail: emb.nairobi@mfa.no

latviaRiga – Embassy14Zirguiela,LV-1050RigaTel: +371 7814100, Fax: +371 7814108E-mail: emb.riga@mfa.no

Riga – Innovation NorwayRainablvd.3–12a,LV-1050RigaTel: +371 722 42 33, Fax: +371 722 40 54E-mail: riga@invanor.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/riga

lebanonBeirut – EmbassyBliss Street, Dimashki Bldg, BeirutTel:+9611365704/+9611372977/+9611372978Fax: +961 1 372 979E-mail: noremble@cyberia.net.lb

lithuaniaVilnius – EmbassyMesiniug.5/2,01015VilniusTel: +370 5 2610000, Fax: +370 5 2610100E-mail: emb.vilnius@mfa.no

Vilnius – Innovation NorwayRoyal Norwegian Embassy Commercial SectionPO Box 564, 01014 Vilnius - 1 Tel:+37052624020/+37052122746Fax: +370 5 212 3186 E-mail: vilnius@invanor.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/vilnius

macedoniaSkopje – EmbassyPalata Unija, Teodosie Gologanov 59-2A, 91000 SkopjeTel: +389 2 3129 165, Fax: +389 2 3111 038E-mail: emb.off.skopje@mfa.no

madagascarAntananarivo – EmbassyExplorer Business Park, bâtiment D2, Ankorandrano101 Antananarivo Tel: +261 20 22 305 07, Fax: +261 20 22 377 99E-mail: emb.antananarivo@mfa.no

malawiLilongwe – EmbassyArwaHouse,CityCentre,P/BagB323,Lilongwe3Tel:+2651774211/771212,Fax:+2651772845E-mail: emb.lilongwe@mfa.no

malaysiaKuala Lumpur – Embassy/Innovation NorwaySuite CD, 53rd floor Empire Tower, Jalan Tun Razak50400KualaLumpurTel: +603 2175 0300, Fax: +603 2175 0308IN, Tel: +603 2162 1200, Fax: +603 2162 2200E-mail: emb.kualalumpur@mfa.noWebsite:www.invanor.no/kualalumpur

norway abroad The following list provides an overview of the Norwegian embassies, Consulate Generals and Innovation Norway offices located internationally. For more information on Norwegian embassy and Consulate General activities, please visit www.norway.info

Vol. 2008 No. 7 ISSN 0029-3628Published August 2008 by Findexa Forlag ASin cooperation with Innovation Norway, the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Gjerdrums vei 19, NO-0484 Oslo, NorwayTel: +47 21 50 80 00Fax: +47 21 50 80 01E-mail: kundeservice@findexaforlag.noWebsite: www.findexaforlag.no

facts:

The NORWAY EXPORTS series provides timely, in-depth information on a selection of Norwegian companies, products and services in over 15 industrial sectors.

NORWAY EXPORTS is distributed free of charge through the Innovation Norway offices and Norwegian foreign service missions (see inside back cover), selected trade publications and at major conferences and trade fairs around the world.

For participation in or more information about NORWAY EXPORTS, please contact Findexa Forlag AS, tel: +47 21 50 80 00 or send an enquiry to kundeservice@findexaforlag.no

All NORWAY EXPORTS publications can be downloaded at www.nortrade.com

The graphic design of this publication, including the font “Aeroportal”, is used with the permission of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is not to be used without the Ministry’s prior consent.

Copyright © 2008 Findexa Forlag ASNORWAY EXPORTS is printed on chlorine-free paper.

Cover photo: © Espen Lodden

Editor-in-Chief David John Smith

Project ManagerGuro Trønnes Risto

Production ManagerFrode Gulestøl

Copy Editor Robert Moses

Contributing Journalists Nancy Bazilchuk, Lasse Bergesen, David John Smith

CoordinatorMarita Harnes

Profile Reservation Guro Trønnes Risto, Bård Sørby Eriksen, Linda Pettersen

Layout Bjørnulf Jensen Design Blanke Ark

Printing 07 Gruppen AS

Distribution

Norway Exports – Live & Work in Bergen is distributed through the following channels:• InnovationNorway’sofficesandNorwegianembassiesandconsulatesabroad• TheNorwegianMinistryofForeignAffairs’officesabroad• TheNorwegianMinistryofTradeandIndustry• TheResearchCouncilofNorway’scontactsandnetworks• TheAssociationofNorwegianStudentsAbroad’s(ANSA)contactsandnetworks• TheConfederationofNorwegianEnterprise’s(NHO)contactsandnetwork• NorwegianChambersofCommerceworldwide• OfficialstatedelegationsinNorwayandabroad

Recipients of Norway Exports – Live & Work in Bergen will include:• RelevantindustrycontactsinboththepublicandprivatesectorsinNorwayandabroad• Relevantdepartments,politicians,andcountyandtownshipofficesinNorway• Attendeesofinternationalevents,meetingsandtradeshowswhereInnovationNorwayor Norwegian embassies are represented

Norway in BriefSize: 385,155 sq. km(including the islands of Svalbard and Jan Mayen)

Population 4.7 million

Main Cities Population (incl. suburbs)Oslo 811,688Bergen 213,585Stavanger/Sandnes 173,132Trondheim 147,139

GDP 2006 USD $261.7 billion

Exchange Rate:NOK/USD 6.42 (average 2006)NOK/EUR 8.05 (average 2006)

Exports and Imports 2006 NOK bill. USD bill. Amount of GDPTotal Exports 1,002 156 46.6%Total Imports 610 95 28.3%

Main Export CommoditiesOil & gas, metals, machinery, chemical products, fish & fish products, pulp & paper and ferro alloys

Main Import Commodities Transport equipment, machinery, chemicals, textiles and metal products

mexicoMexico D.F. – EmbassyAvenida Virreyes 1460; Col Lomas Virreyes, 11000 Mexico D.F.Tel: +52 55 5540220-21, Fax: +52 55 52023019E-mail: emb.mexico@mfa.no

moroccoRabat – Embassy9, rue de Khenifra, RabatTel: +212 3 7764084-6, Fax: +212 3 7764088E-mail: emb.rabat@mfa.no

mozambiqueMaputo – EmbassyAve. Julius Nyerere 1162, MaputoTel: + 258 21 480 100/+ 258 21 485 072 to 75Fax: +258 21 480 107/+ 258 21 485 076E-mail: emb.maputo@mfa.no

nepalKatmandu – EmbassySurya Court, Pulchowk, LalitpurTel: +977 1 5545307-8, Fax: +977 1 5545226E-mail: emb.kathmandu@mfa.no

the netherlandsThe Hague – Embassy/Innovation NorwayLange Vijverberg 11, NL-2513 AC The HagueTel: +31 70 311 7611, Fax: +31 70 365 9630IN, Tel: +31 70 346 7348; Fax: +31 70 360 7428E-mail: emb.hague@mfa.noE-mail: holland@invanor.no

nicaraguaManagua – EmbassyPlaza España, 100 mtr. al Oeste, ManaguaTel: +505 2 665197-9, Fax: +505 2 663303E-mail: emb.managua@mfa.no

nigeriaAbuja – EmbassyPlot 1529, T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro, AbujaTel: +234 9 3149127, Tel. satellite: +882 165 420 7489/+882 165 420 7515, Fax: +234 9 3149309E-mail: emb.abuja@mfa.no

pakistanIslamabad – EmbassyH 25, Str. 19, F 6/2, IslamabadTel: +92 51 227 9720-23, Fax: +92 51 227 9729E-mail: emb.islamabad@mfa.no

palestinian territoryAl Ram – Representative Office to the Palestinian authorities (West Bank/Gaza)World Bank Building (c/o Rosary Sisters Convent)Dahiat Al-Bareed, Al Ram, West BankTel: +972 2 234 5050, Fax: +972 2 234 5079E-mail: rep.office.alram@mfa.no

philippinesManila – EmbassyPetron Mega Plaza Bldg., 21st floor358 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, Metro ManilaTel: +63 2 886 3245-49, Fax: +63 2 886 3384E-mail: emb.manila@mfa.no

polandWarsaw – Embassyul. Fr. Chopina 2A, PL-00-559 WarsawTel: + 48 22 696 4030, Fax: +48 22 628 0938E-mail: emb.warsaw@mfa.no

Warsaw – Innovation Norwayc/o Royal Norwegian EmbassyWarta Tower, ul. Chmielna 85/87PL-00-805 Warsaw Tel: +48 22 581 0 581, Fax: +48 22 581 0 981 E-mail: warsaw@invanor.no

portugalLisbon – Embassy/Innovation NorwayAvenida D. Vasco da Gama 1, P-1400-127 LisbonTel: +3512 1301 5344, Fax: +3512 1301 6158E-mail: emb.lisbon@mfa.no E-mail: lisbon.trade@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/portugal

romaniaBucharest – EmbassyStrada Dumbrava Rosie 4; 020463 BucharestTel: +40 21 210 0274 / 76 / 77, Fax: +40 21 210 0275E-mail: emb.bucharest@mfa.no

russiaMoscow – Embassy/Innovation NorwayUlitsa Povarskaya 7, RUS-131940 MoscowTel: +74 95 933 1410, Fax: +74 95 933 14 11/12E-mail: emb.moscow@mfa.no Website: www.invanor.no/moskva

Murmansk – Consulate GeneralUlitsa Sofji Perovskoj 5, RUS-183038 MurmanskTel: +7 815 2 400 600Fax: +7 815 2 457 451/+7 815 2 456 871E-mail: cons.gen.murmansk@mfa.no

St. Petersburg – Consulate General/Innovation NorwayNevsky Prospekt 25, RUS-191186 St. PetersburgTel: + 7 812 336 64 20, Fax: + 7 812 336 64 21E-mail: cons.gen.stpetersburg@mfa.no

St.Petersburg – Innovation NorwayKaluzhskij per.3, RUS-193015 St. Petersburg Tel: +7812 326 9037, Fax: +7812 326 9038 E-mail: st.petersburg@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/stpetersburg

saudi arabiaRiyadh – EmbassyDiplomatic Quarter, RiyadhTel: +966 1 488 1904, Fax: +966 1 488 0854E-mail: emb.riyadh@mfa.no

serbia and montenegroBeograd – EmbassyUzicka 43, YU-11040 BeogradTel: +381 11 367 0404-05, Fax: +381 11 369 0158E-mail: emb.belgrade@mfa.no

singaporeSingapore – Embassy/Innovation Norway16 Raffles Quay; No 44-01 Hong Leong Bldg.Singapore 048581Tel: +65 6220 7122, Fax: +65 6220 2191E-mail: emb.singapore@mfa.no

slovakiaBratislava – EmbassyPalisády 29, 811 06 BratislavaTel: +421 2 59 10 01 00, Fax: +421 2 59 10 01 15E-mail: emb.bratislava@mfa.no

sloveniaLjubljana - EmbassyAdjovscina 4/8, 1000 LjubljanaTel: +386 1 300 2140, Fax: +386 1 300 2150E-mail: emb.ljubljana@mfa.no

south africaJohannesburg – Innovation Norway14th Floor, Sandton City Office TowerPO Box 785436, Sandton 2146Tel: +2711784 8150, Fax: +2711784 8153E-mail: johannesburg@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/johannesburg

Pretoria – Embassy1 Parioli Building A2, 1166 Park Street, Hatfield 0083Tel: +27 12 342 6100, Fax: +27 12 342 6099E-mail: emb.pretoria@mfa.no

south koreaSeoul – Embassy/Innovation Norway258-8 Itaewon-Dong, Yongsan-Ku, Seoul 140-200Tel: + 82 2 795 6850, Fax: +82 2 798 6072E-mail: emb.seoul@mfa.no Website: www.invanor.no/seoul

spainMadrid – EmbassyEdificio “La Piramide”, Paseo de la Castellana 31, 9 piso, 28046 MadridTel: +34 91 310 3116, Fax: +34 91 310 4326/319 0969E-mail: emb.madrid@mfa.no

Madrid – Innovation NorwayReal Embajada de NoruegaPaseo de la Castellana, 31-planta baja, 28046 MadridTel: +34 91 344 09 87, Fax: +34 91 344 09 47E-mail: madrid.trade@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/spain

sri lankaColombo – Embassy34 Ward Place, Colombo 7Tel: +94 11 2469 611-12, 2469 609, Fax: +94 11 2695 009E-mail: emb.colombo@mfa.no

sudanKhartoum – EmbassyHouse no. 63, Street 49, Khartoum IITel: +249 183 578336, 578343, 578345, 576788,Fax: +249 183 577180E-mail: emb.khartoum@mfa.no

swedenStockholm – EmbassySkarpögatan 4, S-115 27 StockholmTel: +46 8 665 6340, Fax: +46 8 782 9899E-mail: emb.stockholm@mfa.no

Stockholm – Innovation NorwaySveavägen 64, 5 tr, SE-103 67 Stockholm Tel: +46 8 791 83 00, Fax: +46 8 24 98 00E-mail: stockholm@invanor.no

switzerlandBern – Embassy Bubenbergplatz 10, CH-3011 BernTel: +41 31 310 5555, Fax: +41 31 310 5550E-mail: emb.bern@mfa.no

syriaDamascus – EmbassyShaheen Bldg., 1st floor, Ahmad Shawki Street, Jahez Garden, Malki, DamascusTel: +963 11 611 5053 / +963 11 611 5185Fax: +963 11 613 1159E-mail: emb.damascus@mfa.no

tanzaniaDar es Salaam – Embassy160; Mirambo Street, Dar es SalaamTel: +255 22 211 3366, Fax: +255 22 211 6564E-mail: emb.daressalaam@mfa.no

thailandBangkok – Embassy/Innovation NorwayUBC II Building, 18th floor, 591 Sukhumvit Road, Soi 33, Bangkok 10110Tel: +66 2 302 6415, Fax: +66 2 262 0218E-mail: emb.bangkok@mfa.no Website: www.invanor.no/bangkok

turkeyAnkara – EmbassyKirkpinar Sokak No. 18; 06540 Cankaya, AnkaraTel: +90 312 405 8010, Fax: +90 312 443 0544E-mail: emb.ankara@mfa.no

Istanbul – Innovation NorwayAytar Cad., Aydin Sokak, Aydin is MerkeziA Blok No: 2, D:7,1 Levent, TR-80620Tel: +90 212 2844 362 / 63 / 65 Fax: +90 212 2844 364 E-mail: istanbul@innovationnorway.no

ugandaKampala – Embassy8 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, KampalaTel: +256 41 343621, Fax: +256 41 343936E-mail: emb.kampala@mfa.no

ukraineKiev – EmbassyVul. Striletska 15, 252034 KievTel: +380 44 590 04 70, Fax: +380 44 234 0655E-mail: emb.kiev@mfa.no

united arab emiratesAbu Dhabi – EmbassyHamdan Street, Al Masoud Tower; 10th floor, Abu DhabiTel: + 971 2 621 1221, Fax: +971 2 621 3313E-mail: emb.abudhabi@mfa.no

united kingdomEdinburgh – Consulate General86 George Street, GB-Edinburgh EH2 3BUTel: +44 131 226 5701, Fax: +44 131 220 4976E-mail: cons.gen.edinburgh@mfa.no

London – Embassy25 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QDTel: +44 20 7591 5500, Fax: +44 20 7245 6993E-mail: emb.london@mfa.no

London – Innovation NorwayTrade and Technology OfficeCharles House 5 Lower Regent Street, SW1Y 4LRTel: +44 207 389 8800, Fax: +44 207 9730 189 E-mail: london@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/london

usaBoston – Innovation Norway133 Federal Street, Suite 901, Boston, MA 02110Tel: +1 617 369 7870, Mobile: +1 617 818 3900Fax: +1 617 369 7820E-mail: boston@invanor.nowebsite: www.invanor.no/usaWebsite: www.invanor.no/boston

Houston – Consulate General/Innovation Norway2777 Allen Parkway; Suite 1185, Houston, TX 77019-2136Tel: +1 713 521 2900, Fax: +1 713 521 9648IN, Fax: +1 713 526 1300, Fax: +1 713 521 9473E-mail: cons.gen.houston@mfa.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/houston

Minneapolis – Consulate General800 Foshay Tower; 821 Marquette Avenue, MinneapolisMN 55402Tel: +1 612 332 3338, Fax: +1 612 332 1386E-mail: cons.gen.minneapolis@mfa.no

New York – Consulate General825 Third Avenue; 38th floor, New York, NY 10022-7584Tel: +1 212 421 7333, Fax: +1 212 754 0583E-mail: cons.gen.newyork@mfa.no

New York – Innovation Norway (Tourism)655 Third Avenue, Room 1810, New York, NY 10017-9111Tel: +1 212 885 9700, Fax: +1 212 885 9710E-mail: newyork@invanor.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/newyork

San Francisco – Consulate General/Innovation Norway20 California Street; 6th floor, San Francisco, CA 94111-4803Tel: +1 415 986 0766-8, Fax: +1 415 986 3318IN, Tel: +1 415 986 0770, Fax: +1 415 986 7875E-mail: cons.gen.sanfrancisco@mfa.noWebsite: www.invanor.no/sanfrancisco

Washington DC – Embassy/Innovation Norway2720 34th Street N.W., Washington DC 20008-2714Tel: +1 202 333 6000, Fax: +1 202 337 0870IN, Tel: +1 212 421 9210, Fax: +1 202 337 0870E-mail: emb.washington@mfa.no Website: www.invanor.no/washington

venezuelaCaracas – EmbassyCentro Lido, Torre A, Piso 9, Oficina 92-A; Avenida Fransisco de Miranda, El Rosal, CaracasTel: +58 212 953 0671 / 0269 / 1973, Fax: + 58 212 953 6877E-mail: emb.caracas@mfa.no

vietnamHanoi – Embassy/Innovation Norway10th Floor, Block B, Vincom City Towers,191 Ba Trieu Street, HanoiTel: +84 4 974 2930, Fax: +84 4 974 3301E-mail: emb.hanoi@mfa.no Website: www.invanor.no

zambiaLusaka – EmbassyCorner Birdage Walk / Haile Selassie Avenue, LusakaTel: +260 1 252188, 252626, 252637, Fax: +260 1 253915E-mail: emb.lusaka@mfa.no

zimbabweHarare – Embassy5 Lanark Road; Belgravia, HarareTel: +263 4 252426, Fax: +263 4 252430E-mail: emb.harare@mfa.no

norway abroad

www.norway.info

“Norway – the official site” provides extensive

background information on Norway, as well as news and

details of Norwegian-related events abroad. The large

number of articles on politics, travel, culture, business,

education, research and history are presented by the

Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its partners.

“Norway – the official site” has been established in 90

countries and in 18 languages.

Innovation Norway promotes nationwide industrial

development profitable to both the business economy

and Norway’s national economy, and helps realize the

potential of different districts and regions by contributing

to innovation, internationalization and promotion.

The company has approximately 700 employees.

Headquartered in Oslo, Innovation Norway has offices in

over 30 countries worldwide, along with all of the counties

across Norway.

English-language information about Innovation Norway is

available at www.innovationnorway.no/english.

At www.nortrade.com you will find up-to-date information on

more than 4,000 Norwegian manufacturers and exporters within

35 different industries. There you will find a search tool which

allows you to perform searches for companies, products or

services in the Norwegian Export Directory.

The Official Norwegian Trade Portal

find new business partners in norway

Produced in cooperation with:

live & workin bergen

annual 51 • 2008/2009

Work & Grow