Scaling Lab spun out of BI Norwegian Business School in 2023, after nearly a decade of applied research into how industrial B2B technology companies actually scale — tested in the field with close to 100 Norwegian companies.
Professor Torger Reve, backed by Norway's then Minister of Trade and Industry, launches Norway's participation in MIT's Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program — an objective, data-driven assessment of the Norwegian innovation system.
Norway topped the OECD for new business formation — but ranked last for scaling. Fewer than 1% of the companies studied grew beyond 50 employees.
Professor Per Ingvar Olsen forms a working group at BI Norwegian Business School to study industrial scaling in practice, working directly with 100 scale-up-ready companies through a six-month programme.
A scaling accelerator for industrial B2B technology companies is built together with MIT's Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship. In parallel, a regional partnership begins with GCE Ocean Technology in Bergen.
A second accelerator is built with Tsinghua University and the Beijing Tsinghua Industrial R&D Institute, working closely with 20+ Chinese industrial companies. In parallel, the team studies Israel's Yozma programme and demand-driven innovation model in depth.
The accumulated methodology becomes Scaling Lab — a national, non-profit centre for scaling industrial technology companies, spun out of BI Norwegian Business School.
Nine accelerator programmes and 72 companies later, Scaling Lab publishes its research on Norwegian industrial policy and presents a new innovation model for the defence and dual-use sector to Norway's financial and public sectors.
Six-month scaling programmes for industrial B2B technology companies, delivered with MIT's Martin Trust Center and regional partners such as GCE Ocean Technology.
Advisory on designing the "equity story," finding the right industrial partners, and structuring the agreements that take a technology company from pilot to scale.
A decade of comparative research into how the US, China, Israel and Sweden build industrial technology companies — and what Norway can learn from each.
Our methodology is built by studying — and partnering with — the world's most effective innovation ecosystems, then testing what we learn with Norwegian companies.
Founded the 100Scaleups working group at BI Norwegian Business School and leads Scaling Lab's research into industrial scaling and Norwegian innovation policy.
Works directly with portfolio companies on industrial orchestration, equity story design, and partnership strategy.
Leads programme delivery and Scaling Lab's international partnerships, including the MIT and GCE Ocean Technology collaborations.
Former director at the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate and chairman of the Norwegian Geological Survey, with a longstanding background in the energy industry.
Former Norwegian ambassador to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Israel and China, and former Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Scaling Lab's Industrial Advisory Board brings together senior figures across Norwegian politics, regulation, industry, capital and academia, chaired by Egil Bergsager.
Whether you're building a technology company or shaping industrial policy, we'd like to hear from you.
Get in touch