Oslo Science City is Norway’s first innovation district. Anchored in the City of Oslo’s 2019 “Strategy for the Development of the Knowledge Capital”,
the new district will create a physical framework for Norway’s innovation environment of estimated 150,000 scientists, students, entrepreneurs. It will also contribute to the country’s transition to renewable energy.
Located in central Oslo, the area is currently home to approximately 300 start-up companies, 7,500 researchers, 10,000 hospital employees and 30,000 students. The year-long feasibility study to add 1.4 million sq m (15 million sq ft) is the first step towards creating the physical framework for an innovation district in the country and plans for Oslo regions growth of 22 percent by 2045 or approximately 1.6 million inhabitants.
Four thematic areas have been identified where the actors in Oslo Science City have world-leading knowledge:
1. Health and life sciences
2. Climate, energy and environment between the universities and knowledge institutions, start-ups and business to stimulate innovation,value creation, and sustainable new jobs.
3. Digitalisation and computational science
4. Democracy and inclusion. These thematic “centres of gravity” are areas where Norway and Oslo Science City can participate in developing solutions with global relevance.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background. Where did you work prior to your current role?
I came to this position as CEO in Oslo Science City from the city of Oslo, where I was responsible for the development of the campus strategy. The campus strategy formulates the ambition of increased collaboration between the universities and knowledge institutions, start-ups and business to stimulate innovation, value creation, and sustainable new jobs.
The development of Oslo Science City as the first innovation district in Norway, was a key action point in the campus strategy. I have also been responsible for developing two new high schools in Oslo, where I implemented new innovative concepts for learning and collaboration with business and cultural sector.
In your experience, what is most important when fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors?
In terms of scale, OSC will be similar in size to Leiden Bio Science Park in the Netherlands (which we featured in the 31 March 2022 magazine). Are there lessons to be learnt from other science parks and areas of innovation?
Size is not necessarily the key element. What we have learned is the importance of identifying your strengths and to build the innovation district around them.
Oslo Science City is built on knowledge. We have 300 start-ups and 7,500 scientists in the area. We have identified leading competences; our “centres of gravity” (listed above). We build on our own strengths, but we try to learn from innovation districts relevant to us. We are members of GIID (Global Institute on Innovation Districts), which Julie Wagner has set up, and to us this is a platform for learning and sharing. We may join the
International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation.
Scientists tell us that “innovation happens at the intersection of different disciplines”. How will OSC foster collaboration across disciplines?
By defining four knowledge centres of gravity, Oslo Science City is a multi-disciplinary innovation district. We stimulate collaboration between the different knowledge institutions in the district and the different centres of excellence. Oslo Science City Arena is being developed as a concept for such collaboration and a place to share knowledge and experience, accelerating the growth of new ideas. Oslo Science City wants to help enable and improve innovation opportunities by creating an arena for leading researchers and highly motivated students to interact with dynamic business incubators and
disruptive companies. The urban development will focus on formal and informal places to meet and interact.
Oslo Science Park showing existing buildings and buildings at earlier stages of planning or development
The innovation district will include Norway’s largest Life Sciences building for research and teaching which is to be completed by 2026 – can you tell us more?
The Life Sciences building will be the epicentre of life sciences research and development in Norway. It is a collaborative effort between the University of Oslo and the Oslo University Hospital. The 100,000 sq m (1.1 million sq ft) building is located at the heart of Oslo Science City and will a leading centre for interdisciplinary research and teaching. It will
house large parts of the academic communities for life sciences, including the Norwegian Centre for Molecular Medicine, the Institutes of Chemistry and
Pharmacy at the University of Oslo, and the Division of Laboratory Medicine at Oslo University Hospital. The building will be designed for extensive
cooperation with external actors and cooperation partners.
Closer collaboration with health enterprises, local government, and the business sector will enhance quality and relevance in research and education of the future labour force. Better exploitation of the innovation potential in research is another goal.
Do you believe that the built environment can encourage better innovation?
Definitely. There is a strong relationship between the built environment and the dynamics of an innovation district. Critical mass is important too. Multi-functional buildings stimulate collaboration, as do multi-functional areas where business is located in a vibrant setting with close proximity to research activities and attractive urban qualities. Connectivity is another
key factor – it must be easy to walk and bike.
What is the single thing that will most clearly differentiate OSC from other innovation districts?
Very large investments in life sciences. In addition to the €1.2 billion (£1 billion) Life Sciences Centre, a new cutting-edge hospital will be built in the same area. Together with our Computer Science Centre with 450 scientists focusing on machine learning and AI, we hope this will attract leading national, Nordic, and international Life sciences companies to Oslo Science City.
Are there long-term scientific trends that shape your vision for OSC?
Convergence between life sciences and computer sciences is one of the strengths of Oslo Science City and will be a key driver within key areas like precision diagnostics and precision medicine.
Combining our leading knowledge in the area of renewable energy with our strong focus on AI makes optimisation of energy systems an area of focus. With more than 2,000 researchers in social sciences and humanities our focus
on democracy and inclusion will give important input to the global objective of just transition.
I look forward to cycling along the new green and densely vegetated corridor that will run through OSC. Can you tell us more about that?
The people of Oslo have a close and loving relationship to the green
"Marka" forests which border the city. Our ambition is to better connect Oslo Science City to the "Marka" and to improve the already strong green character of the innovation district, thereby improving public health, green
mobility and biodiversity in the process. Urban development with nature-based solutions for climate adaptation will be important. Oslo City Bike, the city’s bike-sharing scheme, already has several stations dotted around the area.
