FORREGION and Competence brokers
Research-based innovation in the regions, FORREGION, aims to make it easier for companies to use research when developing new products or services. A competence broker can help you along the way.
What is FORREGION?
FORREGION will encourage more companies to use research in their innovation work. We also want more companies to go further and use other support schemes for research and innovation, such as the Research Council's national programmes or international research programmes.
FORREGION is a scheme for companies that have little or no experience of using research. We also help companies that have more knowledge about research. Through FORREGION, your company can receive support to explore how research can contribute to the development of new or better products, services or solutions. The goal is for more companies to use research more actively over time.
FORREGION is available in all counties, and the county municipality is responsible for its county. On the county municipality's website, you will find information about competence brokers and support schemes for the county where your company belongs.
What is a competence broker?
A competence broker is a qualified advisor (broker) who offers free guidance to companies to find the right research expertise.
They have broad knowledge in several fields and good business expertise within their industries and industries. At the same time, they know the expertise and areas of expertise of various research environments.
With the help of a competence broker, you will be able to find topics and opportunities for your own R&D projects more easily. They can also help you find relevant support schemes, as well as identify and concretize project ideas.
You can only use the competence brokers that belong to your own county.
What is FORREGION, video (in Norwegian)
Support schemes in FORREGION
There are several support schemes for companies in FORREGION, but it may vary from county to county which of the schemes the county municipality uses in its toolbox. There may also be thematic priorities in the counties. What applies to your county can be found on the county municipality's website.
Typical support schemes in FORREGION are:
- Pre-project: smaller R&D projects in preparation for later larger R&D projects
- Mobility projects: three variants of the project type:
- Researcher on loan, where the researcher works for a period in a company
- secondment, where a person in a company does a secondment in a research organisation for a period of time, and
- students, where students spend a period in a company related to a master's/bachelor's thesis,
- Network meetings: gathering of several actors for joint discussions of R&D opportunities