Norway joins the European life science network EIT Health

EIT Health Scandinavia, part of one of the largest life science initiatives world-wide, is now expanding its network to include Norway as Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), joins as an associate partner.

At the outbreak of the pandemic, researchers at NTNU developed a new testing method for Covid-19. This new test was quickly upscaled and became an important tool to have control over the virus in Norway. This Covid-19 test is now used internationally and is a great example of innovation capacity represented by NTNU.

NTNU is joining the EIT Health network with Norway Health Tech (NHT) as a strategic partner where NHT’s strong network vertically integrates the health ecosystem and provides a unique collaboration ground for prompting and delivering innovation to transform the healthcare market.

NTNU has an international focus with a main profile in science and technology, and is well known for its close collaboration with industry and healthcare. It is Norway’s largest university with over 40 000 students and 8000 employees.

- We are very excited to join EIT Health and collaborate with international partners sharing common ambitions to increase the number of innovations, commercialisations and start-ups from academia so that we strengthen sustainable healthcare services. Contributing to better health and health care, aligns well with NTNU's vision, knowledge for a better world, says Toril A. Nagelhus Hernes, Pro-rector for Innovation at NTNU and Professor in Medical Technology.

Through the collaboration with Norway Health Tech, NTNU will engage the entire Norwegian health tech ecosystem.

- EIT Health provide our member companies with unique opportunities to scale and reach new markets and we are delighted to be part of this endeavour. As one of the largest life science initiatives world-wide, EIT Health is an unparalleled ecosystem, a perfect steering engine to bring innovation to the healthcare market. This is further strengthened by the partnership with NTNU, a perfect match between industry and academia, says Lena Nymo Helli, CEO, Norway Health Tech.

- NTNU in combination with Norway Health Tech is a strong addition to the EIT Health network, with impressive research, including Nobel prize winners in Physiology or Medicine and new innovations such as testing methods for COVID-19. With NTNU as an associate partner in combination with NHT, the Scandinavian partnership is strengthened further, covering the whole Norwegian healthcare ecosystem, says Erik Forsberg, Managing Director, EIT Health Scandinavia.