Oslo Tech Show 2025: AI, Cybersecurity, and the Future of Norwegian Tech

Norway’s dynamic IT industry is actively preparing for a future shaped by AI, cybersecurity, intelligent devices, and complex cloud transformations. At the Oslo Tech Show 2025 (held in Lillestrøm), participants from all these layers showcased their innovations and how ready they are for such a selective and technology-driven market. Norway’s robust financial resources permit the country to have a more strategic, longer-term approach to adopting these advancements rather than a rushed implementation.

A key point of the event was the presence of the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA) – Norsk Romsenter. Thus, the Norwegian Space Investment will bring several strategic advantages, such as in the maritime industry, and a high-tech industrial base. In fact, Norway is one of the countries in the world that benefits from and uses this technology to a very large extent. Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM), launched in August 2024, utilizes satellites in highly elliptical orbits to provide continuous broadband coverage for various users in the Arctic: aircraft, ships, research vessels, fishing vessels, cruise ships, expeditions, and troops operating in the Arctic.

Data center infrastructure was also a central focus, drawing significant interest from solution providers specializing in critical development and maintenance aspects, including cooling and facilities management. Key colocation data center investors active in the Norwegian market, such as Green Mountain, Bulk Infrastructure, Orange Business, and Lefdal Mine Data Centers, were present at the event. This heightened interest is directly attributable to the increasing demand for AI infrastructure, regional geopolitical factors, and the fundamental need for secure and private data storage solutions.

In fact, the country has articulated a clear and forward-thinking strategy for its data center industry. Norway’s focus on sustainability, leveraging its cold climate for efficient cooling and utilizing renewable energy, along with government regulations promoting digital security, makes it an attractive location for data center investments. The market includes numerous global and local support infrastructure providers and construction contractors, with new entrants and expansions indicating a thriving data center landscape.

Starting in 2025, Norway’s data center industry is facing a new regulatory landscape with the adoption of the Ecom Act and a specific data center regulation. These introduce obligations for data center operators, such as registration with the Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom) for those exceeding a certain limit of power consumption, adherence to usage restrictions during emergencies, and the implementation of adequate security measures at their own cost (with potential compensation for national security-related expenses). One of the highlights of this framework is the fact that it has to be declared an estimate of cryptocurrency mining power usage, reflecting the government’s stance against crypto mining in data centers.

Sigma2 delivered a notable presentation highlighting its role in managing Norway’s national e-infrastructure for computational science. Their services encompass the provision of high-performance supercomputing resources and large-scale data storage solutions tailored for the research and education sectors. It operates these national services in collaboration with the Universities of Bergen, Oslo, Tromsø, and NTNU under the umbrella name NRIS (Norwegian Research Infrastructure Services). Sigma2 underlined the upcoming Norway’s new supercomputer named Olivia, which will be launched in mid-June 2025. Located at Lefdal Mine Data Centers, Olivia will be Norway’s most powerful supercomputer. Olivia will be employed for data-driven research, especially in developing Norwegian language AI models, and will facilitate advancements in health, marine, and climate research. Like other national supercomputers managed by Sigma2 under NRIS, Olivia will be accessible to researchers across Norway. Sigma2 also announced the partnership with the Finnish LUMI AI Factory, one of the European Union’s first AI Factories. In PAC opinion, such alliances at the European level should be intensified in order that Europe-based companies can be competitive on a global scale.

It is important to mention that Norway has been influential in the web browser landscape, primarily through the establishment and ongoing development of Opera and the creation of Vivaldi by an Opera co-founder. Both platforms promote ethical practices with their users regarding data while emphasizing the benefits of top-notch technology. While it is clear that a strategy of usage of more Norwegian/Nordic/European solutions is being adopted, the US providers have a strong presence in the domestic country, and often there is a strong symbiosis with local stakeholders, with solutions adapted to the market needs. IBM, AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft attended this event with a demonstration of their top-notch technology.

Secure digital transformation necessitates the deep integration of cybersecurity across all layers of infrastructure. Companies including Admin by Request, Orange Business, Iver, and Atea demonstrated their expertise and methodologies for building inherently secure environments. Norway, like any other country in the region, is highly impacted by the increase in cyber threats and will definitely have some proactive measures to mitigate that risk.

While sustainability initiatives may be losing momentum in some other markets, Norway presents a different picture. Advania’s insightful presentation highlighted the critical issue of increasing e-waste in the near future. However, there is a promising approach in terms of sustainability. Their data suggests a tangible commitment to circularity within the Norwegian IT sector, with 10% of investments dedicated to these services.

In summary, the Norwegian IT market is evolving fast, but not in any circumstances. The emphasis on ethics, sustainability, and careful analysis of the long-term social impact will be the main pillars for Norwegian organizations’ further digital transformation.

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