Business in the Bergen Region
About this presentation:
Value creation is defined as the sum of operating profit plus wages. (People often ask for a
definition of the term.)
The figures in the presentation are 2010 figures. They are from the official Norwegian
Register of Business Enterprises, and from Statistics Norway. The figures are based on the
pan-European NACE code classification system for businesses.
Companies that form a natural part of the cluster in question, but that are not covered by
the relevant NACE codes, are also included. In order to be considered part of the cluster,
more than 50% of the company’s business must be related to the cluster.
We have also included large groups of companies with headquarters outside our region, but
with significant activity within the region. These companies have been included on the basis
of proportional figures. Likewise, the figures for large companies headquartered in the
region have been reduced proportionally using the same method as for those with
headquarters outside the region.
For further information about this presentation or other questions about the region, please
contact Tone Hartvedt, Director of Communications at Business Region Bergen. Mobile:
+47 917 29 055.
WHAT BUSINESS REGION BERGEN DOES
Business Region Bergen works to strengthen and develop trade and industry in the Bergen
region, especially within the region's most important industries: oil, gas, marine activities,
maritime industry, the media sector and tourism.
Our goal is to contribute to sustainable and knowledge-based growth, diversity and a high
level of employment in the region.
At Business Region Bergen, we focus our efforts on the following areas:
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Improving framework conditions for regional business development
Initiating collaborations between research institutions, the public sector and the
business community
Providing services and advice to new companies
Marketing the region nationally and internationally
Cooperation is a crucial factor in relation to achieving positive business development.
Business Region Bergen sees this as one of its main tasks. We aim to ensure that different
environments get to know each other and to strengthen existing organisations that have
different roles in business development in the region.
Business Region Bergen represents the 20 municipalities that form the Bergen region
together with Hordaland County Authority.
Economic characteristics
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The Bergen region has world-leading business clusters in:
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The energy sector: oil, gas and renewable energy
The maritime sector: ship owners, shipyards, service companies and suppliers
The marine sector: fisheries, aquaculture and other marine products
The adventure, culture and travel sector
Media and culture-based businesses: media, design, film and music
The ICT and financial sector
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Research and education
The Bergen region is a leading knowledge region with more than 30,000 students and 4,000
researchers: the University of Bergen, Norwegian School of Economics, Bergen University
College, Bergen Academy of Art and Design, BI Norwegian Business School,
Stord/Haugesund University College, Bergen School of Architecture and the Royal
Norwegian Naval Academy.
Centres of Excellence
Four Norwegian Centres of Excellence
The legacy of medieval Europe. Its aim is to shed new light on the historical and cultural
legacy of medieval Europe,
The Centre for Integrated Petroleum Research conducts applied research into increased
oil exploitation and secure CO2 storage.
The Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research (BCCR) is the largest climate research centre
in the Nordic countries and among the leading centres in Europe.
The Centre for Geobiology (CGB) will be involved in research and researcher training,
generating new, fundamental knowledge about the interactions between the geosphere and
biosphere.
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In terms of employees, value creation and turnover, the most important industry in the region
is the oil and gas industry.
The energy sector
The Bergen region is Norway’s leading region in terms of operations, production and
maintenance within the energy sector. A new centre has been established: the Uptime
Centre of Competence.
Sixty per cent of Statoil’s operatorships on the Norwegian continental shelf are run from
Bergen. It is also a central region for technological research and development, with CIPR –
the Centre for Integrated Petroleum Research, the Norwegian Centre of Excellence in
Petroleum – as an important spearhead. The region has world-leading subsea expertise –
the Norwegian Centre of Expertise Subsea.
Technology Centre Mongstad is the world’s largest facility for testing and improving CO 2
capture technologies. This is an area to which the Norwegian Government is committed.
Hordaland County is the largest hydroelectric power producer in Norway.
Key figures (2010): 1,361 companies, 27,800 employees, EUR 4.2 billion in value creation
and EUR 22 billion in turnover.
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The maritime sector
The Bergen region accounts for 18 per cent of the maritime sector’s turnover in Norway and
it has one of the most comprehensive maritime business clusters in the country, including
leading shipping companies, shipyards, services and equipment suppliers. Operations and
maintenance are key services. The headquarters of the Royal Norwegian Navy are located in
the Bergen region, and the Naval Academy is located in Bergen.
Key figures (2010): 1,300 companies, 19,700 employees, EUR 2.2 billion in value creation
and EUR 10 billion in turnover.
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The marine sector
Bergen is home to some of the world’s most productive marine environments. The region has
a long history of traditional fishing, but it is also a leading region in the development of stateof-the-art aquaculture. The excellent conditions for environmentally friendly aquaculture have
led to Norway becoming the world’s largest salmon-farming nation.
The Bergen region accounts for 25 per cent of the value creation in the marine sector in
Norway, and the region has one of the world’s most modern fishing fleets. World-leading
salmon aquaculture companies are headquartered in the region, and 40 per cent of the
world’s salmon production is controlled from the Bergen region. Bergen is also the main
Norwegian centre for fisheries management, with the Directorate of Fisheries and the
Institute of Marine Research both being located in the city.
Key figures (2010): 855 companies, 3,350 employees, EUR 0.7 billion in value creation and
EUR 4.4 billion in turnover.
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The success of the seafood sector in Norway is based on close cooperation between
leading research institutions in the field of marine science and education and decades of
practical experience. Bergen is the proud capital of a world-leading cluster of marine
expertise.
Our research institutions include:
• The Institute of Marine Research (IMR)
• National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES)
• University of Bergen (UiB)
• Christian Michelsen Research (CMR)
• NOFIMA
• UNI Research
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Media and culture-based businesses
The Bergen region is a leading Nordic region for media, film, music and design, and it is
renowned for its innovation and cooperation across different disciplines.
There are large media companies based in Bergen, which has world-leading players in both
media technology and content production. The City of Bergen is working with these
companies to develop a media cluster by 2015, Media City Bergen. This will give a further
boost to innovation and new businesses in this sector.
Bergen is renowned for several major music initiatives and festivals (they will be mentioned
later in the bid application).Bergen is also home to the biggest film production and design
environment outside Oslo.
Key figures: 600 limited companies, 5,900 other companies, 5,200 employees, EUR 0.3
billion in value creation and EUR 1 billion in turnover.
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The adventure, culture and travel sector
The Bergen region is an exciting place for culture and nature-based experiences. Bergen is
the biggest cruise port in Northern Europe, with more than 300,000 passengers visiting
Bergen and the region in 2012.
Bergen is the Gateway to the Fjords, and many companies provide day trips or round trips in
the fjords and the surrounding mountains. There are many famous tourist attractions in the
city and the region, and world-class tourist service providers help to facilitate and develop
these attractions. Bergen International Festival, Bergen Music Festival and other festivals
attracts artists and audiences from the whole world to Bergen.
Key figures (2010): 3,000 companies, 13,000 employees, EUR 0.6 billion in value creation
and EUR 1.6 billion in turnover
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The ICT and financial sector
Bergen has the second largest financial sector in the country. The Norwegian School of
Economics is located in the city. It conducts world-leading research in the field of economics.
Key figures: 113 companies, 5,500 employees and EUR 86 billion in assets
The number of employees in the ICT sector has increased by around 10 per cent during the
last two years. This is an exciting and growing business sector for the region, ranging from
banking systems to media technology.