Attract capital
The startup sector is dependent on risk capital for investments. Even great ideas stay ideas if no one invests in realizing them.
The EU knows this, and in 2025, Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission has initiated the Scale up Europe fund of $5 billion. We need to grow European technology businesses, or become completely dependent on other regions.
As one of the world’s largest investor, Norway is in a unique position to do more. As a small first step, the government should provide more risk capital for the funds who need it to build the Norwegian venture scene.
Read the report from NVCA on investments in the first half of 2025.
KPMG published a report with top executives in Norway.
Oslo Science City and Copenhagen Economics on innovation in Oslo.
Our principles for policy on capital
Make it attractive for international capital to invest in Norway
We need a national strategy for how we attract international capital to invest in Norwegian VC funds, startups and scaleups.
Make it more attractive to invest in startups and scaleups
There needs to be incentives for investors to add early stage companies to their investment portfolio.
NAST capital policy suggestions
Ensure wealth taxes to not affect startups
Refrain from taxing unrealized gains
Make it more attractive for individuals to invest in startups and scaleups
Expand and simplify today’s tax incentives for individuals in line with the SEIS and EIS schemes in the UK
introduce 50% tax relief for investments in startups for up to NOK 2 million per year
introduce 30% tax relief for investments in scaleups for up to NOK 10 million per year
Enable competent and resourceful investor ecosystems
Match the European average where public funds is 35% of available risk capital
Pension funds should allocate >5% of their investments in risk capital
NBIM should be able to invest in unlisted stocks, including international venture capital and private equity