NORCE has officially opened its new Technology Park in Risavika together with NBioC, the National Bioprocessing and Fermentation Centre. The opening marks an important step for Norway’s ambition to accelerate the green transition, develop new low-emission industries, and provide international companies with a place to test, scale, and industrialise new technology.
Member of Parliament Geir Pollestad cuts the ribbon to officially open the NORCE Technology Park Risavika and NBioC.
More than forty representatives from industry, research, politics, and public sector attended the ceremony. The ribbon was cut by Geir Pollestad, Member of Parliament and former Minister of Agriculture and Food. He highlighted the national importance of sustainable feed, circular solutions, and research environments that can move innovation into real production.
The infrastructure in Risavika is designed to help companies move from laboratory concept to pilot scale, and further towards commercial viability. This is an important capability both for Norway and for international partners who seek access to industrial testbeds in a country known for energy technology and maritime competence.
NBioC: from fermentation research to industrial feed solutions
At the heart of the technology park is NBioC, which focuses on gas fermentation, circular bio-industries, and sustainable aquaculture feed. One of the early users is the fast-growing company Gas2Feed. Their work demonstrates how proteins can be produced using only CO2 and hydrogen, significantly reducing the need for imported soy. Soy accounts for around eighty percent of aquaculture’s climate footprint today, and replacing it is a major sustainability challenge globally.
Gas2Feed is currently using a 1500 litre fermentation reactor at Risavika to verify protein quality and develop process scalability. Their next step will be industrial production, which could represent a major shift for feed producers worldwide.
NBioC is financed by the Research Council of Norway and operates on an open access model where qualified users can test their processes after receiving training. The aim is to lower barriers for scale-up and help companies transition from early-stage R&D to industry-ready solutions.
Ole Jørgen Marvik, CEO of Gas2Feed
Hydrogen innovation and the Risavika Hydrogen Hub
The park is not limited to biotechnology. Hydrogen development is another key focus area, reflecting national and European targets for deep emission reduction. NORCE is collaborating with SEID AS to test turquois hydrogen production from methane, working towards permanent carbon removal and profitable hydrogen output.
Together with the University of Stavanger and the Energy Cluster ETN, NORCE has established the Risavika Hydrogen Hub. The hub will support new value chains for hydrogen production, transport, and use, providing a platform for testing technology in real conditions.
A regional asset with global relevance
The Technology Park in Risavika sits at the heart of Norway’s traditional energy region, close to offshore infrastructure, port facilities, laboratories, and industrial partners. Leaders from Sola and Stavanger municipalities expressed strong pride in the investment and emphasised their expectations for local value creation. Several compared the potential impact to Ullrigg, Norway’s world-recognised drilling and energy test site.
Industry, research, and political stakeholders share a clear expectation that this facility will attract collaboration, accelerate innovation, and create competitive advantage for companies working within decarbonisation, bio-industry, hydrogen, and circular solutions.
Anne Woie (left) and Gry Isabel Sannes, Heads of Economic Development for Stavanger and Sola municipalities.
Why this matters for international companies
For companies outside Norway, the new Technology Park in Risavika represents a gateway into the Nordic innovation ecosystem. It provides access to:
- Industrial scale bioprocessing and fermentation facilities
- Open access testing and pilot environments for qualified users
- Expertise in hydrogen, carbon reduction, and circular value chains
- Strong collaboration between research, industry, and government
- A location experienced with large-scale energy projects and export industries
Rogaland has decades of experience in energy technology, offshore competence, and industrial implementation. Facilities like NBioC add an entirely new layer of capability, making the region highly attractive for companies aiming to scale sustainable production.
“We invite all companies and partners who want to contribute to the green transition to work with us in Risavika. This is only the beginning, and we see great potential for research, technology development, and industrial innovation”
Christina Schieldrop, Deputy CEO of NORCE, during the opening.
A hub for collaboration and scale-up
The opening of NORCE Technology Park Risavika marks more than a new building. It signals that Rogaland is ready to host the next wave of industrial biotechnology, hydrogen production, and low-carbon innovation. With available test infrastructure and strong public support, international companies now have a place to trial new processes, de-risk investment, and enter the Norwegian market.
Invest in Rogaland will continue to follow the development in Risavika, and we welcome conversations with companies, researchers, and investors interested in exploring collaboration opportunities.
All photos by Thomas Hovmøller Ris.
