Dear all,

Thank you for the invitation! It is a pleasure to be here with you all today at one of the most important arenas for one of Norway’s most important sciences and industries.

Just down the road from here, the new Life Science Building is nearing completion. It will be a giant leap forward for life science in Norway. Housing leading research environments from the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, it is a great representation of Norway’s ambition to connect cutting-edge research with public and private partners. If we are to meet the great challenges of our time, this is the only way forward

Before I move on to the initiatives that will shape the future of life sciences in Norway, allow me to begin with some history.

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Investment in the life sciences and biotechnology has long traditions in Norway, quite naturally. In all our history, we have been a society harvesting from nature. Over centuries agricultural and fisheries has been a backbone in the Norwegian economy.

Norway also has a long tradition of developing our knowledge of nature. One of the first higher education institutions established by the Norwegian Parliament in our young nation-state was the Higher Agricultural School at Ås, which opened its doors in 1859.

From there, we can take a long leap forward to the investment in functional genomics – the legendary FUGE programme in the beginning of the 2000s – which I am certain many of you have benefited from. The programme has had a profound and long-lasting impact on Norway, offering radically new insights into biological processes and forming the foundation for cutting‑edge medical, marine, and agricultural research.

FUGE also marked the start of a national approach to research in genomics, followed by two national strategies for personalised medicine, the last one presented by this administration in 2023.

Biotechnology, together with other enabling technologies, has been a priority in all three long‑term plans for research and higher education.

One very visible result of government commitment is the Life Science Building, the largest building housing research in Norway.

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In confronting the great challenges of today’s world, Norway must build on our history and our strong scientific communities in biotechnology.

As scientists, as entrepreneurs, as business leaders and politicians – I believe we all feel the weight of responsibility in the world we live in — a responsibility to contribute. But I also think many of us share  optimism and belief in the ability to create change.

We need that. We have just come out of a cold and dark January, with increasing global unrest and great power rivalry in the spotlight. The High North has been one of the epicenters, which underlines the need for us – the Nordic countries – to strengthen our technological sovereignty and quality of life for all. Investment in research and technology – including biotechnology, in all sectors – is our most long-term and peaceful investment.  

In addition, we are undergoing huge demographic changes as the share of older citizens rises and the number of working-age people declines. Also, climate change requires us to carry out the most extensive transformation of the Norwegian economy in modern times.

Life sciences have the power to transform how we confront these challenges, unlocking innovative and more efficient solutions for the future. And just as importantly, they are vital for strengthening Norwegian and European competitiveness in a global race.

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To strengthen the future of life sciences in Norway, we need new technology.

The government is now carrying out an ambitious national effort to boost Norway as a technology nation, focusing on deep-tech – with major research and innovation initiatives in AI and quantum technology.

As you are well aware, new technologies are being adopted continuously in the life sciences. On example is the use of the AI tool AlphaFold to determine the structure of proteins – the scientific breakthrough of the year in 2021.  I can see from the programme of this conference that the use of AI is also central to your work.

Just as breakthroughs in AI have had major ripple effects in the life sciences, I expect that future breakthroughs in quantum technology – in quantum sensing and quantum computing – will transform also your fields. Quantum technology is on the verge of entering a new stage, and it will play a crucial role in navigation, security, energy efficiency, and not least: In the life sciences and medicine.

Therefore, last year the government introduced funding for quantum research infrastructure and four research centres for basic research in quantum technology. Later this year, the Research Council will launch “The Quantum Leap” – an industry-oriented research initiative on quantum technology. Altogether, we will invest more than one billion Norwegian kroner in quantum technology over the next five years.

I expect that, in the not-too-distant future, quantum technology will be an important topic also here at the University of Oslo Life Sciences Conference.

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To me, and to my colleague, the Minister of Health, Mr Vestre – who will be speaking at the conference tomorrow – the topic on health data is of outmost importance. We know how important access to such data is to the life sciences, and I would like to highlight the close and constructive cooperation between our two ministries on this topic.

A good example is the collaboration regarding the establishment of a national infrastructure for the analysis of sensitive data. The infrastructure was established on January 1 this year, based on existing infrastructures at the universities in Oslo, Bergen, and NTNU – the NorTre collaboration.

Our two ministries and the NorTre-universities are now working together on how we can further develop their infrastructures to meet new national needs.

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Before closing, I would like to say a few words on collaboration between research and private industry:

A defining feature of our research initiatives is the close integration of industry from day one. And that is my encouragement to all of you here today — whether you represent research or business: seek collaboration with one another.

We need more private actors to invest in research. That is why the government has introduced several measures aimed at unlocking greater private investment in research and encouraging stronger cooperation across sectors.

I’m really glad to see that collaboration is getting stronger in Norway, and that businesses are investing more in research – including in the life sciences.

Later today, we will hear more about a new partnership between Oslo University Hospital, the University of Oslo, SINTEF, Oslo Science City, and AstraZeneca.

Together, they want to turn knowledge into treatment quicker, make better use of health data, and develop new digital services. The director of Oslo University Hospital, Bjørn Atle Bjørnbeth, will soon elaborate on the partnership and what they aim to achieve.

This new partnership follows a series of other promising recent research initiatives from private actors in Norway.

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We are living through times of greater uncertainty. At the same time, we are living through times where science is making tremendous progress. We are unlocking some of the greatest mysteries of life and the human body. Life Sciences are a tool of unknown potential – bringing knowledge, healing diseases and creating value.

I would like to thank you all for your efforts in advancing the life sciences, creating strong partnerships and strengthening Norway’s position in a field of vital importance.

Thank you and thank you for your attention.