Former Prime Minister Erna Solberg officially opened the Factor47 pilot line in Kongsberg — now Norway’s most advanced development and test facility for production industries. The pilot is part of the BATNET project and the Norwegian Catapult program, aimed at boosting innovation and competitiveness in sustainable industrial development.
This milestone marks an important step forward for Norwegian industry and highlights Norway’s ambition to lead the green transition and technology development,” says Ole B. Hoen, Cluster Leader at Kongsberg Technology Cluster.
Kongsberg, home to some of the country’s most advanced tech environments, now hosts a national testbed for learning and innovation in advanced digital manufacturing. The new facility is a prime example of Industry 5.0, where people and robots work side by side to create smarter, more sustainable solutions.
Funded by the Green Platform initiative (Innovation Norway, the Research Council of Norway, and SIVA), Factor47 gives Norwegian companies access to state-of-the-art testing infrastructure and expert knowledge.
Speakers included:
They all emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation to maintain Norway’s competitive edge in an increasingly demanding global economy.
The pilot line combines manual and robotic operations, including a complete digital twin. It allows companies — from startups to large-scale industry — to test and develop new production technologies in a safe, advanced environment.
We want this to be equally useful for large companies and small startups. Our ‘master teams’ of experts collaborate to improve skills, support one another, and share knowledge — a powerful model for advancing the industry, says Hoen.
Nordic Batteries is the first company to use the Factor47 pilot line. Specializing in battery packs and energy systems for demanding sectors, the company has signed a 5.5 GWh delivery agreement with Morrow Batteries over seven years.
By using Factor47, Nordic Batteries can prototype and develop its solutions in a cutting-edge environment — boosting its market position and supporting sustainable industrial development.
Industrial Pilot Kongsberg is about enabling transformation. Europe and Norway are behind in productivity and transition speed. Shared innovation arenas like Factor47 are critical if we’re going to close this gap and strengthen international competitiveness, says Willy Holdahl, Chair of Kongsberg Technology Cluster.
