Successful matchmaking at Cutting Edge

Cutting Edge has made a name for itself as a fantastic festival for science and technology during Oslo Innovation Week. For the first time, participants could also take part in 1:1 meetings.

Lise Rødsten, Collaboration Manager at Inven2, especially scheduled meetings for researchers as part of the matchmaking.

‘This was so much fun and exceeded all expectations. We organised 150 meetings. It was especially encouraging that one third of them included representatives of the academic community,’ says Rødsten.

Important part of Inven2’s strategy

Ole Kristian Hjelstuen, CEO of Inven2, concludes that the matchmaking is here to stay.

‘Encouraging collaboration between the industry and researchers is an important part of our strategy for contributing to increased commercialisation. In that respect, the matchmaking at Cutting Edge and the extra service we provide researchers by facilitating these meetings are very important,’ says Hjelstuen.

The Cutting Edge festival gathers researchers, technologists and companies from all over Norway in Oslo Science Park, and is therefore particularly suitable for matchmaking across disciplines.

‘For researchers and technologists in Oslo Science Park and the surrounding institutions, this is an attractive low-threshold service practically on their doorstep,’ says Rødsten.

Excellent feedback

The matchmaking was held on the premises of the health incubator Aleap in Oslo Science Park.

‘We have received excellent feedback from both the researchers and the companies. Many of them said they wanted to follow up this initial meeting. If this results in any concrete collaborations, we have really succeeded,’ says Rødsten.