SPOT Nordic Officially Launches Its Activities in Norway with First In-Person Event in Oslo

On 27 May 2026, SPOT Nordic officially launched its activities in Norway through its first in-person event in Oslo, held under the High Patronage of the Portuguese Embassy in Oslo and hosted at the Official Residence of H.E. Ambassador Pedro Pessoa e Costa.

The event brought together around 30 Portuguese researchers, professionals, entrepreneurs and members of the wider innovation ecosystem based in Norway, representing a diverse range of sectors including healthcare, energy, architecture, academia, engineering, culture, finance, sustainability and technology.

This milestone follows an initial online taskforce-building meeting organised in November 2025 with members of the Portuguese community in Norway and marks an important new chapter in SPOT Nordic’s expansion across the Nordic region.

Bringing the Portuguese Community Together in Norway

The main objective of the event was to create a space for networking, dialogue and community-building among highly qualified Portuguese professionals living in Norway, while also exploring opportunities to strengthen connections between the Norwegian ecosystem, the wider Nordic region and Portugal.

The evening began with an initial networking reception, allowing participants to meet each other and exchange experiences across different professional and academic backgrounds.

The institutional session opened with welcoming remarks from Ambassador Pedro Pessoa e Costa, who highlighted the importance of Portuguese professionals abroad and emphasised the strategic value of the diaspora for Portugal’s international positioning and development. According to the feedback shared after the event, the Ambassador delivered “a very meaningful message” that strongly resonated with participants.

SPOT Nordic’s Journey Across the Nordic Region

During the event, SPOT Nordic presented its institutional mission, development journey and current activities across the Nordic countries.

The presentation also reflected on the broader evolution of SPOT Nordic over the past four years, including the establishment of teams and initiatives across Denmark, Sweden, Finland and now Norway. Particular emphasis was placed on the unique moment the organisation is currently experiencing, with activities and collaborations simultaneously taking place across all four Nordic countries.

Participants also had the opportunity to engage in an open discussion and Q&A session focused on the role of SPOT Nordic, the collaboration with other organisations and institutions, and future opportunities for initiatives in Norway.

A Diverse and Highly Qualified Community

The event gathered participants from a broad range of institutions and organisations across Norway, including Oslo University Hospital, OsloMet, BI Norwegian Business School, Norsk Hydro, Statkraft, the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Kongsberg Maritime, the Institute for Energy Technology and several startups and independent initiatives.

The diversity of backgrounds and expertise present throughout the evening reinforced the strong potential for future collaboration between Portuguese professionals in Norway and the wider SPOT Nordic network.

Strengthening Portugal–Norway Connections

The launch event in Oslo represents another important step in SPOT Nordic’s mission to strengthen connections between Portugal and the Nordic countries through science diplomacy, innovation, knowledge exchange and international collaboration.

Beyond the institutional dimension, the event also highlighted the growing interest among Portuguese professionals in Norway to actively contribute to the development of a stronger, more connected and collaborative community.

SPOT Nordic would like to thank all participants, members of the Norway taskforce and the Portuguese Embassy in Oslo for their support and contribution in making this first event in Norway possible.