Scale with LINC in Washington, DC

LINC (Launchpad for Innovative Norwegian Companies) was an Innovation Norway, FFI, and NADIC accelerator for Norwegian companies—particularly dual-use firms at early, growth, or mature stages—seeking opportunities in transatlantic defense and security. The programme period shown is 1 August 2025–31 May 2026; companies collaborate with US service providers for about nine months (September 2025–May 2026). Eight selected Norwegian firms addressing national-security needs are matched with US providers and receive US defense-market training, access to end users, investors, and procurement decision-makers. The Royal Norwegian Embassy and Defense Attaché office in Washington, DC, and the Norwegian Consulate General in San Francisco provide operational support.

Support areas include US defense business culture, coaching/mentoring and pitch development; legal/IP advice; navigating the military claims and acquisition process; defense-acquisition financing mechanisms; prototyping, demonstrations, and field exercises with US military users; and industrial cooperation with US suppliers. Listed milestones: Oslo kick-off in August 2025; US programme weeks in October 2025 and April 2026; optional AUSA exhibition in October 2025 and Sea-Air-Space exhibition in April 2026; and NADIC’s Norwegian-American Defense Conference in April 2026. Alumni comments describe the programme as helping companies navigate a difficult US defense market and build useful government/advisor/company networks. Cooperation links include FFI, the Norwegian Embassy in the US, and NADIC. Contact: Einar Irgens Gustafson, Defence Sector Lead, Innovation Norway (einar.irgens.gustafson@innovationnorway.no). The page links to AFA Air-Space-Cyber, AUSA, SHOT Show, NADIC, Sea-Air-Space, Space Symposium, Modern Day Marine, SOF Week, and AUVSI XPONENTIAL.