Oslo Science City as a Test Arena

Concept Clarification and Strategic Development (2022-2023)

Establishing the Norwegian concept and definition of a 'test arena' is a critical prerequisite for facilitating innovation districts in the country. You can read the full report here.

  • The work led to a well-defined concept of the term "test arena" that can be applied in Norway, particularly in the City of Oslo's efforts with innovation districts. This definition was also aligned with other Nordic countries to foster a common terminology and enhance collaboration. Additionally, the result included a broader terminology of various innovation tools, organized in a manner that facilitates easy communication and discussion. See below.

Key Achievements

Main Deliverable
Oslo Science City as a Test Arena

Client
Oslo Science City

Location
Oslo / Norway

Key Fabric+ services

  • Local economic development

In-charge
Siri Arntzen-Ratnarajan

The starting point

Unlike our neighboring countries, Norway lacks a common terminology for test and demonstration arenas and a unified strategy for their utilization. This absence makes it challenging to set direction, prioritize, and develop test arenas in a way that all parties can agree on. Establishing unanimous terminology was a necessary prerequisite for creating a solid foundation to facilitate the innovation district as a test arena.

The background

Oslo Science City is Norway's first innovation district, extending from Majorstuen via Marienlyst and Blindern to Gaustad, Ullevaal stadium, and Campus Radiumhospitalet. This area is the core of Norway's most knowledge-dense environment, with over 30,000 students, 7,500 researchers, leading universities, university hospitals, and world-leading research institutes, in addition to over 300 companies.

Oslo Science City aimed to explore how they could develop the area as a test arena. Testing ideas and new technologies in their intended environments is crucial for investigating and analyzing the effectiveness of potential measures and products before implementation. By utilizing infrastructure and other defined environments as test arenas, they contribute to the introduction of effective solutions in a safe and beneficial manner.

Adjusted based from Nesta (2019), showing the formulated Norwegian/Nordic definition of test area.

  • Fabric+ utilized their database of over 200 test arenas globally to analyze and understand the characteristics of this concept, and what was excluded from it.

Next steps

Fabric+ continues to work with Oslo Science City to develop a strategy towards becoming a test arena.