The technology incubator Kobben challenges entrepreneurs to think outside the box.

HELPING FOUNDERS SUCCEED

Kobben is a Hortens company that is a bit out of the ordinary. Their main focus is on building up local entrepreneurs so that they can succeed in the global market. At Silicia, Vestfold entrepreneurs get access to an innovative environment that has the expertise, network and investor capital needed to create competitive companies.

– We are in Horten because this is where the expertise within micro- and nanotechnology is, explains business developer at Silicia, Henrik Sæter.
– Horten is "the electronic coast" in Norway, so it's completely natural for us to be based here.

CHASING LOCAL INNOVATION

The incubator relies heavily on the expertise found in Horten within technology and electronics, which means that they are largely looking for start-up technology companies.

“We have companies that work with waste management, companies that design and develop applications, and we also have some that develop bubble curtains to reduce the strength of hurricanes. It's a broad spectrum, in other words,” says Sæter.
– We have the tools needed for these companies to succeed better here than they would outside.

The incubator only succeeds when the founders themselves succeed; when the new companies move out and become businesses that stand firmly on their own two feet. And there are many businesses that succeed after their time in Silicia (Kobben):

– In 2018, our companies, both those that have been in Silicia (Kobben) before and those that are here now, had a turnover of NOK 286 million, says Sæter.
– So that says something about the size of our companies. There are many who grow big here.

BETTING ON SUSTAINABILITY

The future looks promising for the technology incubator:
– Our path forward is very much defined by our geographical catchment area. We are the only innovation company of our kind in Vestfold, so our plan is to further consolidate this position in the coming time. We cannot grow more than the local entrepreneurial industry allows, says Sæter.

However, the company has a slightly different plan for the future:
– We will always have our expertise in electronics and technology, but we will also focus more on sustainability. We believe this will be a hygiene factor in the future, and we look forward to developing this aspect further together with the industry in Vestfold.