A clear technology investment
NITO believes that the government's proposal for the national budget for 2026 takes good steps with fresh money for technology investment. "The government is doing a lot of things right with a clear technology profile, but we are missing a science boost to ensure recruitment," says Vice President of NITO, Safina de Klerk.
"The enormous investment in defence technology will probably be the most decisive, and hopefully create more study and jobs in the future. A solid defense is necessary," she says.
NITO is positive to national skills development, which we hope will be useful for Norway's competitiveness in the years to come.
"An increase of NOK 750 million over 5 years for quantum technology and NOK 1 billion for research in the Arctic Ocean is a clear signal that Norway will become better at future-oriented research and technology.
Lack of a comprehensive science boost
"Study places in quantum technology and national high-performance computing are brilliant, but we miss a prioritization of a more long-term science education boost in schools. We must have young people with the science skills required to fill these study places, also in the years to come," says de Klerk.
Neither an increase in the number of teaching hours in science subjects in lower secondary school nor a real investment in continuing and further education of science teachers has been followed up in the national budget for 2026.
"We therefore question how the government intends to ensure that Norway has the technological and scientific expertise it needs in the future," says de Klerk.
Reducing the budget for Girls and Technology
The subsidy for Girls and Technology in the presented national budget for 2026 has been proposed to be reduced from NOK 3,950,000 in 2025 to NOK 3,100,000 in 2026, a decrease of 21.5%.
"I think it's absurd considering that we need increased science recruitment in Norway, especially more women. This will be the lowest level since 2018, which means, among other things, reduced staffing and fewer school and company visits.
Girls and Technology is a national project whose purpose is to increase the proportion of women in technology.
