On 3 December 2025, the new shared brand platform for the health sector in Bergen Region will be launched. It's the result of a unique initiative where the public sector, academia, business and charitable organisations have pulled together. The platform will raise the region's profile nationally and internationally, and strengthen its position as a forward-looking and competitive health ecosystem.
The initiative has been facilitated by Bergen Næringsråd's expert group for Health and has received strong financial and professional support from the region's health environments. The aim is clear: to attract talent, investment, partnerships and new commercial opportunities, and to help Norway reach its national 2030 target of doubling health exports.
A Process That United the Region
The work began in 2022 with EY's mapping of the health sector in Bergen Region, published just before Christmas 2023. Since then, development of the brand platform has been strengthened through, amongst other things, the region's role as host for LSX Nordic Congress in 2025. At the same time, there has been extensive mapping work, insight interviews, workshops and collaboration with both Business Region Gothenburg and Health Capital Helsinki, as well as a comparative study of ten Norwegian and European health regions.
The new brand therefore builds on broad insight and wide-ranging alliances – and will help the region collaborate more intelligently, communicate more clearly and stand stronger internationally.
This is What Key Stakeholders in the Region's Health Ecosystem Say:
Haraldsplass Diakonale Sykehus (Kjerstin Fyllingen, CEO and Chair of Expert Group Health at Bergen Næringsråd):
"We've long known that the region has enormous health resources, but they haven't always been visible as a collective. Now we've got a platform that makes it clear just how strong we actually are, and what significant opportunities lie in better collaboration."
Bergen Næringsråd (Sverre Simen Hov, Head of Meeting Arena and Coordinator for Expert Group Health):
"This isn't 'just' a brand. It's a tool that makes it easier to connect stakeholders, build new partnerships and attract more people to the region's health ecosystem. The ambition is straightforward: together we shall grow, innovation will happen and more companies will be built, and we shall demonstrate what the region can contribute to Norway and internationally."
Haukeland universitetssjukehus (Eivind Hansen, CEO):
"A strong, shared identity makes it easier to create and scale health solutions that benefit patients. It's at the intersection of research, clinical practice and technology that the greatest innovations emerge. This brand platform strengthens precisely the potential in those connections."
Stiftelsen Diakonova Haraldsplass (Jørn-Henning Theis, CEO):
"We need structures that enable the health sector to work across organisational forms and professions. The brand platform is a good example of how the region can think holistically with the patient's best interests and attracting even more skilled health personnel as our shared compass."
Universitetet i Bergen (Margareth Hagen, Rector):
"Knowledge and research are the foundation of a strong health ecosystem. With this brand platform, we get a clearer shop window for our research and education, and better opportunities to attract the brightest minds."
Høgskulen på Vestlandet (Gunnar Yttri, Rector):
"We educate professionals who will work throughout the health service. So it's important that the region we're educating people for is ambitious and coordinated. This initiative gives us a shared direction, and it makes the region more attractive for both students and professional environments."
Bergen kommune (Mayor Marit Warncke):
"Bergen has always been a city built on collaboration. That so many stakeholders are behind this platform shows that the will to elevate the health sector and build health-related industry is strong. Now it's about using these opportunities and creating value for both residents and business."
Vestland fylkeskommune (County Mayor Jon Askeland):
"We have a health region with potential far beyond our own borders. This initiative gives us a shared flag to sail under, and it makes us better equipped to bring home investments, projects and expertise that the entire region will sorely need going forward."
Youwell (Øyvind Grimsgaard, CEO):
"For entrepreneurs and growth companies, this means a great deal. Being part of a clear brand provides credibility nationally and internationally, easier access to collaborative partners and a greater chance that investors will actually find us."