By joining forces, ESACON and PNO take a first step to strengthen their position in Norway: a market where public institutions and the private sector are closely linked through Virkemiddelapparatet. This network of institutions and public support schemes aims to create economic growth in private companies in Norway. The merger of PNO and ESACON will introduce a new unique player in the Norwegian consultancy market, combining proven services in both SkatteFUNN and EU funding.
ACCESS TO BETTER AND MORE COMPLETE SERVICES FOR A LARGER NUMBER OF INNOVATIVE COMPANIES IN NORWAY
ESACON’s experience and proven success rate in the Norwegian funding landscape led to a strong client network as well as a close advisory relation with Forskningsrådet (the Research Council of Norway), which is responsible, among other things, for administering the SkatteFUNN scheme.
Over the years, PNO Group also developed a relevant footprint in the Norwegian market, being a strategic advisor for six years to Forskningsrådet to support Norwegian stakeholders in approaching EU funding (e.g. Horizon Europe), as well as leading industrial clients and key research institutes in Norway. So, although the merger with ESACON is PNO’s first formal step into the Nordic market, it’s certainly not uncharted territory.
“JOINING PNO GROUP OPENS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR NORWEGIAN BUSINESSES MOVING FORWARD”
By joining forces, ESACON and PNO continue on their growth path together. According to Paolo Salvatore, CEO from PNO Group, “ESACON’s market leadership in SkatteFUNN alone creates a natural connection with PNO. We have been a market leader in the Dutch tax credit system since its inception and managed to build that position into Europe’s leading grants consultancy. ESACON’s focus on quality in supporting companies in their innovation process tells me that we are excellent partners.”
This is endorsed by Erik Frey Olson, CEO from ESACON: “Through the EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation, Norway participates in over 1,200 projects, and the EU contributes more than 780 million Euros to Norwegian businesses. PNO’s vast expertise and broad services portfolio will benefit Norwegian businesses moving forward. I am convinced that together we will have a great future ahead of us”.
Ron Weerdmeester, Integrations Manager at PNO, concludes: “Since we were already supporting many leading industries and research institutes in the Norwegian market with EU funding and our R&D advisory services, with ESACON being one of the leading consultancies on national funding joining PNO Group we can now complete our service offering for Norway. Hence, a perfect fit!”
About ESACON
ESACON was established in 2010 to help small and large businesses access SkatteFUNN. Due to its right-based nature, SkatteFUNN is the most extensive support scheme for private businesses in Norway, measured in total funding value and number of recipients. It is ESACON’s mission to support the Norwegian private sector in creating economic growth and reducing risks, among other things by lowering the threshold for businesses to access Virkemiddelapparatet, a network of institutions and public support schemes in Norway. Today, ESACON is a market leader in the tax credit segment, having helped more than 1,000 companies and delivered more than 2,800 approved funding applications. ESACON is headquartered in Oslo.
