Big smiles for EU money for Kitemill: Director Nina Broch Mathisen and senior adviser Ingvild Kjørrefjord in Innovation Norway, Hordaland are pleased with the recognition Kitemill has received from the EU. Photo: Jørn Lekve, Kitemill.

Both have followed Kitemill's development closely since the company was established. They have provided good advice and input and have guided Kitemill in the company's path to international recognition.

The EU announced a record allocation of NOK 24 million to Kitemill in late summer 2019. The money comes from the EU's prestigious Horizon 2020 program.

- A big recognition from the EU

- There are very few companies that achieve EU grants of this size, when we know how many people are applying. Therefore, the EU award is a great recognition that Kitemill is developing the future solutions to a major social challenge, energy. They do this with an exciting technology that ranges from kiting to highly advanced computer technology, says director Nina Broch Mathisen.

Impressed with the results

-I have followed Kitemill closely and am impressed with the results achieved. In 2015, we started a targeted effort to raise Kitemill to a higher level, where the goal was to gain international support. We have now achieved this after four years of hard work. It is first and foremost Kitemill's good people to be honored for this. The EU jury was impressed by the company's history and what they have achieved. The EU jury also saw the great potential the company has for further growth in a very important area for EU countries, which is a sustainable energy supply, says senior adviser Ingvild Kjørrefjord.

She assures that the good news about the EU allocation to Kitemill should now be shared and informed.

More can do like Kitemill

-Kitemill was the first company in Hordaland to receive such great support. However, I am convinced that there are many other very good companies in both Hordaland and Sogn and Fjordane that can also achieve something of the same as Kitemill. In recent years, Norwegian companies have been good at applying for EU funding. The good companies must dare to apply. This is where we in Innovation Norway can provide advice and guidance along the way, says a very happy Ingvild Kjørrefjord.

The support from Innovation Norway, very important

CEO of Kitemill, Thomas Hårklau does not hesitate at all to tell that Kitemill had not been able to get where the company is today, had it not been for the good support the company has had from Innovation Norway, for a long time.

- Innovation Norway has been with us ever since the establishment. Through various phases of our development they have been a very important supporter for us. It is very gratifying that we have now arrived that we are looking for five new employees, in the first place. We are growing and we have great potential. That's why Innovation Norway has been an important contributor to creating growth and jobs, says Thomas Hårklau.