Innovative Oslo

Meet your guide and board an all-electric tour bus to experience Norway's innovations from the start. The bus is provided by a local company, Oslo Buss, which is one of the first companies in Northern Europe to use all-electric coaches. Oslo Buss wants to be an active promoter of green change in the industry and believes that future investments in materials must be based on a sustainable strategy.

Enjoy a guided transfer by electric bus through the city to the Bjørvika district in Oslo. You'll take a walk to see the modern buildings while your knowledgeable guide provides explanations along the way. Not long ago, Bjørvika was known for its busy container port and a major highway junction. Now the motorway has been moved underground, the containers have disappeared, the waterfront has been developed, and new life is breezing through the area by the fjord.

If you are interested in architecture, Bjørvika is a treasure trove to discover. The white Opera House, the narrow buildings of the Barcode ensemble, and the whimsical angles of the Acrobats Pedestrian Bridge have become popular photo opportunities with locals and visitors alike. Barcode is home to top-notch stores, art galleries, and restaurants.

Across the street and towards the fjord is the new MUNCH and Oslobukta district: a brand new part of town with a great selection of restaurants, architectural sights, a large bathing jetty and a water fountain that doubles as a playground.

Take a look at the Oslo Opera House. Opened in 2008, the building has won several prestigious architectural awards. Step inside and take a quick look at the impressive lobby.

Then proceed to one of the most modern libraries in Europe, the New Deichman Library. Before walking around the library’s best spots, you will proceed to one of the auditoriums to meet one of the local entrepreneurs who has dedicated their lives to green innovation. Speaker will be announced closer to the program date. Spend 30 minutes learning about the innovative project while enjoying coffee, tea and local fresh juice.

After meeting a local entrepreneur you will be met by Liv Sæteren who will be your guide in the library. In addition to the library itself, the unique building has a movie theater, media workshops, gaming areas, lounges and a restaurant. The library's architecture is closely linked to its role as a public space. Liv is the former CEO of the Library who worked out the plan for the new library and the inventor of the project “Library for the Future”. Liv Sæteren was director of several Norwegian libraries before becoming library director of the Oslo/Deichman Public Library from 1986 to 2013. Her main focus has been on the development of libraries to meet the changes in society, especially in information technology. Sæteren was a member of various committees in the cultural field and has been honored with awards such as the City of Oslo Cultural Award, the King's Medal of Merit, the Norwegian Library Association Honorary Award, and as a Paul Harris Fellow.