LINC 2025-26 Program Kick-Off

On August 25-26, leaders from the Norwegian & American defense industries gathered in Oslo to kick-off the 2025-26 LINC program.

Since 2019, the Launchpad for Innovative Norwegian Companies (LINC) program has helped more than 33 Norwegian companies develop business in the U.S. and allied defense market and has created value of over 1 billion NOK for LINC alumni.

Supported by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and Innovation Norway, the LINC program is administered by NADIC.

This year's cohort includes: Equanostic | Excitus | Impetus | Norsk Elektro Optikk

Nordiq Products | Six Robotics | Storm Adapt Group | Teleplan

During the morning portion of the Aug. 25 program, we heard keynote speeches from the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, FFI, Innovation Norway, Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

The keynotes were followed by brief company pitches from the 8 selected LINC companies.

In the afternoon, we gathered a LINC alumni panel to discuss lessons learned for the upcoming cohort and the need for the Norwegian defense industry to collaborate in order to succeed in the U.S. market.

We closed the Day 1 program with briefs from SOFWERX, Halogen, and the LINC program U.S. service providers, followed by a rooftop dinner & reception for the LINC cohort & partners.

On Day 2, NADIC provided a program overview and Q&A session to preview the year ahead, which consists of participation at U.S. trade shows as part of the Team Norway pavilion, including AUSA, Sea Air Space, and SOF Week, as well as networking opportunities, investor introductions, and more.

We then heard briefs from the LINC U.S. service providers, who are crucial to the success of the program as they provide expertise on the U.S. defense industry & military procurement process as well as set up meetings for the LINC companies with key U.S. stakeholders.

The 2025-26 LINC kick-off wrapped with a B2B meeting series between the LINC cohort and program service providers.

On August 28th, the wider Team Norway network participated at the annual Norwegian Defence and Security Industries Association (FSi) exhibition at the historic Akershus Fortress.

You can engage with the LINC cohort in Washington, D.C. for AUSA Week from October 9-15.