Crown Prince Haakon of Norway has been hearing more about how the coronavirus pandemic is being handled by businesses across his country. On video-link, His Royal Highness met with the Norwegian firms Less, Epiguard and Rocketfarm to hear more about what they are doing and how they earn money and create work during the pandemic.
Entrepreneurship is an important issue for the Crown Prince. On his own initiative, he contacted companies who have come up with creative solutions when they are needed most. From his home office at the Skaugum Estate, the Crown Prince got to hear more about how they are approaching the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, as he chatted to those involved in the firms on May 27th 2020.
Rocketfarm in western Norway produces software for robots. General manager Egil Mundal told His Royal Highness that they have been lucky from the start which has been an important advantage during the coronavirus crisis.
The company, Less, makes and sells emergency equipment. Anders Haug Thomassen leads the company. When the coronavirus crisis began, they had to increase their production of disposable visors that protect against drip contamination. Now they produce over 30,000 such visors a week.
Another Norwegian company that has experienced international attention and high demand since is Epiguard. The company has five employees and last year sold 16 of its infection incubators. Since March this year they have sold almost 80 infection incubators. Managing Director Ellen Andersen described to the Crown Prince her everyday life of hard work.
At the end of the meeting His Royal Highness made the following statement: “A lot has happened in the start-up environment over the last ten years, which shows that we are on the right path. Many people get a lot of good from entrepreneurship. The advantage is that we have many high-skilled, talented people like you, who are willing to invest and do what it takes to succeed. It is impressive and inspiring, what you have achieved”.
Crown Prince Haakon has followed the work of innovation and entrepreneurship in Norway for several years through his commitment to Norwegian business and entrepreneurs.
