What type of company may submit a solution?

All companies registered in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises in Brønnøysund are eligible to submit a solution, with the exception of:

• sole proprietorships,
• accelerator programmes,
• companies that offer only e-learning platforms,
• companies that produce only consumer goods (even if these are sold B2B),
• companies that are purely distributors,
• consultancy firms that provide only services and not solutions.

What criteria must be satisfied when submitting a solution?

There are three criteria that a company must satisfy when applying:

1. The solution must be green.

2. The solution must contribute to achieving at least one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

3. The company must be ready for international growth.

Please read the full version of the criteria.

Good business practice

Each company must also confirm that it takes a responsible approach to the principles of good business practice, as outlined in the guidelines below, by conducting a risk analysis (e.g. a due diligence) to identify and mitigate negative impacts of both its own operations and its business relationships:

• The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

• The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

• The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact.

How are solutions assessed?

Companies and solutions are assessed based on the information submitted by the companies. Companies are themselves responsible for verifying that all information is correct.

The Explorer has an editorial team and a team of experts who assess whether the solution is green, which UN Sustainable Goals the solution contributes to achieving, and whether the company is ready for international growth. In cases where it is uncertain whether a solution is green, The Explorer will let an external expert advisory board decide.

Companies can also ask for their solution to be assessed by this board.