Germany

Germany aims to increase the share of renewable energy in electricity consumption to at least 80% by 2030. On some days, renewable energy already covers the full electricity demand, while on others, fossil fuel plants still stabilize the grid. This fluctuation highlights one of the central challenges in the German energy transition: integrating large volumes of variable renewable power from wind and solar into a system that was originally designed around predictable baseload.

A key driver of this transformation is the rapid expansion of offshore wind, which Germany sees as essential for securing future energy supply. The North Sea and Baltic Sea offer ideal conditions, and Germany has set ambitious buildout plans that require extensive technology, services, and solutions across the value chain. This includes maritime operations, grid integration, digitalisation, and new port infrastructure - areas in which Norwegian companies traditionally have strong capabilities.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is increasingly discussed in Germany as part of a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy, particularly for industries where emissions are hard to avoid. While domestic storage is politically sensitive, interest in crossborder cooperation is growing, especially with countries like Norway that have geological storage capacity and established offshore expertise. This opens possibilities for bilateral industrial projects and longterm partnerships.

At the same time, Germany positions hydrogen as a cornerstone of its future energy system. Green hydrogen is expected to play a vital role in decarbonising heavy industry, mobility, and parts of the heating sector. However, domestic production alone will not be sufficient to meet the projected demand. As a result, Germany is actively seeking international partnerships and import arrangements. Norway is seen as a reliable partner for both blue and green hydrogen, given its energy resources, infrastructure competence, and strong track record in maritime and offshore industries.

Germany’s maritime sector is one of the most important industrial ecosystems in Europe and is undergoing a major transformation driven by decarbonisation, digitalisation and the expansion of offshore energy. Shipyards, equipment suppliers, ports and service providers are investing in environmentally friendly vessel technologies, energyefficient operations and digital maritime infrastructure.

This creates strong demand for solutions related to green shipping, alternative fuels, lowemission propulsion, vessel efficiency and autonomous or smartship systems. The rapid growth of offshore wind reinforces the need for specialised vessels, subsea technology, maritime logistics and maintenance concepts. Opportunities also arise in maritime safety, port digitalisation, supplychain resilience and environmental monitoring. With solid expertise in offshore operations, vessel design, digital maritime services and green technologies, Norwegian companies are well placed to contribute to Germany’s increasingly sustainabilitydriven maritime market.

Germany is investing heavily in the modernization of its armed forces, creating substantial demand for advanced technologies across maritime, air, land and cyber domains. The procurement cooperation between Norway and Germany forms a solid basis for deeper industrial collaboration, with opportunities for Norwegian companies to supply components, systems and services to German primes and participate in joint R&D programmes. German industry is also strongly export-oriented, which opens doors for Norwegian firms to join multinational consortia and engage in thirdmarket activities. Areas with relevance include sensors, autonomous systems, secure communications, advanced materials, and lifecycle support - fields where Norwegian technology is well regarded.

Germany’s space sector is expanding rapidly, driven by growing political interest in strategic space capabilities and strong industrial investment. The market includes satellite production, earth observation, navigation, launch services and new-space solutions such as microlaunchers and autonomous operations. As Germany seeks innovative European partners, Norwegian companies can contribute expertise in small-satellite technologies, maritime and Arctic monitoring from space, secure communications and ground infrastructure. The combination of Germany’s industrial scale and Norway’s niche strengths creates opportunities for joint projects, technology integration and cooperation in dualuse applications central to European security and resilience.

Germany hosts some of Europe’s largest processindustry clusters, including chemicals, advanced materials, industrial equipment, food and beverage production, and hightech manufacturing. These sectors are rapidly transforming due to climate targets, rising energy costs, supply-chain pressures, and growing demand for digitalized, efficient, and resilient production. This creates significant opportunities for Norwegian companies with specialized technologies, automation expertise, and innovative industrial solutions.

Industry 4.0 is central to this transformation. German companies are investing heavily in advanced automation, sensors, predictive maintenance, robotics, digital twins, and AI-driven process optimization. Solutions that boost energy efficiency, cut emissions, optimize resources, and enhance traceability are in high demand—areas where Norwegian firms have proven strengths.

Norwegian companies can position themselves as key partners, offering cutting-edge technologies and collaborating on joint development projects, pilot programs, and integrated industrial solutions. Germany’s strong research ecosystem and extensive industrial networks make it an ideal hub for Norwegian firms to expand, innovate, and build long-term partnerships in the process industry.

Germany is one of the largest healthcare markets in Europe. An ageing population and a shortage of healthcare professionals are driving demand for innovative solutions. There is strong interest in digital health technologies, telemedicine, AI-based diagnostics, and sustainable medical equipment. Solutions in life sciences, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical research are also in high demand.

Norwegian companies with expertise in secure platforms, sensor technology, robotics, and e-health are well positioned to succeed. Technologies that improve efficiency, enhance patient safety, and reduce the burden on healthcare staff are particularly sought after.

Political initiatives such as the Hospital Future Act and the rollout of electronic patient records are accelerating digitalisation. At the same time, there are clear requirements for data protection and for systems to work seamlessly together.
Innovation Norway supports Norwegian companies in building networks, identifying the right partners, and navigating regulatory frameworks and approval processes. Through dialogue with public authorities and institutions, we help open doors and create favourable conditions for Norwegian businesses in the German healthcare market.

Germans are world champions in travel, making competition for this audience fierce. German tourists are generally very culturally interested and seek relaxation on vacation. Those considering Norway are well-traveled and expect good service, a wide range of easily accessible products, and authentic local encounters.

The market has around 3,000 tour operators. Innovation Norway helps Norwegian businesses connect with key customer groups: tour operators and agents, MICE agents, and event agencies. Visit Norway provides detailed market insights for Germany.

Germany is a key market for creative industries and one of the largest cultural and creative economies in Europe. Literature, publishing, film, music, design, digital content and culinary experiences all play a significant economic role. Nordic design and Scandinavian aesthetics enjoy high popularity, creating opportunities for Norwegian brands, designers and producers seeking visibility and partnerships in Germany’s innovationoriented creative landscape.

The broader B2C market offers strong potential for Norwegian companies that build on authenticity, quality, sustainability and niche positioning. German consumers respond well to products with a clear story, transparent origins and environmental responsibility. This applies across lifestyle products, outdoor equipment, wellbeing, digital consumer services and premium niche goods. Norwegian companies with strong brand values or innovative consumer solutions can find receptive audiences in Germany’s large, diverse and trendsensitive consumer base.

Germany’s food and beverage market exceeds 200 billion euros annually and is driven by demand for organic, natural, vegetarian, allergyfriendly and sustainably produced products. Norwegian offerings remain underrepresented, despite strong consumer associations with clean nature and highquality ocean resources. This creates room for differentiation and export growth. Strict food regulations can be challenging, but Innovation Norway supports companies through regulatory guidance and market access. Participation in major industry events such as Anuga fair also offers valuable exposure. In addition to Germany, Innovation Norway assists companies targeting the Austrian and Swiss markets, where similar consumer trends can support regional expansion.

German agriculture faces growing pressure from stricter EU pesticide regulations, rising sustainability requirements and the need to maintain yields with fewer chemical inputs. Farmers and agricultural cooperatives are therefore increasingly looking for alternative technologies, including precision agriculture, sensorbased monitoring, biological cropprotection solutions and digital decisionsupport systems. At the same time, labour shortages and cost pressures accelerate the demand for automation, robotics and resourceefficient equipment. These shifts create strong opportunities for technology providers that can help improve productivity, reduce emissions and enable more resilient production systems.

Norwegian agritech companies have relevant strengths in areas such as sensor technology, data-driven crop management, autonomous systems, controlled-environment solutions, sustainable inputs and digital platforms. Germany’s large farm size variation, strong agricultural machinery industry and extensive test facilities make it an attractive market for piloting new technologies and forming industrial partnerships. In addition, the country plays a central role in shaping EU agricultural standards, meaning that successful partnerships in Germany can open doors to broader European scaling.