Norway’s digital future is intertwined with broader technological and global trends. The most recent phase of digital transformation has benefited from several key technological breakthroughs, including data-dependent technologies like big data analytics and artificial intelligence. Generative artificial intelligence in particular is reshaping the technology landscape, bringing productivity enhancements and convenience, but also risks. Other key developments include Internet of Things technologies, cloud computing, next generation wireless networks (e.g. 5G and beyond), distributed ledger technologies (e.g. blockchain), immersive technologies and quantum computing.
Alone, each of these technologies is powerful, bringing opportunities to improve efficiency and generate consumer welfare. However, their combination within an integrated digital technology ecosystem has even more potential. For example, the extensive use of connected devices and sensors, including in the context of smart cities, generates enormous amounts of data. Such data can enable artificial intelligence to generate new insights and efficiencies. Given the rapid pace of change, even a country at the technological frontier requires continuous investment and attention to remain a leader.
Digital technologies and large-scale data flows fundamentally change how people live and work, interact with one another, participate in the economy and engage with the government. Yet such benefits come with new challenges. Digital transformation is changing the nature and structure of organisations, markets and communities. In so doing, it raises concerns around jobs and skills, privacy and security, as well as notions of equity and inclusion. Societal effects of digital transformation are complex because overall impacts are often not clear-cut. People, firms and governments need to shape a digital future together that exploits the immense potential of digital transformation to improve people’s lives, while ensuring no one is left behind.
The Nordic region has been a digital front-runner for many years, and Norway is at the frontier in many areas. Norway needs to keep pace with rapid technological developments and competition from its neighbours and beyond, while improving performance in areas where it could catch up. Staying at the frontier requires agility, flexibility and well-co-ordinated digital policies. In this respect, a national digital strategy can play an important role in ensuring the right policy framework makes the most of digital technologies and data for growth and well-being.
As Norway develops a new national digital strategy, it is useful to take stock of its digital performance, priorities and policy landscape. Through the lens of the OECD Going Digital Integrated Policy Framework (OECD, 2020[1]), this report reviews key developments in Norway’s digital performance and policies. It aims to provide input into the design of a new NDS for Norway. The report comprises four sections: digital priorities and trends that will shape Norway’s digital future; a mapping of Norway’s digital policy ecosystem; Norway’s digital performance and outlook in its policy context; and policy recommendations to make Norway more digital, innovative and inclusive.