News regarding Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park

Innovation Park and the surrounding buildings

Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park: A powerhouse for the development of cancer treatments

This article was originally published in Norwegian on Altomdinhelse.no by Mediaplanet, and was written by Jónas Einarsson, CEO of Radforsk and initiator of Oslo Cancer Cluster, Oslo Cancer Cluster Incubator and Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park. 

We wish to expand Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park with close to 50 000 square metres the next five to seven years. The goal is to develop even better cancer treatments to improve the lives of cancer patients, in close collaboration with the ecosystem around the park.

On 24 August 2015, the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg opened Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park. In her speech, she said: “Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park will fulfil an important role in the development of the cancer treatments of the future.”

That moment was the starting point for a unique collaboration between cancer researchers, clinicians, teachers, students, business developers and numerous other professions that are needed to develop tomorrow’s cancer treatments.

All of us that work here share a common vision: Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park and the environment around the Norwegian Radium Hospital and the Institute for Cancer Research (Oslo University Hospital) should be an international powerhouse for the development of cancer treatments.

The beginning of a success story

Five years after the opening, we are still fulfilling that vision every day. I would even go so far as to say that we have contributed to a success story:

  • Oslo Cancer Cluster Incubator houses nine start-up companies today, and we are working closely with seven other companies that are located other places due to limited space.
  • The 24 private and public tenants of Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park want more space, since their operations are ever growing.
  • Ullern Upper Secondary School is one of the most sought-after schools in Oslo and the number of students is ever increasing. The students are offered the opportunity to participate in the school collaboration with Oslo Cancer Cluster, to educate the researchers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. In the autumn of 2019, the researcher programme was initiated at Ullern, which is a unique opportunity for students in Oslo to specialise in biomedical subjects.

Many developments planned

Everything mentioned above is only what is happening inside the Innovation Park. In the nearby area, there are many unique developments that will change the treatment of cancer patients in coming years:

  • In 2023, the new clinic building of the Norwegian Radium Hospital and its specialised proton centre will open.
  • The Institute for Cancer Research is being developed further under the proficient management of Professor Kjetil Taskén. The talented researchers at the Institute are delivering internationally renowned research every day.
  • Oslo University Hospital is the only hospital in Scandinavia accredited as a “Comprehensive Cancer Center”. The accreditation demands constant development of research, infrastructure and treatments.

Still a way to go

Things are still far from perfect. Almost everyday in the news, there are discussions about whether Norwegian cancer patients are offered the best cancer treatments. I believe we still have a way to go. In order to give better cancer treatments, we must heavily invest in the development of:

  • Molecular diagnostics
  • Cell and gene therapy
  • Precision medicine
  • The treatment of antibiotic resistance

Because of the success we have had so far with the Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park and the need to strengthen cancer care further, we wish to expand the Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park during the next five to seven years with close to 50 000 square metres. The first expansion will total 7 000 square metres. The planning scheme begins this year and the building itself will be located between the Innovation Park and the Institute for Cancer Research.

Enormous ambitions

The expansion of the Innovation Park is an important supplement to the plans on developing Oslo into Oslo Science City. We are also a living example of how public-private partnerships is the way to go in order to build a sustainable health industry, like the White Paper on the Health Industry has stated.

Norwegian cancer research is world class. The 15 companies in the Radforsk portfolio has spun out of this research. We have enormous ambitions to contribute even more to the development of the cancer treatments of tomorrow – to improve the lives of cancer patients all over the world.

As Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in her speech on 24 August 2015: “Smart minds and new ideas, students and professors, Norwegians and foreigners, founders and employees. Together for a common goal: to improve the treatment of the approximately 30 000 Norwegians that are diagnosed with cancer every year.”

That statement is still true today.

 


Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovasjonspark:
Kraftsenter for utvikling av kreftbehandling

Vi ønsker å utvide Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovasjonspark med nærmere 50.000 km² de neste fem til syv årene. Målet er å utvikle enda bedre kreftbehandling til det beste for kreftpasienter, i tett samarbeid med økosystemet rundt parken.

Av Jónas Einarsson, administrerende direktør i Radforsk og initiativtaker til Oslo Cancer Cluster, Oslo Cancer Cluster Inkubator og Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovasjonspark.

Den 24. august 2015 åpnet Statsminister Erna Solberg Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovasjonspark. I sin tale sa hun: «Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovasjonspark vil fylle en viktig rolle i utforming av fremtidens kreftbehandling.»

Og med det gikk startskuddet gikk for et unikt samarbeid mellom kreftforskere, klinikere, lærere, elever, forretningsutviklere og en rekke andre profesjoner som trengs for å utvikle morgendagens kreftbehandling.

Felles for alle oss som jobber her, er at vi har én visjon: Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovasjonspark og miljøet rundt med Radiumhospitalet og Institutt for Kreftforskning, skal være et internasjonalt kraftsenter for utvikling av kreftbehandling.

Fem år etter åpningen så lever vi ut denne visjonen hver dag. Jeg vil tørre å påstå at det vi har bidratt til er en suksess:

  • Oslo Cancer Cluster Incubator huser i dag ni oppstartsbedrifter, og vi jobber tett med syv andre som sitter andre steder og som det ikke er plass til
  • Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovasjonspark sine 24 private og offentlige leietakere ønsker mer plass da de stadig utvider sin virksomhet
  • Ullern videregående skole er en av de best søkte skolene i Oslo, og øker stadig elevtallet. Elevene på skolen får tilbud om å delta i det skolefaglige samarbeidet med Oslo Cancer Cluster, for å utdanne morgendagens forskere og entreprenører. Høsten 2019 startet Forskerlinja, et unikt tilbud til skoleelever i Oslo om fordypning i biomedisinske fag

Dette er bare inne i Innovasjonsparken. I området rundt oss skjer det unike ting som endrer måten pasienter med kreft blir behandlet på om få år:

  • I 2023 åpner det nye klinikkbygget på Radiumhospitalet med et spesialisert protonsenter
  • Institutt for Kreftforskning blir stadig videreutviklet under kyndig ledelse av professor Kjetil Taskén. De dyktige forskerne ved instituttet leverer daglig internasjonalt, anerkjent forskning
  • Oslo universitetssykehus er som eneste sykehus i Skandinavia akkreditert som et «Komplett kreftsenter», «Comprehensive Cancer Center». Akkrediteringen krever konstant utvikling av forskning, infrastruktur og behandling

Likevel er ikke tingenes tilstand rosenrød. I media kan vi nesten daglig lese diskusjoner om hvorvidt kreftbehandlingen pasienter i Norge tilbys er den beste. Min påstand er at vi har mye å gå på. For å gi bedre kreftbehandling må vi satse tungt på å utvikle:

  • Molekylær diagnostikk
  • Celle- og genterapi
  • Presisjonsmedisin
  • Behandling av antibiotikaresistens

På bakgrunn av den suksessen vi har hatt med Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovasjonspark så langt, og behovet for å styrke kreftomsorgen ytterligere, ønsker vi de neste fem til syv årene å utvide Oslo Innovasjonsparken med nær 50.000 km². Den første utvidelsen vil være på 7000 km². Prosjekteringen starter i år, og selve bygget vil ligge mellom Innovasjonsparken og Institutt for Kreftforskning.

Utvidelsen av Innovasjonsparken er et viktig tilskudd til planene om å utvikle Oslo som en kunnskapshovedstad, Oslo Science City. Vi er i tillegg et levende eksempel på at privat-offentlig samarbeid er veien å gå for å bygge en bærekraftig helsenæring, slik Stortingsmeldingen om helsenæring slår fast.

Norsk kreftforskning er i verdensklasse. Våre 15 bedrifter i Radforsk-porteføljen er spunnet ut av denne forskningen. Vi har enorme ambisjoner om at vi kan bidra enda mer til utviklingen av morgendagens kreftbehandling – til det beste for kreftpasienter over hele verden.

Som Statsminister Erna Solberg sa i sin tale den 24. august 2015: «Kloke hoder og nye ideer, studenter og professorer, nordmenn og utlendinger, gründere og ansatte. Samlet med ett felles mål: å bedre behandlingen til de om lag 30.000 nordmenn som blir diagnostisert med kreft hvert år.»

Det er like sant i dag.

Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovasjonspark

Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovasjonspark med ny eierstruktur

Please scroll down for a version of this article in English.

Dette er endringene i eierstrukturen for Oslo Cancer Cluster (OCC) Innovasjonspark og OCCI Holding AS i begynnelsen av 2020.

OCC Innovasjonspark har siden starten vært eid av Utstillingsplassen Eiendom AS (UPL), Industrifinans OCCI AS, Siva Eiendom, Oslo Cancer Cluster, Radiumhospitalets Legat for Kreftforskning og OBOS Eiendom.

OBOS solgte sin eierandel til øvrige eiere tidligere i 2019. I en ny transaksjon 13. januar 2020 solgte UPL og Industrifinans OCCI AS sine aksjer til en ny eier, OCCI Invest AS. I samme transaksjon har Oslo Cancer Cluster solgt en mindre prosentandel.

Et kraftsenter innen kreft

OCC Innovasjonspark ligger på Montebello i Oslo ved siden av Oslo Universitetssykehus Radiumhospitalet og Institutt for kreftforskning. Parken åpnet offisielt i august 2015.

Innovasjonsparken huser mange bedrifter som utvikler kreftbehandlinger og diagnostikk, deler av Oslo Universitetssykehus, Kreftregisteret, Radforsk, Oslo Cancer Cluster Incubator, Oslo Cancer Cluster og Ullern videregående skole.

UPL og Industrifinans OCCI AS har sammen med de øvrige eierne, gjennom sitt eierskap i OCCI Holding AS, vært med på å utvikle OCC Innovasjonspark til et kraftsenter innen kreft. UPL har også hatt prosjektansvar og ansvar for å forvalte eiendommen.

– Vi er svært takknemlig for de investorene som investerte i et risikoprosjekt, som var nytt og banebrytende før det åpnet, sier Jónas Einarsson, styremedlem i OCC Innovasjonspark og Oslo Cancer Cluster.

Innovasjonsparken er i dag utleid til viktige samfunnsfunksjoner, og har blitt en naturlig del av et viktig økosystem for kreftforskning i Norge.

Gir stafettpinnen videre

Som en del av sin strategi, gir tidligere eiere nå stafettpinnen videre til nye og langsiktige eiere i OCCI Invest AS. Selskapet er eid av solide eiere, og det er etablert og forvaltet av Pareto Securities AS.

– Konseptet til innovasjonsparken utvikler vi videre – med nye langsiktige investorer. De kan vente seg mye av framtidig utvikling her, og jeg ser fram til å utvikle prosjektet videre med nye og gamle eiere, sier Einarsson.

Tron Sanderud, administrerende direktør i UPL, er også stolt av prosjektet. UPL vil fortsette som forvalter av eiendommen inntil videre.

Nytt bygg planlagt

Innovasjonsparken består i dag av ca. 36 000 kvm kontorer, laboratorier, møterom, auditorier, undersøkelsesrom og videregående skole for over 900 elever.

– Vi har planlagt å bygge nye 7 000-8 000 kvm i andre byggetrinn. Dette bygget vil bli utviklet med nye og spennende prosjekter i samarbeid mellom akademiske institusjoner og industrien. Vi planlegger å starte prosjekteringen av det nye bygget i løpet av 2020, forteller Einarsson.

Nye eierandeler i januar 2020

OCCI Invest AS: 53.7 %
SIVA Eiendom Holding AS: 40,7 %
Radiumhospitalets legat for kreftforskning: 4.6 %
Oslo Cancer Cluster: 1,0 %

 

Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park gains new owners

The following changes are being made to the ownership of Oslo Cancer Cluster (OCC) Innovation Park and OCCI Holding AS as of the beginning of 2020.

OCC Innovation Park has since its opening been owned by Utstillingsplassen Eiendom AS (UPL), Industrifinans OCCI AS, Siva Eiendom, Oslo Cancer Cluster, Radiumhospitalets Legat for Kreftforskning and OBOS Eiendom.

OBOS sold their shares to the other owners earlier in 2019. In another transaction on 13 January 2020, UPL and Industrifinans OCCI AS sold their shares to a new owner, OCCI Invest AS. In the same transaction, Oslo Cancer Cluster has sold a smaller percentage of their shares.

A power centre in cancer

OCC Innovationpark is located in the Montebello area of Oslo, next to the Oslo University Hospital (Radiumhospitalet) and the Institute for Cancer Research. The park was officially opened in August 2015.

The Innovation Park houses many companies that develop cancer treatments and diagnostics, parts of Oslo University Hospital, the Cancer Registry of Norway, Radforsk, Oslo Cancer Cluster Incubator, Oslo Cancer Cluster and Ullern Upper Secondary School.

UPL and Industrifinans OCCI AS have together with the other owners, through their ownership in OCCI Holding AS, developed OCC Innovation Park to a power centre in cancer. UPL have also been responsible for projects and for managing the property.

“We are very thankful to the investors that invested in this risk project, which was new and ground-breaking before it opened,” said Jónas Einarsson, board member in OCC Innovation Park and Oslo Cancer Cluster.

The Innovation Park is today leased for important services to society and has become a natural part of an important ecosystem for cancer research in Norway.

Passing on the baton

As a part of their strategy, the former owners are now passing on the baton to new and long-term owners in OCCI Invest AS. The company is owned by solid owners and is established and managed by Pareto Securities.

“We are continuing to develop the concept of the Innovation Park – with new, long-term investors. They can expect a lot of future developments here and I look forward to develop this project further with new and current owners,” Einarsson said.

Tron Sanderud, CEO of UPL, is also proud of the project. UPL will continue as manager of the property.

New building planned

The Innovation Park today consists of approximately 36 000 square meters of offices, laboratories, meeting rooms, auditoriums, patient screening rooms and an upper secondary school with over 900 students.

“We have planned to build 7 000-8 000 square metres as part of the second construction phase. This new building will be developed with new and exciting projects in collaboration with academic institutions and the industry. We are planning to start the scheme for the new building during the course of 2020,” said Einarsson.

New shareholding as of January 2020

OCCI Invest AS: 53.7 %
SIVA Eiendom Holding AS: 40,7 %
Radiumhospitalets legat for kreftforskning: 4.6 %
Oslo Cancer Cluster: 1,0 %

 

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Giving Tuesday Crowdfunds for Cancer

You have probably heard of Black Friday. Now introducing Giving Tuesday: A day all about giving rather than buying. Eight Norwegian YouTubers have chosen to crowdfund on behalf of The Norwegian Cancer Society as part of Giving Tuesday. Raising money for cancer research and cancer patient care. A week before the big day five of them visited Oslo Cancer Cluster.

 

Tuesday the 28th of November, conveniently a couple of days after the shopping bonanza of Black Friday, is Giving Tuesday. It’s an international event. Started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation as a response to Black Friday and commercialization and consumerism in the post-Thanksgiving season.

Live Social Media Broadcast
On the day the Norwegian youTubers are staging a broadcast marathon on social media. At DnB Headquarters (Bjørvika) they all come together for a live broadcast so everybody can follow the crowdfunding and view their videos during Giving Tuesday.  And there are a lot of them. 10 other charities are being crowdfunded on the day with youTubers raising money on their behalf.

Learn more about what’s happening here.

Youtubers crowdfunding for cancer

Learning About Cancer Research
The last couple of weeks the youtubers funding for The Norwegian Cancer Society have learned about cancer research and the fight against cancer. They have visited the Society’s new Science Center learning about the history of the disease and afterwards they spent a day getting updated on current cancer research at Oslo Cancer Cluster.

At Ullern Innovation Park, the home of Oslo Cancer Cluster, they got to see researchers in action and learned about the recent advances in cancer research. How researchers now are trying to trigger the immune system in the fight against cancer and how we are getting better at producing medicines that target cancer tumors directly. They also got see how research and innovation merges together with education at the Innovation Park. Here researchers, Bio Businesses and Ullern Upper Secondary School share the same building and cooperate.  Learn more about this unique cooperation.

With this new knowledge on cancer they are well prepared to crowdfund a lot of money for The Norwegian Cancer Society and cancer research!

About the YouTubers
Christoffer Ødegård (17) Specializes in FIFA. Playing live games on youTube.

Emil Saglien (15) Also into football. Actually, about his life, but his life seems to be football.

Sara Høydahl (19) Vlogs about many things, but has had special success with a Friday special on murder mysteries!

Truls Valsgård (23), Truls is a full time youtuber. Produces videos daily about his own life.

Tuva Robsrud (16) From Bærum and vlogs about fashion and make up.

 

Fantastic opening of the Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park

Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park´s grand opening on August 24th became a very special day: More than 290 invited guests celebrated the initiators Jónas Einarsson and Kaare Norum for turning the radical idea of an oncology innovation park integrating a high school into reality.

 

In his speech, Jónas Einarsson told the intriguing history of cancer treatment and research in Norway since the early 1900s; driven by visionary men and funding from the people. A joint effort that has made cancer research one of the strongest areas within medicine and health research in Norway.

Einarsson also used the opportunity to thank some of the truly vital players in the realization of the Innovation Park: Tron Sanderud from Utstillingsplassen Eiendom, Toril Mølmen, former Head of Innovation Norways office in Oslo, Jan Vincents Johannesen, CEO Radium Foundation, Espen Susegg in SIVA and Pål Riis, former principal of Ullern High School.

 

OBOS will sponsor lab
The Opening Celebration started with the fantastic news from Arne Baumann, Chairman of the Board of the Innovation Park, that OBOS, apart from being one of the largest owners, also will sponsor the lab in the Oslo Cancer Cluster Incubator with 4MNOK.

Together with a 2 MNOK donation from the Radium Foundation the Incubator may offer state-of-the-art facilities to the companies and researchers renting here.

 

Erna tried out life as cancer researcher
Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway surprised Mr. Einarsson with inviting him on stage cutting an orange bond to mark the official opening. In her speech, Solberg, said that health industry is an industry with double return in from of the values it creates for the society and patients in developing new treatments as well as developing jobs and value. She also said that the Innovation Park will play a major role in the development of the cancer treatment of the future.

After her speech, Einarsson guided the Prime Minister and the media on a short tour of the Innovation Park where Solberg ended up in the Incubator lab where she tried out the PCI-technology to kill cancer cells.

 

Erna_lab

Photo credit both pictures: Gunnar Kopperud.

Below we have gathered some of the media coverage, both nationally and abroad. We will also publish some videos from the opening later on. 

 

Media coverage:

TV:

Digital:

 

International coverage: