07.04.2026 | News
Companies increasingly use Nopef’s early-stage support to validate their technologies through real-world pilots and demonstrations in new markets.
Nordic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) continued to advance green solutions internationally in 2025 with support from Nopef, the Nordic Project Fund. During 2025, Nopef approved 52 new feasibility studies worth EUR 2.13 million, helping companies take the first – and often most challenging – steps towards international growth. At the end of 2025, Nopef’s active portfolio comprised 128 conditional loans with a combined value of EUR 5.0 million. The results are presented in the Nopef Annual Review 2025.
A clear trend emerged in 2025: pilot and demonstration projects became the most common type of feasibility study. For the first time, more than half of all approved studies focused on validating technologies directly in target markets. Nopef also funds feasibility studies aiming at international establishments.
Mikael Reims, Vice President, Origination, Nefco commented: “Across the Nordic region, companies are developing bold solutions to the world’s climate and environmental challenges. The shift towards pilot and demonstration projects tells us that Nordic innovators are ready to put their technology to the test, learn from real conditions and adapt quickly.”
Diverse climate and environmental solutions
Nopef assesses all funded projects to ensure that they will contribute to measurable climate and environmental benefits if implemented. The feasibility studies approved in 2025 spanned 21 target markets and covered a broad mix of sectors, which shows that Nordic companies are responding to global needs for sustainable and resilient solutions.
Majority of the projects are related to energy efficiency, storage and distribution (17%) and industrial goods and services (15%), reflecting strong demand for solutions that increase resource and process efficiency. There was also significant activity within the areas of water technology (12%), solar power (10%), agriculture (10%) and waste and recycling (8%), demonstrating the diverse applications of Nordic green innovations across environmental infrastructure and production sectors.
“Nopef’s primary objective is to facilitate the initial, often challenging stages of international expansion for businesses, “ Reims said. “With this targeted support, we enable Nordic SMEs to transform innovative concepts into meaningful global impact.”
Real-world results and global reach
Of the 50 feasibility studies completed in 2025, 24 led to international establishments, pilots, or investments across Brazil, India, Kenya, New Zealand and the United States as well as several emerging markets where sustainable solutions can drive both climate and development impact.
Nopef’s early-stage support helps companies make informed choices: some avoid unsuitable markets, while many confidently pursue successful commercial and environmental outcomes.
“By enabling early testing and real-world validation, we help SMEs gain the confidence and insights needed for growth. This way, Nopef plays a clear part in strengthening the competitiveness of Nordic companies while supporting the Nordics’ goal to be the most sustainable and integrated region in the world,” Reims concludes.
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For more information, please contact:
Mikael Reims, Vice President, Origination, Nefco
mikael.reims@nefco.int, +358 10 6180 670
Anni Rein, Senior Communications Manager, Nefco
anni.rein@nefco.int, +358 10 6180 852