Troms County Council
Key Competitive Attractions
Troms County is situated in the north of Norway, bordering the Norwegian counties of Finnmark and Nordland, as well as Norrbotten Lan in Sweden, Lapland Province in Finland, and the Norwegian Sea.
Harstad is the commerce centre of the region and Tromso city is the administrative centre, Norway's 7th most populous city, and 9th most populous urban area. It is also the second largest city and urban area in the Sapmi region after Murmansk in Russia.
The Troms regional economy relies mainly on tourism, maritime and shipping, agriculture, services and the Norwegian armed forces. The aurora borealis commonly seen throughout Troms, (except in summer when it is light 24 hours a day,) which attracts many tourists.
Tromso’s excellent position for viewing the northern lights has also attracted a research and university cluster. Tromso is home to the world's northernmost university, famous for its research on the aurora borealis. The University of Tromso also has an astrophysical observatory situated in Skibotn.
Defence is an important sector in the region, because one of its biggest employers is The Norwegian armed forces. Troms is home to Bardufoss Air Station, the 6th army division, and is equipped with helicopter wings and radar stations.
Assistance and Support For New Business Investors
The Planning and Business Administration department manages various forms of financing for regional industrial and development projects:
National Initiatives:
- Regional development funds
- Innovation Norway
- Business-related funds - RDA Tromso
- Facilitating agents
- Regional transport support (county and RDA funds)
- Interreg IVA North and Sapmi
County Initiatives:
- Innovation Infrastructure
- County industrial development
