Prime Minister Erna Solberg cut the ribbon with gold scissors served on a velvet cushion, and half a dozen cameras snapped their way. Center party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum praised Innovern to the skies. The small mask factory in Sykkylven got off to a flying start when the pandemic broke out. But warm words from the politicians were not enough to keep the machines going. Despite all the praise and talk of preparedness at home in Norway: on Thursday, Innovern will most likely be shut down. Outcompeted Innovern was established under Smittevernproduksjon AS in Sykkylven shortly after the corona pandemic broke out in March 2020. After the great visits from the politicians came the first big order. The company was awarded a contract to deliver 20 million masks to Norwegian hospitals. But when the urgent need and the media storm about preparedness has subsided, it also became quiet at the factory in Sykkylven. The competition from foreign players on the tenders put out by the state has become impossible for the Norwegian company to beat. This is Innovern Innovern is a manufacturer of infection control equipment in Sykkylven, which was established shortly after the corona pandemic broke out in Norway in March 2020. When production was at its peak, the company had 22 employees who worked a two-shift system. Capacity to produce 200,000 masks per day. Has delivered 25 million masks to Norwegian hospitals and other companies. In April, they received an order for 27 million masks with a deadline of four months. The company believed that the terms were unreasonable, and that the tender was tailored for Chinese manufacturers. According to Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Sp), it has been a goal that a new system for the tenders be put in place, a system that will protect Norwegian businesses. – When such agreements are put in place, companies like Innovern can deliver to the state in the future, Vedum told news in January 2022. That will probably not happen, on Thursday Innovern will have a general meeting where it will probably be clear that the company will be closed down. Good words didn’t hold true When Trygve Slagsvold Vedum visited Innovern during the election campaign in 2021, he called the company an example of good national preparedness and promised a change in the preparedness plan if they were to win the election. – Germany does it, Finland does it. They have had a completely different approach to preparedness, and the EU members. In Norway, we also have to think about how to secure our population, Vedum told news in August 2021. Then he and the party were in opposition to Solberg’s government. But now that the company does not win a tender from the state and will probably be closed down, Vedum does not want to be interviewed about the matter. Innovern in Sykkylven has been visited by several famous faces after the pandemic broke out in March 2020. Here, then Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) is served golden scissors on a velvet cushion to open the factory. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Sp) was visiting during the election campaign in autumn 2021. Then he went to great lengths to promise a changed emergency plan that would protect Norwegian manufacturers of infection control equipment. Photo: SISSEL BRUNSTAD / news Sylvi Listhaug (Frp) was on a tour of Sykkylven in 2022. She used the opportunity to criticize Vedum’s efforts to maintain preparedness in this country. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news Erna Solberg (H) was present during the opening of Innovern and says this in an e-mail to news: – It is of course sad if an environment of expertise and good workplaces now disappear from Sykkylven. Innovern was a great initiative and helped us manage better through the pandemic. They deserve a big thank you for that. Calling the politicians – There is a lack of respect from the politicians, is the clear verdict for one of the founders behind Innovern, Lars Einar Riksheim. He is disappointed that no changes have been made to the emergency plan. Lars Einar Riksheim believes that the politicians should have tackled the system so that factories like his could survive. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news He is equally disappointed that the politicians who bragged about the initiative to the skies now do not want to comment on the matter, neither to him nor to the media. – We started at the request of the authorities. To help when the country was in a crisis, Riksheim continues. The company has stretched its time and kept the machines going just long enough, believes the founder and says that they see no purpose in continuing, unless the authorities show interest in the production of infection control equipment in Norway. Storting representative Jenny Klinge (Sp)’s response Photo: Center Party Storting representative for Møre og Romsdal from the Center Party, Jenny Klinge, says her party fully understands that they are frustrated at the factory in Sykkylven – a matter she says she has been very interested in. She boasts Innovern, which bet and says the party works for a smooth, national production of medical equipment. – But price will always mean something. If the price difference is too great, it will be difficult to be Norwegian anyway, says Klinge. She says it is sad that Innovern is now probably going to turn off the lights for good, and says it is difficult to find out where the problem lies – whether it is the Norwegian regulations for public procurement, international obstacles in the regulations in the EU or a problem with the practice of the purchasing managers in the healthcare institutions. She cannot promise anything concrete to help the company in Sykkylven. – It is sad that it is Innovern that has to be the case that makes us look properly at public procurement and preparedness. They have been a guinea pig that shows that there is no quick fix, says Klinge. The mayor disappointed Odd Jostein Drotninghaug (Sp) is the mayor of Sykkylven municipality and has worked hard for a change in the emergency plan. He is disappointed and surprised that Innovern will now probably have to close down due to competition from abroad. Odd Jostein Drotninghaug says that he has tried everything he can to save the local company, which is now probably closed down. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news – The whole of Norway was concerned that we had our own production of infection control equipment. When we finally get people to start producing it, we will obviously forget very quickly, sighs the mayor after the news that Innovern will probably be closed down. Drotninghaug has worked hard for a change in the emergency plan to no avail. – I have no more strings to play, he states and says that he has been in contact with state secretaries, parliament politicians and ministries.
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The Innovern mask factory in Sykkylven will probably be closed despite the politicians’ praise – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
