Corporate Venture Capital on Sustainability-oriented Innovation: A Norwegian perspective

This master’s thesis investigates Norwegian Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) in terms of attaining sustainability and promoting innovation. The work's significance is maintained by the fact that, according to the literature, CVC plays a key role in assuring sustainability for both corporates and startups, and such research has not been undertaken in Norway. To investigate Norwegian CVC, we employed the ambidexterity analytical framework, as well as CVC and SOI models. We established a database to investigate the state of collaboration between corporations and startups around the country. To undertake case studies for the purpose to explore the practical aspect of the partnership more thoroughly, we conducted interviews with three active Norwegian CVCs and their startups. This is because, despite the fact that there are strategic objectives of partnership with startups in each of the three CVCs that we analyzed, they are not measured and evaluated. As a result, determining the efficacy of CVC from a non-financial standpoint is challenging. In terms of financial contribution, CVC's input pales in comparison to the head company's overall performance. Furthermore, there is no clear approach for dealing with startups. Based on this, we provide recommendations. To begin, there is an urgent need for the development of a measurement mechanism for evaluating the performance of CVC. Second, it is vital to develop a transparent and understandable strategy for interacting with startups. Taking these guidelines into consideration, firms will be able to maximize the benefits of such collaborations with startups, since companies are now losing most of their non-financial advantages. It will be able to contribute not only to their personal growth, but also to the development of the industry