Innovation

Sandefjord is renowned for its vibrant entrepreneurial culture, where mutual support and celebrating success are core values.

The entrepreneurial spirit in Sandefjord runs deep, tracing back to the 19th century Spa era, when Dr. Thaulow put Sandefjord on the European map. Royalty, prime ministers, and cultural icons from across Europe flocked here for treatment. By 1850, schooners from Sandefjord were venturing into the Arctic and along the Finnmark coast for seal and whale hunting, starting as modest enterprises. In 1905, pelagic whaling (on the open sea) began, reaching its peak in the early 1950s when Sandefjord became the world’s leading whaling town.

A shining example of Sandefjord's innovative legacy is the Jotun paint factory, which started by producing paint for whaling boats and evolved into an international paint conglomerate with factories around the globe. This entrepreneurial vigor lives on today, with modern success stories like Komplett, Norway’s largest online retailer, highlighting Sandefjord’s continued leadership in business innovation.