New R&I unit established
In 2006, Telenor opened its new Research and Innovation unit (R&I), a research and competence resource centre for the whole organisation. Its mandate is not only to drive innovation, but also to challenge management on existing strategies and business mindset.
Designed to work across organisational and geographical boundaries, the unit currently employs 230 persons at three locations in Norway and one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It brings together competencies in technology, user behaviour, business and commercialisation and maintains a broad and active network consisting of other units in Telenor as well as a high number of external constituencies.
In 2006, more than 50 projects were conducted together with other units in Telenor, and more than 40 with external cooperation partners. “Seed”, an annual internal idea contest, attracts around 300 entries every year. In 2006, a total of 150 innovation activities were registered throughout the company, representing investments and costs amounting to NOK 1.5 billion.
