The transition from prototype to full-scale production is one of the most demanding phases in any technology development journey. Many promising ideas stall in what is often referred to as the valley of death, the gap between development and industrial implementation. This is where the most common pitfalls appear: unclear requirements, lack of system understanding, incorrect assumptions about production, and insufficient testing.
Factor47 was established to reduce this risk.
Factor47 is part of Kongsberg Innovation and the Norwegian Catapult programme, providing industry-near test and pilot facilities, companies gain access to infrastructure developed by industry, for industry.
Building on the Kongsberg region’s long history in demanding industries such as defence, space, energy, maritime and advanced manufacturing, Factor47 gives companies access to both infrastructure and deep industrial expertise.
Factor47 is part of a larger national consortium within the Norwegian Catapult programme, giving small and medium-sized enterprises access to a broad network of industrial and technology partners.
The goal is simple.
To help companies make better decisions before committing to full-scale production.
One of the most common reasons industrialisation fails is that individual components are optimised while the overall system perspective is lost. This is why Systems Engineering is central to Factor47’s methodology.
Systems Engineering means viewing the entire product lifecycle as a whole. From conceptualisation and requirements definition, through design, implementation, integration, testing and certification, to production, operation, maintenance, improvement and eventual recycling. In parallel, commercial aspects such as financing, scaling and market readiness must also be addressed.
This requires managing multiple disciplines at the same time, including IoT, data and cloud, software and firmware, electronics, mechanics and materials. Supporting systems such as PLM, ERP, MES, CRM, CAD and simulation tools are critical to make this work in practice.
Everything must work together.
Real challenges rarely appear on drawings or simulations alone. They become visible when solutions are tested in realistic production environments.
At Factor47, practical pilot and test activities are a core part of the offering. Typical challenges addressed in the pilot line include:
Through simulation and testing, supported by a complete digital thread from machine to cloud and throughout production, companies can validate assumptions early, before they turn into costly mistakes.
Factor47 consists of approximately 1,000 square metres of industrial facilities, four industrial robots, two production lines and a dedicated logistics area.
Instead of building a production line around one specific product or process, the facility has been designed to be flexible. The production lines can be adapted to different products, technologies and production setups.
This flexibility makes it possible to test different configurations, combine manual and automated operations and adjust along the way. For many companies, this is crucial for learning quickly and making informed decisions before committing to full-scale production.
In the Technology Readiness Level scale, the transition from lab to industry is often the most capital-intensive and risk-exposed phase.
Factor47 acts as a bridge between research and industrial-scale production, where technology can be matured, tested and documented in relevant environments before full deployment. This significantly reduces both technological and commercial risk and provides a stronger basis for investment decisions.
Factor47 is designed to be accessible, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Through pre-qualification and clarification projects, companies can explore feasibility, scope and next steps with minimal financial risk, often supported by external funding through the Norwegian Catapult programme.
By using Factor47 as a pilot and test arena, companies can identify pitfalls early, validate technology, processes and business assumptions, and bridge the gap between idea, prototype and industrial reality.
Full-scale production is not the place to discover fundamental flaws.Testing early is what gives innovation the best possible conditions to succeed.
Factor47 supports companies in bridging the gap between development and industrial production. By combining industry-near pilot facilities, Systems Engineering and practical testing, companies can validate critical assumptions early and make better decisions before scaling.
Located in the heart of Kongsberg Technology Park, one ofNorway’s most competence-intensive industrial environments, Factor47 providesaccess to real production environments where technology, processes and systemscan be tested under realistic conditions.
