What happens when competitors share the same coffee machine?
That question gets very real at Construction City, a building where 100 companies, several of them competitors, work side by side.
Terje Gulbrandsen, Head of Property at Construction City within OBOS Eiendom, has a simple answer for how they make it work:
Gulbrandsen believes collaboration actually sharpens the competitive edge. You tap into specialist expertise, discover new partnerships or secure funding that takes your product further.
Contractors like AF Gruppen and Betonmast, tech company Siemens and developer OBOS share the building with knowledge institutions such as Fagskolen Oslo, OsloMet and Sintef, along with a mix of startups and scale-ups.
"A lot happens between the companies here that we don't always set in motion. It's great when it happens on its own, when the companies or the people simply find each other," he says.
The day everyone gets the spotlight
On October 21, Oslo Proptech Summit takes place in Construction City on Ulven in Oslo. Last year's summit was a success, even though the building wasn't fully finished yet. This year, the house stands ready.
"It's not just our arena. It's for everyone who contributes: exhibitors, speakers and companies presenting their solutions. It's an extended marketplace that runs all year, but the summit is where we turn on the spotlight and get everyone on stage together," says Gulbrandsen.
He hopes attendees will leave inspired, but also with something concrete to act on.
“That people walk away feeling they've kicked something off, or moved a process forward that takes their companies further. That they gain a competitive edge from being part of it, both at the summit and in the community around Construction City."
