Norway

Women-led innovations in rural areas are often farm-based, and also involve social entrepreneurship of some kind; small-scale food production, rural tourism, health or education. Women are more likely than men to participate in on-farm diversified activities such as farm tourism and Green Care.

Many women innovators seem to have a life-style business without significant growth intentions. The choices and preferences of women innovators do not match the classic economic understanding of entrepreneurship very well, which implies various internal constraints –such as low self-confidence; perceived hostile environments– and external constraints– such as the legal system and social norms on women innovators.

Women face greater demands through screening and information requirements than men when raising capital. Public business fund managers believe it is less profitable to invest in or provide financial support to women than to men. Only 30% of the entrepreneurs in Norway are women. This is far below the average in OECD countries.