The need to conserve and protect the environment has created a multibillion dollar industry worldwide. This need is particularly acute in the United States due to its high consumption levels. At the same time, the social, economic and political climate in Scandinavia has resulted in that region becoming a leader in developing economically attractive technologies and products that help achieve that goal.

However, Scandinavian companies have some difficulty exporting these technologies to the United States for a variety of reasons including:

• Size - many of the most interesting technologies and products are produced by small to medium sized companies that lack the assets or human resources to tackle US expansion.
  
  
• Capital - while many of these companies are profitable, they may lack expansion capital.
  
  
• Expertise - the US market is demanding and requires specific knowledge and skills in marketing, regulatory affairs, business development, recruiting and other areas.
  
  
• Legal systems - US legal requirements differ from those in Europe, and understanding these differences, particularly with regard to product liability and intellectual property, can be important to the success of a US venture.
  
  
• Business culture - business approaches and practices are quite different in the US, and non-US companies may need assistance in adapting to the US business culture.

US Nordic Ventures (USNV) is being created to take advantage of the opportunity created by this situation. Specifically, USNV will provide a range of services to Scandinavian companies interested in entering the US market through joint ventures, product licensing and distribution, or other means. These services include:

• Management assistance, with an emphasis on strategy, marketing, and recruiting
  
  
• Funding, either through direct investment or through identifying and securing public financing
  
  
• Regulatory affairs at the federal, state and local levels
  
  
• Legal guidance through careful application of US law and our experience with navigating the distinctly US pitfalls
  
  
• Business development through our networks or relationships and contacts

We believe that with a combination of support and capital Scandinavian businesses can fill a market need for advanced environmental technologies in the United States.