ViteMeir celebrate government funds

On Friday, December 4, it was finally announced that ViteMeir will receive government funding from 2021. - "We went from hangover to bliss in two hectic days," says CEO Erlend Fardal Lunde.

It's been a long and tortuous autumn for the team behind ViteMeir. For a long time, funds from the national budget were in play, sending the science center into an uncertain future. It would have been great if ViteMeir had been included in the state budget in October, but perhaps the state funds taste even better now? 

- The best cigars are the ones that come right at the end, perhaps in overtime. ViteMeir 's place in the national budget can be compared to the rush of happiness when your favorite team decides the match with the last kick of the ball, says daily manager Lunde. 

Lunde believes that the will to fight that the previous defeats gave ViteMeir can prove important for the science center in the long term: - "Fighting for something, really wanting something, builds culture! 

- King of the world 

Project manager for client Vestland Fylkeskommune, Tage Rickard Sundell, is extremely enthusiastic about the outcome: - "Absolutely fantastic, this is an above-average project to be a part of and now it will be much easier to live for ViteMeir. It's full throttle both on construction and on this team, we're looking forward to the road ahead towards opening. 

Vestland County Council is the client for the signal building at Kaupanger which, in addition to ViteMeir , will house the national line for transport and logistics for Sogndal VGS. 

Important for the study town of Sogndal 

Stein Joar Hegland, professor at the Department of Environment and Natural Sciences at HVL Sogndal, has been part of the ViteMeir project for a long time. Hegland felt great joy and that several kilos had been lifted from his shoulders. 

- The university college has long had a science center on its wish list. ViteMeir can help to develop our education and increase the attractiveness of Sogndal as a university town," says Hegland. 

HVL is one of the owners of ViteMeir and contributes with important resources for the development of learning programs and products both before and after opening. Hegland is looking forward to the future: - "Together with ViteMeir , we can make Sogn even more attractive to future students. 

Thanks to local politicians 

The political engagement around ViteMeir has been strong. The science center has had good contact with parliamentary politicians from Os to Mo i Rana, and locally and county-wide in both position and opposition.  

- Board chair Tor Arne Ness and myself joke that we will soon have a black belt in political lobbying. It has been educational and at the same time nice that we have not encountered negativity from a single person. I would like to thank everyone who has worked for us and helped us to secure government funding," concludes Lunde. 

Contact: Erlend Fardal Lunde, ViteMeir: +47 464 28 741