Stavanger has been awarded the title of Norway’s Best AI Municipality, an honor recognizing the city’s unique effort in applying artificial intelligence at the municipal level. This is the first time a Norwegian municipality has received such an tribute.
A Milestone for Municipal AI Innovation
During September 2025, Stavanger’s city leadership accepted the award in Oslo during a ceremony organized by KS (the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities) and the technology think-tank GoforIT. The recognition is based on Stavanger’s strong performance across six different indicators assessing its AI efforts.
What Makes Stavanger Stand Out
According to the jury, Stavanger distinguished itself in several key areas:
- A politically anchored AI strategy that ensures alignment between technology initiatives and democratic oversight.
- Numerous operational AI projects spanning multiple sectors of municipal work.
- The establishment of a digital ethics council that monitors ethical implications of technology use.
Lessons to Learn from Stavanger
“The way Stavanger organizes and finances its AI projects is particularly impressive,” said Mali Hole Skogen, Head of the technology think tank GoforIT. “They have secured central funding for AI initiatives, so that each department does not need to search within their own budgets. Digitalization Minister Karianne Tung – and indeed the rest of Norway – has much to learn from Stavanger on how to successfully implement AI in the public sector.”
Looking Forward
Stavanger aims to build on this momentum: using the recognition as added motivation, continuing to enhance its services, expanding cross-sectoral AI deployment, and refining ethical frameworks and governance.