State aid: Norwegian support to the provider of digital learning material does not involve state aid

The EFTA Surveillance Authority decided today that the Norwegian authorities funding of the Nasjonal digital læringsarena, NDLA, does not involve state aid.

The NDLA is an inter-county authority cooperation which develops and purchases digital learning material for Norwegian secondary schools. The material is available free of charge at the NDLA website for all students. The Authority has concluded that the NDLA is not engaged in an economic activity. It performs a task that falls within the scope of public education.

In 2010, the Authoritiy received a complaint arguing that the NDLA is an undertaking and that the funds attributed to it constitute illegal state aid. In 2011, the Authority concluded that the financing of the NDLA did not involve state aid.

That decision was annulled by the EFTA Court in 2012 and in 2013, as a result of that judgement, the Authority opened a formal investigation into the case. Today, that formal investigation has been concluded with another decision finding that the financing does not involve state aid.


For further information, please contact:
Elisabeth Falch Slinning
Press & Information Trainee
tel. (+32)(0)2 286 18 17
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