Northern.tech Expands into China to Support the Next Wave of Global IoT Growth

As data laws tighten worldwide, the Norwegian IoT firm plants roots in Shanghai to help connected devices stay secure, compliant, and in control.

Northern.tech is taking a decisive step into Asia by establishing a new subsidiary in Shanghai, signaling how fast the Internet of Things (IoT) industry is becoming truly global. The move reflects a growing reality for IoT companies: as connected devices spread across borders, data must increasingly stay local.

Headquartered in Norway, Northern.tech helps businesses manage, update, and secure large fleets of connected devices, from industrial machines to smart products. With China playing a larger role in global manufacturing and connected technology, the company sees local presence as essential, not optional.

The expansion is closely tied to data sovereignty laws, which require data generated inside a country to remain there. For IoT providers, this creates a real challenge. Devices may be deployed worldwide, but software updates, monitoring, and control must follow local regulations. Serving Chinese operations from Europe or the US is no longer viable.

Northern.tech addresses this through regional infrastructure and flexible deployment models within its flagship platform, Mender. This allows customers to manage global device fleets while keeping sensitive data inside national borders. The same approach helps Chinese manufacturers expand into Europe, where new regulations such as the Cyber Resilience Act are raising the bar for security and compliance.

As part of its China entry, Northern.tech has partnered with the Guangdong Innovation Centre of Smart Homes to support the local connected device ecosystem, with a clear focus on higher-value business and industrial customers.

The move mirrors a wider IoT trend, with global players reshaping operations to meet local rules without losing global visibility. For Northern.tech, the strategy is simple: follow the problem, not politics and help IoT devices work securely, wherever they are deployed.