Finn Lied studied electrical engineering at the Norwegian Institute of Technology in Trondheim when Norway was attacked by Nazi-Germany in 1940.

Lied spent almost his entire professional career at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), where he worked from 1946 to 1983, interrupted only by studying and ministerial posts.

Lied was Labour Party politician and Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Industry in Trygve Bratteli’s government from 17 March 1971 to 18 October 1972.

The management scheme and the bold tax system he supported meant that most of the wealth remained in Norway, and the bolstering of the welfare state.

[2] Statoil was the instrument of the "nationalization" and entered operational cooperation with major foreign companies had to obey the Norwegian government.