The manufacturing industry has encountered a need for digital transformation during the past decade. To stay competitive, more and more manufacturing companies are adopting digital technologies, either by internal efforts or through external help from consultants or collaborative research projects. This paper presents an overview of trends and challenges in the Norwegian industry and provides a framework of critical research areas for further efforts in the digitalization of manufacturing. The framework is developed based on an analysis of six exemplary industrial research projects that focus on the subject of digitalization in manufacturing. The paper contributes to the literature by bringing practical insights that guide the digital transformation of manufacturing companies.