RESEARCH
Finding the Answers

Norway research efforts have led to breakthroughs within a wide range of  areas that include Life Sciences, carbon capture, maritime, energy technology, social and cultural issues, and knowledge based industries. One reason for an excellent track record with research and development is the ongoing emphasis that the government has within this area, reflected in a wide range of support to organizations that conduct research.

The Human Factor
Human knowledge is perhaps the most important resource here in this country, a fact that is having a great positive effect on research efforts in Norway. This is recognized by  industry, educational institutions – and government.  

Government leads the way through an overall coordinated strategy that emphasizes not only financial support, but focusing on specific goals that include the meeting of global challenges such as climate change and the environment. Balancing these type of overall goals is an ongoing effort to continue to streamline the effectiveness of the research effort, increased internationalization of the R&D efforts – and not in the least careful use of research funds.

Sharing the Vision – The Norwegian Centres of Expertise
Dynamic business, educational and research clusters are key drivers of innovation and growth. This was the impetus that Innovation Norway, together with SIVA and the Research Council of Norway had when they jointly established the Norwegian Centres of Expertise (NCE) Programme in 2006. The goal was – and is – to continue to build strengths out of specialized capabilities. The 12 NCEs are as follows:

NCE Aquaculture
NCE Culinology
NCE Energy and Emissions Trading Halden
NCE Instrumentation
NCE Maritime
NCE Micro- and Nanotechnology
NCE Node
NCE Oslo Cancer Cluster
NCE Raufoss
NCE Systems Engineering Kongsberg
NCE Subsea
NCE Tourism Fjord Norway

The Norwegian government supports the ongoing evolvement of these regional clusters – clusters that represent some of the most dynamic localities in this country. All NCES have been chosen in a careful selection process after intense competition. For more information about the NCE program, see the Innovation Norway website dedicated to providing information regarding the Norwegian Centres of Expertise Programme.

Bioprospecting – The Wave of the Future
Looking at the research activities and results here in the country, the positive effects are obvious. One area is Marine Bioprospecting, an area having many of its roots in the country’s long tradition of harvesting the sea. As one result of this long tradition – and Norwegian’s ability to find solutions – a high level of competence has been developed within this area. This is one of the focus areas of the Ministry of Trade and Industry – who understands the indelible link between research and business opportunities.

The Research Council of Norway (see below) is deeply involved in this field of marine research, and knows that marine innovations will continue to play an important part of the Norwegian knowledge-based society. Potential areas where this type of research can have implementation possibilities are almost boundless, and include medicine, pharmaceuticals, food, feed production, petroleum production and other industries.

Tromsø has been a city that has made great efforts in order to bring the area of Marine Bioprospecting into the mainstream of the city and regional activities, both from a research as well as business and educational perspective. The city is known as the Gateway to the Arctic, and is a center point for the governmental focus on the Barents Region. See the separate sections in Norway Communicates related to Tromsø and the High North.

RESEARCH RUNS DEEP
The following provides just the “tip of the iceberg” regarding research organizations and their activities here in Norway. Click on the respective name of each organization listed for more information:

Research Council of Norway
The Research Council of Norway is the highly respected research organization with headquarters in Oslo that bases its activities on the firm belief that research expands the horizons of what can be achieved, the quality of life – and the quality of society as a whole. www.forskningsradet.no

The SINTEF Group
The SINTEF Group, the largest independent research organization in the Scandinavian regions, supports the development of companies through research, seeking new ways to generate knowledge in areas that include medicine, natural sciences and technology – just to name a few. www.sintef.no

Norwegian Institute of Marine Research
This national research consulting institute is owned by the Ministries of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, with an emphasis on marine ecosystems of the Norwegian, Barents, and North Sea – as well as an emphasis on all aspects of aquaculture here in this country.
www.imr.no

Norwegian Institute of Air Research
This is one of the leading specialized laboratories in Europe, with a focus on air pollution, climate change, and health. www.nilu.no