Transcending boundaries - Strategy on international cooperation 2010-2020
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Transcending boundaries Strategy on international cooperation 2010–2020
At left: Roald Amundsen in his cabin onboard the Gjøa upon completion
of his expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1906. Photo: Harry
Randall. Photo owner: The National Library of Norway, bldsa_NPRA3119.
At right: From Fridtjof Nansen’s expedition to the North Pole onboard
the Fram (1893-1896). Celebrating Norway’s Constitution Day on
17 May. Photo: Sigurd Scott Hansen. Photo owner: The National Library
of Norway, bldsa_q3c108.
Renowned polar explorers Fridtjof Nansen
(1861-1930) and Roald Amundsen (1872-1928),
and others who have followed in their footsteps,
exemplify a deep-rooted need in the Norwegian
character to explore the unknown, to help to
expand the global knowledge pool.
Member of Roald Amundsen’s expedition to the South Pole (1893-1896)
Oscar Wisting and his dogsled. Photo: Unknown. Photo owner: The National
Library of Norway, bldsa_NPRA0525.
2
Transcending boundaries
Norwegian Polar Institute
Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: S. Gerland,
The international research landscape The strategy describes how the Research
is rapidly changing. Global cooperation Council plans to achieve greater inter-
is needed to solve today’s global chal- nationalisation of Norwegian research.
lenges. While Norway continues to give The strategy will be implemented in
priority to European cooperation as close collaboration with researchers,
one of its main arenas for international institutions, companies and the
collaboration, we are seeking to expand government ministries.
bilateral partnerships with strong and
emerging research nations outside Oslo, May 2011
Europe as well.
The Research Council’s strategy on
international cooperation from 2010-
2020 was adopted in November 2010.
Arvid Hallén
Director General
Photo: Shutterstock
3
Objectives and action points
Research activities are increasingly taking the form of collaborative efforts
across national borders, involving both research institutions and private enterprises.
More and more, research institutions > enhance the quality and capacity > The Research Council will develop
and companies are turning to the of Norwegian research. financial instruments to support
international labour market to recruit the establishment of long-term
their staffs, and investment in research > secure Norway access to international cooperation between Norwegian
infrastructure and knowledge-driven knowledge production. institutions and corresponding
companies is being channelled towards institutions in other countries.
countries with dynamic research com- > boost the competitiveness of
munities. Internationally-based funding Norwegian trade and industry. > The Research Council will strengthen
and partnerships for research projects stimulation measures to encourage
are becoming the new norm. > promote Norway as a leading research Norwegian researchers, companies
and innovation nation in selected and research institutions to partici-
The internationalisation of research research areas. pate more actively in international
entails both cooperation and com- collaborative and competitive arenas.
petition. On the one hand, countries Action points
must work together to address major The Research Council has defined a new > The Research Council will focus greater
social challenges; on the other, they set of action points for realising its attention on international cooperation
find themselves competing with one international cooperation objectives: and researcher mobility in its grant
another to attract the best researchers application review processes.
and secure international research invest- > All of the Research Council’s activities,
ments. programmes, open competitive arenas, Special measures to promote inter-
special initiatives, institution-oriented national research cooperation will still
Global challenges can only be resolved measures and other forms of support be needed. But the real key to Norway’s
if countries seek the answers together. must include clearly-defined objectives success in international research lies
This means that we all need to find and plans for international cooperation. in the ongoing ability of the Research
ways to better coordinate our research Council’s ordinary funding instruments
policies and share our funding. > The Research Council will encourage to sustain a sound, well-functioning
Norwegian participation in joint research and innovation system com-
Objectives programmes across national bound- prised of first-class knowledge-based
Through participation in international aries when this is crucial to addressing companies, skilled researchers and
research cooperation, Norway seeks to: common challenges or strengthening advanced infrastructure.
Norwegian research and knowledge-
> help address global challenges based trade and industry.
to society.
4
Global challenges
Global challenges are being given priority on the national
and international research policy agendas.
Photo: Trude Refsahl/Statoil
Photo: UN Photo/M. Perret
Photo: Shutterstock
At the government level, Norway defines No country can deal with global chal-
The Research Council will:
global challenges as those involving lenges on its own; nations must work
changes in climate, energy, the environ- together if we are to succeed in finding
ment, marine resource and food security viable solutions. Thus, research comprises > contribute to international co-
issues, but focuses on issues such as an integral part of the development of a operation and support coordinated
poverty, global health, migration, econom- shared international platform of action. efforts designed to address global
ic development, democracy-building, challenges.
human rights and conflict resolution
as well. > develop research cooperation with
emerging economies and help to
expand research capacity in
developing countries by encour-
aging reciprocal cooperation with
high-quality researchers and
research groups in these countries.
5Enhanced quality and greater capacity
The Research Council is a driving force behind activities to boost the quality
and increase the capacity of Norwegian research.
We are taking steps to provide sufficient Infrastructure
The Research Council will:
backing for researchers’ and institutions’ In many areas, innovative research is
efforts to increase international co- contingent upon access to advanced,
operation, to create a better foundation > further develop its mobility schemes high-cost infrastructure. Cooperation
for such cooperation and to strengthen and promote more researcher on infrastructure allows Norwegian
requirements relating to international- exchange within the framework researchers to take part in research
isation in areas where these have been of research projects. activity that Norway could not finance
lacking. on its own. Studies have shown that
> work to make it easier for researchers Norwegian research groups who take
Mobility, careers in research and to move between countries. advantage of national membership in
international participation such collaborative efforts rank high in
One of the fundamental components > refine and enhance Project Establish- terms of scientific merit.
of international research cooperation ment Support grants for and pos-
is mobility. The Research Council is itioning measures vis-à-vis the EU Investments in scientific equipment
Norway’s representative in European ef- and in other forms of international must be targeted towards industry
forts to dismantle barriers to researcher cooperation. needs and the national priority areas.
mobility and expand activities relating The Research Council is responsible
to researcher exchange and international > create a framework for enabling for drawing up a national roadmap for
recruitment. Norwegian research institutions to com- investment in research infrastructure.
pete under the same conditions as This roadmap presents the national and
Although many Norwegian universities, other European research institutions. international large-scale infrastructure
university colleges and independent re- projects in which the Research Council
search institutes already collaborate ex- > provide backing for the internation- believes Norway should invest in the
tensively internationally, the number of alisation efforts of Norwegian insti- near future.
institutions and research groups taking tutions as a step towards developing
active part in international collaborative long-term partnerships with institutions
efforts still needs to be higher. in priority partner countries.
> work to make it easier for research-
ers, research institutions and trade
and industry to participate in
international cooperation.
6Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: NERSC
Photo: Adobe
Greater emphasis on will be to provide supplementary alloca-
The Research Council will: internationalisation in Research tions for internationalisation measures
Council funding instruments in projects that have already been selected
> support Norwegian participation All programmes and activities under the on the basis of their scientific merit or
in international research organ- Research Council must include clearly overall calibre as innovation projects.
isations with advanced research defined objectives and plans relating to
infrastructure. internationalisation. Within the discipline- Ph.D. candidates with funding from the
oriented or thematic-based activities, Research Council should be integrated
> work to obtain co-financing for internationalisation objectives are to be into international collaboration, and
research facilities in Norway incorporated in the funding announce- post-doctoral candidates with funding
from stakeholders abroad. ments. Coordinated and joint funding from the Research Council should nor-
announcements, for example under mally be given the opportunity to conduct
> acquire greater insight into infra- ERA-NET activities, will be introduced on a longer-term research stay abroad.
structure both within and outside a larger scale to increase international
of Europe, as well as assess the cooperation in all the Council’s activities.
need for formalised affiliations One means of strengthening internation-
with such infrastructures. alisation in the open competitive arenas
7Access to international knowledge production
International research cooperation provides access to global knowledge production
and makes it possible to incorporate results from the international research front
into activities in Norway.
Programming Initiatives (JPI) are emer-
The Research Council will:
ging as a dynamic force in European
research. Norway is active in many of
the EU-affiliated activities and several > provide input to the government
JPIs, and was successful in achieving the ministries regarding participation
launch of the Joint Programming Initia- in joint programmes where this
tive on Healthy and Productive Seas and will generate value added for
Oceans (JPI Oceans). Norwegian research or industry,
Photo: Colourbox
or help to address global or
Participation in joint programmes common European challenges.
confers ownership and expands influ-
ence, but it also means that a greater > involve the research community,
Integral part of a European portion of the national allocations will research institutions and com-
Research Area be deployed in international competitive panies as strategic partners in the
Norway has participated in the EU arenas. Norwegian participation and development of Joint Programming
framework programmes for research success in joint programmes will mean Initiatives.
since 1994, with excellent results. In that new forms of cooperation and
general, Norwegian participation in financial coordination in the ministries > work to achieve constructive
the framework programmes has been must be designed. task distribution and fruitful
dominated by a relatively small number coordination between joint
of outstanding Norwegian institutions Norwegian research funds should be programmes and nationally
and companies. The Research Council channelled to schemes for joint finan- funded activities.
believes that even more can be gained cing with other countries when these
from enabling a greater number of will generate value added for Norwegian > work to ensure that these joint
Norwegian institutions and companies research or industry, or will help in some programmes are effectively
to take part in EU cooperation. way to address common challenges. administered on Norway’s part,
There will still be areas in which it will with clearly-defined deliverables
As the Eighth Framework Programme remain in the nation’s best interests to to society and open contacts
for Research gets underway, the Joint focus on national research programmes. between research and industry.
8Photo: CERN
Nordic partnerships countries, of which the following have research agenda, the development of
Special effort should be made to strength- special political importance: the USA, the ERA and international trends in
en Nordic research collaboration in areas Canada, Japan, China, Russia, India, research and innovation.
where such activities will address comm- South Africa, Brazil, Argentina and Chile.
on Nordic challenges, lead to useful task There is great potential for expanding Participation in international organ-
distribution and shared use of costly cooperation with these countries. Within isations gives Norwegian researchers
infrastructure. Collective Nordic use of certain disciplines and thematic areas and companies access to valuable
biobanks and databases is of particular there may be good scientific or business networks as well as costly, advanced
relevance, for example in the fields of reasons to increase cooperation with research infrastructure, and provides
health and welfare. The Nordic Centres other countries and regions. The EEA them with the chance to take part in
of Excellence are an important tool for Grant funding scheme represents a new high-quality research activities.
creating synergies between outstanding arena for establishing partnerships with
national research groups. NordForsk new EU Member States.
plays a key role in enhancing Nordic-level The Research Council will:
research and researcher recruitment. International research cooperation will
as a rule be integrated into the discipline- > define in clear terms the scientific
Working together as a region gives the based and thematic activities of the and thematically-oriented ambi-
Nordic countries greater weight in co- Research Council. However, cooperation tions for strengthening cooper-
operative efforts with countries within programmes targeted towards specific ation with the priority partner
and outside of Europe. This is important countries, such as China (the CHINOR countries.
not only for promoting Nordic research programme), India (the INDNOR pro-
but also for strengthening Nordic per- gramme), and South Africa (the South > create a framework for researcher
spectives in European and international Africa-Norway Programme for Research exchanges with priority partner
research collaboration. Areas in which Cooperation) have also proven useful. countries, and support networking
this is especially important include mar- Similar transitional programmes may measures/organise workshops to
ine research, research in the Arctic and be beneficial in relation to other countries promote specific cooperation.
northern areas, and welfare research. as well.
> work together with research-
Cooperation with prominent International organisations funding organisations in the part-
research nations The Research Council participates in a ner countries to issue coordinated
Norway has signed bilateral research wide array of international organisations or joint funding announcements.
agreements with many non-European that play a vital role in shaping the global
910
Photo: ColourboxStrengthening competitiveness in industry
The Research Council encourages companies to establish relevant international
networks. Participating in international consortia makes it easier for Norwegian industry
to collaborate with international specialist environments, customers and suppliers.
The Research Council will:
> work to enable Norwegian trade
and industry to take part in inter-
national programmes targeted
towards the industrial sector.
Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Sverre Jarild
> increase awareness of the value
added of international cooper-
ation for trade and industry and
map out the sector’s need for
international know-how and
The Research Council will facilitate The Research Council will strengthen knowledge exchange.
increased participation in international stimulation measures designed to reduce
joint programmes of relevance for trade the risks for companies participating at > establish a framework that
and industry, including Joint Technology the international level. Such measures promotes foreign commissions
Initiatives, Eurostars and Joint Program- may comprise better advisory and guid- to, and foreign investments in,
ming Initiatives. The Research Council ance services to determine which instru- Norwegian research and
will also establish incentives for industry ments will be best for Norwegian com- knowledge-based companies.
to seek a role in bilateral research projects panies in need of support for participation
with non-European countries. in binding international cooperation. > work actively to achieve harmon-
isation of IPR rules and their
implementation.
11Leading research and innovation nation
in selected areas
In recent years, Norway has given priority to research on climate, the environment, energy, food,
oceans, health and welfare as well as ICT, biotechnology, nanotechnology and new materials.
These are all areas in which Norway has certain natural advantages or special expertise.
Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Seafood.no
Photo: Reelwell
International research cooperation is an targeted funding for the Centres of
excellent means for presenting Norway Excellence (SFF), Centres for Research-
as a reliable partner, for enhancing the based Innovation (SFI) and Centres for
position of Norwegian companies and Environment-friendly Energy Research
for profiling Norway as a knowledge (FME), the Research Council has built up
nation. expert scientific groups and expanded
the potential for innovation and value
Norway needs outstanding knowledge creation. The independent research
communities that can attract highly institutes play an important role in the
capable researchers and gain a reputa- international cooperation activities
tion as valued partners for Norwegian of companies, and there is additional
and international industry. In small potential for these institutes to mar-
countries like Norway, research groups ket their expertise to companies and
in the same fields have to combine their government administrators in other
skills to succeed internationally. Through countries as well.
12The Research Council will:
> work to increase the ability of
companies and research insti-
tutions to seek international
partners.
> cooperate with the Norwegian
diplomatic missions and Innovation
Norway to give Norwegian research
and infrastructure a higher profile
abroad.
> actively use the SFF, SFI and FME
centres to front Norway’s position
as a leading knowledge and
innovation nation internationally.
> increase cooperation with research
institutions and companies to
generate “national teams” that
take part in international activities,
both within the EU and vis-à-vis
priority partner countries.
> design financial instruments to
support the establishment of
long-term cooperation between
Norwegian institutions and cor-
responding institutions in other
countries.
Photo: Jon Aars, Norwegian Polar Institute
13Key figures
The Research Council of Norway 2011 Budget, Research Council’s R&D funding (NOK million)
The Research Council of Norway is a
national strategic and funding agency Education and Research 1 550
for research activities and provides sup- The Research Fund 1 208
port for basic and innovation-oriented Trade and Industry 1 337
research within all subject fields. Petroleum and Energy 722
The Research Council plays a key role in Fisheries and Coastal Affairs 344
implementing the Government’s overall Agriculture and Food 441
research policy, and provides a central Environment 323
Health and Care Services 271
meeting place for those who fund, carry
Other ministries 943
out and utilise research.
Miscellaneous 124
Some thirty per cent of Norway’s public Total: NOK 6 991 million (excluding administrative activities)
R&D funding is channelled through the
Research Council, which has an overall
budget of approximately NOK 7.25 billion
in 2011. A major part of this funding
comes from the Ministry of Education 2011 Budget funding activities
and Research and the Ministry of Trade
and Industry, which together contribute
close to half of the Research Council’s
Programmes 3 375
budget.
Independent projects 786
Infrastructure 2 079
The Research Council has developed
Network 420
a variety of funding instruments to Miscellaneous 331
facilitate its efforts to enhance the cap-
acity, quality and diversity of Norwegian Total: NOK 6 991 million (excluding administrative activities)
research. These instruments are also
designed to ensure a high level of
investment in research infrastructure,
maintain sufficient volume in researcher
training, and promote more knowledge-
intensive trade and industry.
14The Research Council has devised a INTERNAtional measures
set of cohesive funding instruments
targeted towards universities, university Centres SFF SFI FME
colleges, independent research institutes,
User-driven
trade and industry and the regional Long-term Independent Research based
basic research projects
hospital trusts. Innovation
National
Norwegian research priorities Large-scale programmes
In 2009, Norway’s R&D expenditures
Thematic Basic research Applied research Innovation
totalled NOK 41.9 billion. programmes programmes programmes programmes
> NOK 18.2 billion (43.5 %) in the
basic research action-oriented research
industrial sector
> NOK 10.3 billion (24.5 %) in the Infrastructure Tax deduction
independent research institute sector scheme
> NOK 13.4 billion (32 %) in the higher
education sector
International cooperation
R&D operating expenditures for R&D in Articles that Norwegians have co-authored with international
the higher education and institute sectors collaborators in the period from 1989 to 2007, distributed by
combined totalled NOK 21.83 billion. groups of countries
International with which co-publication has taken place.
cooperation
> Basic research NOK 6.96 billion
> Applied research NOK 11.35 billion 2 500
EU not
> Experimental development including
NOK 3.54 billion the Nordic
2 000 countries
Total R&D full-time equivalents were 36 091.
1 500 North America
> Industrial sector 15 673 R&D FTEs Other countries
> Independent research institute sector
8 763 R&D FTEs 1 000
> Higher education sector 11 655 Nordic countries
R&D FTEs 500
R&D activity comprised 1.76 % GDP. 0
> Publicly financed R&D 0.82 %
1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007
> R&D funded by industry 0.94 %
15About the publication
This publication may be ordered at
The Research Council’s strategy on international cooperation
www.forskningsradet.no/publikasjoner
describes how the Research Council plans to achieve greater
internationalisation of Norwegian research. The strategy
will be implemented in close collaboration with researchers,
institutions, companies and the government ministries. The Research Council of Norway
This document is an abridged version of the strategy. The Stensberggata 26
full version may be downloaded from the Research Council’s P.O. Box 2700 St. Hanshaugen
English language website: www.rcn.no/international N0-0131 Oslo
Telephone: +47 22 03 70 00
Telefax: +47 22 03 70 01
post@forskningsradet.no
www.rcn.no/english
May 2011
ISBN: 978-82-12-02915-6 (printed version)
ISBN: 978-82-12-02916-3 (pdf)
No. of copies: 2000
Print: 07 Gruppen
Design: Agendum
Cover photo: Shutterstock
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