Norway declares its intention to achieve the Barcelona target Norway's Minister for Education and Research, Kristin Clemet, has announced that the country will commit itself to achieving the EU's objective of raising research expenditure to three per cent of GDP by 2010. Doing so would require Norway to nearly double its current spendin... Norway's Minister for Education and Research, Kristin Clemet, has announced that the country will commit itself to achieving the EU's objective of raising research expenditure to three per cent of GDP by 2010. Doing so would require Norway to nearly double its current spending on research and development (R&D), a rise that may be funded through a sell-off of assets in the national research and innovation fund. '[T]he government wants to set new targets for Norway's research and development expenditure. The EU countries have agreed to increase R&D investments to three per cent of GDP for 2010. This is a target we should also honour,' said Ms Clemet. The government says it plans to follow 'exactly' the targets laid out in the Barcelona agreement, whereby two thirds of the country's R&D spending will come from the private sector. Priority areas for increased funding are expected to include marine biology, information technology, health, the environment, and energy. Countries Norway
