New strategy to drive Norwegian research
Norway is developing a new strategy for research that will promote greater international collaboration. The new strategy will establish a broad international dimension to its research activities and help Norwegian researchers compete for more funding abroad. Common cross border issues like energy, climate, environment and health require a more international approach to research. Research and research policy is expanding to meet global challenges. As a result, Norway wants to make its research and development more open and integrated. Collaboration with international partners is a key component. The country wants to pool its resources with other research institutions to develop and upgrade the required scientific infrastructure to address global issues and meet the changing needs of society. Issues like climate change are vast and far-reaching. Coordinated efforts would help focus research and allow scientists to share and disseminate data. But better coordination throughout is required to make research more effective. "We need to ensure that there is coordination between our national initiatives and international needs and focus our efforts on becoming world leaders in the areas on which we choose to concentrate," says Research Council Director General Arvid Hallén. The Research Council of Norway launched a consultation document that is currently being reviewed by the research community, industry and public at large. The consultation is indicative of the Research Council's drive to promote greater openness and dialogue on research-policy input and priorities. This dialogue also includes consultative meetings. "We are looking for input from the research community as to what we need to in order to better fulfil its needs," says Hallén. These measures will provide the necessary structures to better coordinate research initiatives on the national and international level. National research priorities will take into account international perspectives. Norwegian researchers will also have a more comprehensive framework to compete for research funding with colleagues from other countries. Current Norwegian research institutions lack general measures to better organise and facilitate international collaborations. "We don't want to be left standing on the platform when the train pulls out of the station. The new strategy for international cooperation will enable us to take a more proactive approach," says Hallén. The Research Council serves as an advisory body on research policy issues, identifies research needs and recommends national priorities. It also helps put into action national research policy initiatives and had a total budget for 2009 of NOK 6 165 million. Half of the research efforts funded by the Research Council are for research programmes, followed by independent projects and infrastructure. The Norwegian government's research and development scientific priorities areas are climate research and environmental technology, research on renewable energy and carbon capture and storage, research infrastructure, and regional research and value creation.
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Norway