n KE-, UTDANNINGS- OG NINGSDEPA WELLCOME L!= 4 INFORMATION SERVICE 0 9 MAY 2002 | ALL Ver The modern state of Norway has developed in close conjunction with the advancement of knowledge. In the course of the last cen- tury major social and material progress was made. From being a poor nation with a poorly educated population the country today is highly advanced with a level of education among the highest in the world. At the start of the 21st century, Norwegian society is facing chal- lenges that will demand major restructuring. The income from the petroleum sector is expected to diminish, the number of eld- erly people in the population will increase while environmental challenges will grow more complex and far-reaching. Both indus- try and the public sector will depend on innovation to meet these challenges. À common key factor is the ability to develop and apply new knowledge. Facts about Norwegian research (figures from 1999) * Norway’s total R&D expenditure amounts to 1.7 per cent of GDP.The OECD average is 2.18 per cent. The proportion of public funding is relatively high.The state contributes 42 per cent of R&D expenditure, whereas the average for OECD countries as a whole is 31 per cent. International research cooperation accounts for almost 10 per cent of total R&D expenditure. A total of 44 000 persons are employed in research in Norway. This is 2 per cent of the working population. 28 per cent of research workers are women, while 42 per cent of recruitment posts are held by women. ECM TT OT iLy e 4 h Re yo ir P. VAS rh de TR, 4% a à DT VISIONS AND ASPIRATIONS There is a broad political consensus that more of the country’s economic and human resources should be invested in research and development (R&D). The public authorities have launched the most ambitious investment program in the history of Norwegian research policy. The aim is that R&D expenditure, measured as a percentage of GDP, shall be at least equivalent to the OECD average by 2005. This will require an increase in R&D expenditure of almost 40 per cent from 2002 to 2005. The Government has submitted an escalation plan for research allocations. The plan prepares for considerable growth in public research funding. The Government has also introduced new schemes to encourage the industrial sector to invest more in R&D. A main priority for the use of public funds will be to strengthen: e long-term basic research Norway will also strengthen research within four thematic areas: © marine research ©, information and communications technology e medical and health research e research in the area of intersection between energy and the environment Quality is to be promoted and rewarded. Increased resources will be devoted to research of high quality. The main objective is to generate more research communities at the cutting edge of international research. Participation in international research cooperation will be increased. Cooperation and contact between individual researchers will be strengthened and Norway’s participation in international joint commitments will be maintained and better exploited. Gender equality has high priority in Norwegian research policy. Although women hold over 40 per cent of recruitment posts, efforts to increase gender equality have to be intensified. The goal is full gender equality throughout the Norwegian research system. )JPRPTI TYV W ARAEDEAA . U4 Long-term basic research Basic research is both an expression of and a result of human creativity and curiosity. Basic research stimulates man’s intellectual progress and therefore plays a major role as a bearer of culture. It has significance for almost all areas of society and has laid the basis for Norway’s economic growth within areas such as petroleum and gas production, aluminium industry and aquaculture. The total expenditure on basic research amounts to approximately 0.25 per cent of GDP, which is comparatively little in international terms. This is largely due to the fact that Norway has relatively few large companies with sufficient resources to perform their own basic research. Only 2 per cent of basic research is carried out by the industrial sector. Universities and specialised university institutions are by far the most important basic research institutions, responsible for 75 per cent of all Norwegian basic research. A main priority in Norwegian research policy is to strengthen basic research. Increased investments in long-term basic research will include all disciplines and will be directed towards universities, colleges and research institutes. These institutions constitute the core of the research system. They carry out research- based teaching, recruit new trainee researchers and create and disseminate new knowledge for industry and civic life. The strengthening and maintenance of these research institutions is a top priority for the public authorities. e Universities and colleges will receive increased resources and more stable research funding. e Allocations to long-term, basic research via the Research Council of Norway will be increased. e Some research institutes will be allocated increased resources for long-term research. e Scientific equipment at the institutions will be upgraded and developed. e More researchers will be recruited. The number of recruiment posts will be substantially increased. e Efforts to achieve gender equality in the research system will be intensified. Particular efforts will be made to recruit women to mathematics and science subjects and to top scientific posts. A new research and innovation fund In 1999 the Government established a fund for research and innovation to secure more stable and long-term public financing of researchT.h e capital of the fund is currently approximately EUR 1.26 billion, but the Government plans to substantially increase this figure by 2005. The yield from the fund is distributed by the Research Council of Norway on the overall guidelines laid down by the Government and the Storting (Parliament)T.he yield is applied to the strengthening of long-term, basic research in general and within the thematic priorities as well as new measures to improve the quality of Norwegian research. Thematic priorities In addition to the investment in long-term, basic research, the authorities will give priority to investments in the four thematic areas. These are areas where society is facing major challenges and where presuppositions for success are good. Marine research Norway is one of the world’s largest exporters of sea food. A long coastline and large sea areas provide special conditions for exploitation of renewable marine resources. Fishing has been one of the country’s major export industries for more than a thousand years. During the last 15-20 years, Norway has made systematic investments in R&D in the marine sector. The fishing and aquaculture industry is now a knowledge-based industry with considerable growth potential. Research will be directed towards the whole value chain, from development of new fish farm- ing technology to marketing of finished products. Norway holds an international responsibility for the sustainable management of marine resources, and con- sumers demand pure, high-quality products. Research into pollution of the sea, stock development and fish-health are therefore important investment areas. Research in the area of intersection between energy and the environment As an energy producer and a country that gives priority to environmental issues, it is natural for Norway to invest in research to solve global challenges in these areas. Through international agreements Norway has assumed a number of inter- national commitments. A priority area in Norwegian research policy is therefore at the intersection between energy and the environment. Research investments in this area shall contribute to an efficient and more environmentally sound energy production while reducing environmental emissions. The research is to be inter- disciplinary, and investments include social as well as scientific and technical research. Information and communications technology The emergence of information and communications technology (ICT) has trans- formed large areas of society. Norway is among the world leaders as regards the number of computers per inhabitant. ICT is also the largest area of research within Norwegian industry. Research investment in ICT is primarily intended to improve society by implementing new ICT solutions, removing restrictions associated with geographical distance and making welfare provisions available to all. In the health sector for example Norway has made considerable progress in applying ICT based solutions. Such investments will also lay the basis for the development of new high-quality products and services. Research is also aimed at increasing our knowledge of the social and cultural aspects of ICT use. The recruitment of new researchers in this area, particularly women, will be increased. Medical and health research Through knowledge, experience and new technology, medical science has created new possibilities for medical treatment. Medical treatment is given to more patients than ever before. At the same time, the increased demand for health and social services has resulted in considerable capacity problems in the health sector. These challenges will be met with a broad focus on medical and health research. Norway has highly competent research groups in areas such as brain research, telemedicine and nutrition, as well as complete national medical registers. Such registers are of major importance for research into the incidence and prevalence of diseases and for studies within preventive medicine. QUALITY AND CONCENTRATION Over time, Norway has developed a broad knowledge base, both as regards fields of study and geographical distribution. The diversity of the scientific fields will be maintained. When increas- ing investments in research, however, particular emphasis will be placed on quality and concentration. In recent years, large areas of Norwegian research have been evaluated. For example, foreign panels of experts have evaluated almost all natural science disciplines. The results show that Norway has a number of research groups of a high international quality. As a whole, however, there is a need for better academic management, closer concentration and better division of work. Promotion of quality is therefore an important feature of Norwegian research policy. The overall goal is to develop more research groups of a high international standard. e When allocating public funds to research, more emphasis is to be placed on quality. Research groups that show high quality work will be rewarded. e Research policy decisions will be based more on evaluations. e International cooperation will be part of the quality enhancement strategy. More Norwegian research recruits are to spend periods abroad. e Anew system of centres of excellence has been introduced. The first centres will be established from 2002. e The academic management functions in universities and col- leges are to be further strengthened and improved both at institute and faculty level. Heads of institutes will be appointed on fixed-term contracts and will no longer be elected. The academic manager will be given more attractive pay and working conditions. e Institutes and faculties will be expected to strengthen and further develop their research strategies and to place greater emphasis on specialisation and concentration. INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COOPERATION Research is in its nature international. As one of the world’s wealthiest countries per capita, Norway has a responsibility for contributing to the advancement of knowledge. Norway is also a small nation and therefore needs to draw on research carried out by other countries. An increasing proportion of Norway’s research funds is spent on international cooperation, amounting to nearly 10 per cent of total R&D expenditure. International research cooperation takes place both through informal contacts between researchers and through organized programmes and networks. Norway has a long tradition for research cooperation with the USA, and many Norwegian researchers have strong personal ties with American colleagues. The Nordic area has also been a natural cooperation arena for Norwegian research, particu- larly industrial research. During the last 20-30 years Norway has joined a num- ber of international joint research commitments based in Europe. European research cooperation The research cooperation within the EU framework programme is now one of | the main arenas for Norway’s international research cooperation. Norway has taken part in projects within the EU framework programmes since 1987 and has | been a full member since 1994. The subscription to the EU framework pro- gramme constitutes approximately half of the public expenditure on international | research cooperation. There is a broad political consensus in favour of continuing | and strengthening Norwegian participation. Norwegian researchers have parti- cipated most extensively in areas such as marine research, energy, environment, transport and health related research. Norway as a research arena In anumber of areas, Norway is able to offer facilities and research environments that are attractive to foreign researchers, for example within environmental | research and marine biology. Within polar research Norway has strong academic traditions and can offer good research facilities. THE NORWEGIAN RESEARCH SYSTEM The Norwegian research system can The strategic level be divided into three levels: The institutions and bodies at the * The political level strategic level function as a link ¢ The strategic level between the political level and the level * The performing level where research is carried out. An important task involves the distribu- The political level _ tion of R&D resources according to Public funding accounts for over 42 per national priorities. The Research cent of Norway’s total R&D expendi- Council of Norway is the most impor- ture. The Government and the Stor- tant strategic institution in the ting decide the overall aims and priori- Norwegian research system. The ties for research policy. Research Council advises the Government on research matters. At the political level research is organ- Over 30 per cent of public research ized according to what is known as the allocations are channelled via the sector principle, whereby the various Research Council. Unlike most other ministries are responsible for promot- countries, Norway has only one ing and financing research within their research council. The research council respective areas. The Ministry of funds basic research, applied research Education, Research and Church and industrial research. It was estab- Affairs is responsible for coordinating lished in 1993 by a merger of five research policy across sectors. This research councils. The main reason for ministry administers approximately the merger was the wish to gather all half of the public research allocations research disciplines under one single and has a special responsibility for council that would be able to view basic funding basic research. The Ministry research and applied research within a of Trade and Industry is the second single overall context. The Research largest funder of research and allo- Council also has the main responsibili- cates approximately 20 per cent of the ty for ensuring quality in Norwegian public R&D funding. However, all 16 research. An international evaluation ministries to a greater or lesser extent of the Research Council of Norway is fund research in their areas of respon- due by the end of 2001. sibility. In addition to the Research Council of As a result of the sector principle Norway, there are a number of strate- research is integrated in most policy gic bodies that are oriented towards areas. In order to ensure the develop- innovation and industrial development. ment of an integrated research policy, The Norwegian Industrial and Regional a special research committee at gov- Development Fund, for example, has a ernment level is chaired by the major responsibility for promoting Minister of Education, Research and innovation and industrial development Church Affairs. throughout the country. The performing level sciences which constitute the third The most important actors at the per- largest field with over 21 per cent of forming level are universities and col- research man-years. leges, research institutes and companies that carry out research. These actors Norway also has seven research parks are usually grouped in three sectors: that are closely affiliated to universities and colleges. The research parks play 1) The university and college sector an important role in bridging the gap This sector consists of four universi- between public research institutions ties, six specialised university institu- and industry. tions, two national institutes of the arts and 26 university colleges. Over 28 per cent of all research takes place in this Social science research sector. Universities and specialised The social sciences have a strong posi- university institutions have a special tion in Norwegian research and consti- responsibility for basic research and tute one of the largest fields in the uni- for the training of new researchers. versity and college sector. This is main- They are also the most important ly a result of the large growth in the research institutions. Over 90 per cent number of students in these subjects. of research carried out in this sector Norwegian social science research has takes place at these institutions. The 26 also made a name for itself internatio- university colleges are located nally. For example two researchers throughout the country. They spe- have been awarded the Nobel prize in cialise in research related to their own economics. The investigation into professional programmes and consti- power and democracy in Norway tute an important knowledge base in published in the 1970s provided a their respective regions. model for similar investigations in other countries. The largest academic fields in this sec- tor are medicine and mathematics/nat- ural sciences, representing 27 per cent and 23 per cent respectively of the total research man-years. However, the most characteristic feature is the strong position occupied by the social 2) The institute sector SINTEF - a bridge between The large institute sector is a charac- science and technology teristic feature of the Norwegian The Foundation for Scientific and research system. During the whole Industrial Research (SINTEF) is by far post-war period Norway has developed the largest institution in the an extensive network of institutes that Norwegian institute sector. With its function as a source of knowledge both 1800 employees, the SINTEF Group is for industry and public administration. one of Europe's largest independent The institute sector currently conducts research organizations. SINTEF carries just over 25 per cent of all Norwegian out research and development within research. technology, natural sciences, medicine and social sciences for both industry The sector consists of approximately and public administration. SINTEF co- 60 institutes that have research as their operates closely with the Norwegian main activity as well as a number of University of Science and Technology institutions where research constitutes (NTNU) in Trondheim and with the a smaller part of activities. Over 40 per University of Oslo. The SINTEF Group cent of the sector’s R&D expenditure also participates extensively in inter- is accounted for by technical institutes national research projects, accounting that serve the industrial sector’s need for 15 per cent of the Group's revenues. for research. The Norwegian research institutes thereby conduct much of the research that in many other countries 3) The industrial sector is carried out by private industry. The Almost half (47 per cent) of all research institutes also play an impor- Norwegian research takes place in tant role as sources of knowledge for industry. The Norwegian industrial public administration. For example, sector still consists mainly of indus- Norway has 12 regional research insti- tries based on raw materials, such as tutes throughout the country. These petroleum and gas production. institutes are heavily involved in social Traditionally such industries use little research, but science and technology resources on R&D. This applies in are also major areas. other countries too. Moreover, Norway has a large proportion of small and Just over 60 per cent of the sector’s medium-sized companies with limited R&D resources come from public sources, while 25 per cent are provided by industry. Foreign sources have gradually become more import and currently contribute over 10 per cent of the sector’s total research funds. Most of the research carried out in this sec- tor is contract research.