Norway has accumulated a broad knowledge base, in terms of both the range of academic fields and geographic distribution. While the diversity of Norway’s knowledge system is be exploited, particular weight is now being given to increasing the quality of and focus on particular areas.
In recent years, a substantial portion of the Norwegian research sector has been evaluated by panels of foreign experts. Their findings indicate that Norway has several research institutions of high international quality. Overall, however, there is need for better academic management, more renewal, better task distribution and stronger focus.
Quality is therefore a central theme in Norwegian research policy. The main objective is to develop more world-class research institutions. The strategy encompasses the following elements:
- Greater emphasis is to be put on quality when distributing public funds for research. Research institutions that can document quality will be subject to better conditions than those which cannot. More funds will be given to pure research efforts.
- Evaluations will be more actively employed as a basis for research policy decisions.
- International cooperation will be a part of the strategy for enhancing quality. More Norwegian researchers will complete research programmes abroad.
- 13 centres of excellence have been established since 2002, and new centres will be established in 2007.
- A new scheme for rewarding outstanding young researchers was launched in 2003.
- The Centre for Research-driven Innovation will be set up.
- Academic management at institute and university faculty level is to be strengthened. Institutes and faculties must develop professional strategies, and focus more strongly on particular areas of study.
- The international Abel Prize for outstanding scientific work in the field of mathematics was established in 2002. The award amount is NOK 6 million, and was first awarded in June 2003.
- The Government has also launched the Holberg Prize for outstanding research in the fields of humanities and social sciences. This prize was awarded for the first time in December 2004.
- Scientific subjects are to be prioritised. There is to be investment in scientific equipment, and higher basic grants will be given to environmental, natural sciences and technology institutions.
- A research career will be made more attractive by establishing researcher schools and using salaries actively as a recruitment tool.
A scheme has been established to designate centres of excellence (CoEs), which will be given resources to conduct pure research at top international level. They will collaborate closely with international institutions. Each CoE will be granted an annual budget of between EUR 1.2 and 2.5 million, for up to ten years. The funds primarily come from the investment yields of Norway’s Fund for Research and Innovation.
The present 13 CoEs are:
- Centre of Mathematics for Applications
- Centre for Integrated Petroleum Research
- Aquaculture Protein Centre
- International Centre for Geohazards
- Centre for Quantifiable Quality of Service in Communications Systems
- Centre for the Biology of Memory
- Centre of Excellence in Ships and Ocean Structures
- Centre for the Study of Civil War
- Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
- Centre for Molecular Biology and Neuroscience
- Centre of Excellence in Physics of Geological Processes
- Centre for Advanced Study in Theoretical Linguistics
- Centre for Medieval Studies
By the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research