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 Photo: Shutterstock Gerland, Photo: S. Institute Norwegian Polar Photo: Shutterstock 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 Refsahl/Statoil Trude Photo: Perret Photo: UN Photo/M. 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. 5 Enhanced 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. 6 Photo: 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