Implementing a Strategy for Increased Trans-Atlantic R&D-cooperation

Arvid HallénThe Research Council of Norway

Washington, D.C. October 31, 2005

White Paper on Research Policy:

“Norway should be a leading R&D-country”

Norwegian scientists do more co-authorship and are more cited

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

1981 1986 1991 1996 2001

Norway

Finland

Denmark

Sweden

Co-authored scientific articles with at least one Norwegian author, 1981-2002

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001

Eastern Europe

Nordic Countries

Rest of Europe

North America

Other countries

Mobility: Norwegian faculty members staying abroad for professional reasons

0

10

20

30

40

50

At least one stay during past 10 years, 1981, 1991 and 2000, by regions, %.

Rest of the World

North America

Rest of Europe

Nordic countries

1981 1991 2000

Strategy for Norway’s Scientific and Technological Cooperation with North America

Norway needs to maintain excellent connections to the leading region in science and technologyIt is an instrument for reaching main goals in Norwegian R&D policy

High quality research, both basic and applied

Improve abilities to enhance R&D-related industrial innovation

Follow-up of the Strategy – measures taken by the Research Council

Pilot Projects supportThe Leiv Eiriksson Mobility Program“Bridgeheads” for institutional cooperationJoint projects within prioritized fields of research

Pilot Projects: - met with strong interest in 2005

Norwegian institutions apply for “seed money” to create new contacts and new research collaboration

Humanities/Social sciences

Science and EngineeringMedicine and

health

Agriculture (separate funding)

The Leiv Eiriksson Mobility Program 2005

Visiting scholar fellowships both ways 39 projects granted (1 mill. USD)25 per cent of the mobility scholarships allocated to visiting researchers

Humanities and the social sciences

Visiting researchers

Medical Science

Science and engineering

Visiting researchers

Bridgeheads for institutional R&D-collaboration:

Models should be based on reciprocity between institutions flexible and, to a large extent, comply with the

needs of different institutions involve researchers from several institutions create national teams – “Team Norway”

“Chair” established at University of Minnesota – with the purpose of creating “dream teams” and increased exchange

Next step: Better funding mechanisms for joint projects

Support joint research projects within prioritized research domains through our strategic programsEncourage collaborative, “transatlantic” research Select projects through ordinary procedures

Source: National Snow and Ice Data Center, World data center for Glaciolgy, Boulder, Colorado

Changes in sea-ice distribution in the arctic oceans and its significance for the climate at large spatial scales.

Arctic Ocean September Sea-Ice Extent Trend, 1978-2005

Central themes:Climate Research, Oceans and Policies

1978 1988 1998 2005

The International Polar Year 2007-08

A great opportunity to enhance the research cooperation between Norway and the US

Central themes: Polar research – Contaminants in the Arctic

Central themes:Clean energy for the future

– A bilateral agreement US-Norway

CO2 capture and storageHydrogenNew Energy TechnologySystems IntegrationOil and Gas Technology

Central themes: Multiphase Flow Pipelines R&D & Industrial Development

Troll Gas with Multiphase Flow Lines from templates to platform and from platform to shore6 Billion USD saved over the lifetime of the field with total R & D investments in Norway of 100 M USD

Central themes:

Aquaculture

Challenges for researchA huge industrial potential

Central themes: Bio-energy, Bio-products and Food Safety

Pilot projects to establish new partnershipsA chair at the University of MinnesotaProjects through Research Council programmes

Central themes: Global Health

Commitment to MDGs regarding global healthSupport to global health researchOur focus:

Poverty-related, infectious diseases

Prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care

Policy-making and development aid input

Final remarks

Science is international A great potential for increased cooperationA lot is going on, more can be achieved

National agencies must improve co-funding abilities

The “North American Strategy” expresses a strong commitment

Thank you foryour attention!

www.rcn.no