Funding of Public RDI in Norway A Birds Eye View

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Funding of Public RDI in Norway A Birds Eye
View

• Jan Dietz, Special Adviser
• OECD Symposium, Madrid, July 3-4 2008

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Outline of presentation

• Overview of Norwegian funding system
• The role of the Research Council of Norway
• Some challenges

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Research in NorwayIndustry, higher education
sector and institutes
Industry
Billion NOK (2000-kroner)
Higher Education
Institutes
1970 1980 1990 2000 05
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Strong RD and Innovation System

• Gradual growth in public RD expenditure the last
  few years
• But Norway falls below OECD average
• Yet strong overall economic performance high
  productivity, innovation in both old and new
  industries, etc.
• The Norwegian puzzle!

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Research in NorwayThree different research
sectors
Industry
Institutes
Higher Education
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. With different roles!
Development
Applied research
Basicresearch
Industry
Institutes
Higher Education
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The Research Councils roles

• Research and innovation policy - adviser to the
  government
• Research funding
• Support basic research
• Implement national thematic priorities
• Support private RD
• Networking and dissemination
• Internationalisation

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The Research Council of Norway
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The Research Council of Norway, System of
governance
Research Board
Executive Board
Research Board
Research Board
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The Council is a Key Player in the National
Research and Innovation System
Dialogue and Policy Development
Government White Paper
Council Strategy
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Government White Paper Priorities
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The Council distributes about 30 of public
expenditures on RD and funding received from all
the ministries (2008)
Misc.
Administration
The Research Fund
Transportation and Communication
Education and Research
Foreign Affairs
Environment
Health and Care Services
Trade and Industry
Agriculture and Food
Petroleum and energy
Fisheries and Coastal Affairs
Total 820 mill. Euro, administration incl.
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Thematic priorities
Energy/ environment
Food
Health
Oceans
Technological priorities
ICT
New materials nanotechnology
Public sector reforms
Biotechnology
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Important funding instrument Large-scale
programmes

• Strategic, long-term knowledge development to
  meet national research-policy priorities
• Strategic and dynamic arena for communication and
  cooperation

• VERDIKT Core Competence and Growth in ICT

RENERGI Clean Energy for the Future
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Norwegian Centers of Excellence
Theoretical chemistry
Theoretical linguistics
Economics Mind in Nature Ecology Cancer
biomedicine Immune regulation Biomedicine and
IT Neuroscience Mathematics Civil
wars Physics/Geology Geohazards
Communication systems
Ships and ocean structures
Biology of memory
Geo- biosphere
Climate research
Medieval studies
Petroleum research
Aquaculture protein
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Centres for Research-based Innovation
Integrated operations in the petroleum industry
Telemedicine
Marine bioactives and drug discovery
Concrete new qualities and uses
Medical imaging
Next generation search engines
Aquaculture technology
Natural gas Processes and products
Future manufacturing solutions
Multiphase flow of complex fluids
Structural impact
Statistics for innovation
Industrial measurement technology
Stem cell based tumor therapy
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Some Challenges

• Encourage greater interest in RD in private
  sector
• Create incentives for public-private partnerships
• Soften existing system of earmarking
• Look beyond the Barcelona objective
• Improve cooperation and coordination in the
  innovation system

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Some Challenges (2)

• Strike a balance between the twin needs for
  decentralisation and critical mass
• Address global issues
• Improve process of priority-setting

Taking the long view