Norway

Political framework for scientific and technical cooperation

The original goal of the Norwegian government, that is to devote around 3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) to research and development (R&D) by 2010, has been slightly modified. According to Eurostat Data, the R&D percentage in 2009 was 1.62%, which is below the OECD average of 2.28% (2008). The proportion of R&D outlay accounted for by businesses was around 45%. To improve this comparatively low level of participation, Norway has been offering businesses the opportunity to offset their R&D expenditure against tax since 2002. The tax relief is intended to increase R&D expenditure, boost added value and promote capacity for innovation within the participating companies. In the "Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011" Norway was ranked- as it had been the year before - in 14. position, wheareas the european "Innovaton Union Scoreboard 2010" merely counts Norway among the countries showing a moderate innovation performance.

In its White Paper entitled "An Innovative and Sustainable Norway" published in December 2008, the Norwegian government pledges to create favourable conditions for innovation in the public and private sector. Additional funds are to be injected into user-oriented research programs in order to support research in industry. In its "Climate for Research" White Paper tabled in April 2009, the Norwegian government also defines strategic and overarching goals. The strategic goals include the establishment of knowledge-based industries in all Norwegian regions and the promotion of industry-oriented research in the fields of nutrition, marine research, tourism, energy, environment, biotechnology, information and communication technology, and nanotechnology. Overarching goals include, for example, increased internationalisation of research.

The Research Council of Norway plays a key role in implementing the goals named in the two White Papers. The Council is the central Norwegian institution for funding research and innovation. Among other activities, it supports various research centre models such as centres for research excellence, centres for research-based innovation and centres for researching environmentally friendly energies. "Innovation Norway" also funds innovation and corporate development. "Innovation Norway" has branches in over 30 countries: its German office is based in Hamburg. The third important organisation for research funding is SIVA – The Industrial Development Organisation of Norway. It supports the formation of industrial networks at local and regional level.

The three organisations named operate jointly at the Norwegian Centres of Expertise. This initiative is aimed at promoting regional cluster formation.

Key areas of cooperation

German-Norwegian cooperation takes place primarily within a multilateral framework and is geared to active structuring of the European Research Area.

The BMBF specialised programs in which German and Norwegian partners participate are largely multilateral projects. Key areas of focus are information and communication technologies and environmental research and technology. These are also the key specialist fields of joint participations in projects within the 7th EU Framework Program for Research and Technological Development.

Funding the cooperation with Norway

The BMBF published an announcement governing the funding of an ideas competition for the establishment and development of innovative R&D networks with partners in the Baltic Sea region in spring 2010. The aim of this funding measure is to tap into innovation potential through international cooperation and to boost the international competitive edge of German companies and research institutions in the Baltic Sea region. The announcement is geared to helping German institutions network with excellent institutions in the Baltic Sea region in order to develop joint cooperation strategies and work successfully on R&D projects, thereby further promoting the internationalisation of existing national competence networks. The announcement also helps to further boost cooperation with Norwegian partners. Norwegian institutions participate in four projets.