Funding of Public RDI in Norway – A Bird’s Eye View

Jan Dietz, Special AdviserOECD Symposium, Madrid, July 3-4 2008

Outline of presentation

Overview of Norwegian funding system

The role of the Research Council of Norway

Some challenges…

Research in Norway:Industry, higher education sector and institutes

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12

Institutes

Higher Education

Industry

1970 1980 1990 2000 ’05

Billion NOK (2000-kroner)

Strong R&D and Innovation System

Gradual growth in public R&D 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!

Research in Norway:Three different research sectors …

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5000

10000

Industry Institutes Higher Education

…. With different roles!

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5000

10000

Industry Institutes Higher Education

Basicresearch

Applied research

Development

The Research Council’s roles

Research and innovation policy - adviser to the government Research funding

Support basic research Implement national thematic

priorities Support private R&D

Networking and disseminationInternationalisation

The Research Council of Norway

Division for Administrative Affairs

Division for Science

Division for Innovation

Division for Strategic PrioritiesDirector GeneralStaff

Division for Administrative Affairs

Division for Science

Division for Innovation

Division for Strategic PrioritiesDirector GeneralStaff

The Research Council of Norway, System of governance

Research Board

Research Board

Research BoardExecutive Board

Dialogue andPolicy

Development

The Council is a Key Player in the National Research and Innovation System

Council

Strate

gy Govern

ment

White

Paper

Government White Paper Priorities

INTERNATIONALISATION

BASIC RESEARCH

RESEARCH-BASED INNOVATION

Energy and environment FoodOceans Health

ICT New materialsNanotech. Biotechnology

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233

180147

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248

368439287

943

1 240

1 154

The Council distributes about 30 % of public expenditures on R&D and funding received from all the ministries (2008)

Trade and Industry

Petroleum and energy

Fisheries and Coastal Affairs

Agriculture and Food

Environment

Education and Research

AdministrationThe Research Fund

Total 820 mill. Euro, administration incl.

Health and Care Services

Transportation and Communication

Foreign Affairs

Misc.

ICT

Energy/environment

Food HealthOceans

New materialsnanotechnology

Biotechnology

Thematic priorities

Technologicalpriorities

Public sector reforms

PETROLEUM

CLEAN ENERGY

CLIMATE

ICT

NANOMAT

Aquaculture

GENOMICS

Welfare and society

Food programmeHealth programmes

CLIMITOcean and coast

Important funding instrument: Large-scale programmes

VERDIKT Core Competence and Growth in ICT

Strategic, long-term knowledge development to meet national research-policy priorities

Strategic and dynamic arena for communication and cooperation

NORKLIMA Climate Change and its Impacts in Norway

PETROMAKS Optimal Management of Petroleum Resources

RENERGI Clean Energy for the Future

NANOMAT Nanotechnology and New Materials

FUGEFunctional Genomics in Norway

AQUACULTURE

An Industry in Growth

Norwegian Centers of Excellence

Aquaculture protein

Geo- biosphere

Theoretical chemistry

Economics

Mind in Nature

Ecology

Cancer biomedicine

Immune regulation

Biomedicine and IT

Neuroscience

Mathematics

Civil wars

Physics/Geology

Geohazards

Ships and ocean structures

Biology of memory

Medieval studies

Theoretical linguistics

Petroleum research

Communication systems

Climate research

Centres for Research-based Innovation

Statistics for innovation

Multiphase flow of complex fluids

Natural gas – Processes and products

Concrete – new qualities and uses

Next generation search enginesAquaculture

technology

Stem cell based tumor therapy

Marine bioactives and drug discovery

Industrialmeasurementtechnology

Integrated operations in the petroleum industry

Future manufacturingsolutions

Medical imaging

Telemedicine

Structural impact

Some Challenges

Encourage greater interest in R&D 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

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…