At the political level, the Norwegian Parliament and the Government establish the framework and identify the major goals of the research sector. Each minister is responsible for achieving these goals. The Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for coordinating government policies and receives approximately half of the total research investment budget. The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Fisheries is the second largest source of funding.
At the strategic level, the National Research Council (Forskningsrådet) plays a key role. This body controls nearly a third of the total research budget and also serves as an advisor to the government on policy decisions. This institution, created following the merger of five research councils, was founded in 1993. The decision was based on the desire to concentrate expertise to pursue the nation’s strategic objectives and to strengthen synergies to reduce costs. The Norwegian Research Council, which enjoys a certain degree of autonomy in budget management, prioritizes the following strategic areas in its strategic vision for the allocation of financial resources:
- environmental research
- industrial research and development
- marine research
- basic research
- scientific personnel training
- international research collaborations
At the operational level, these include industries, research institutions, universities, and academies (høyskoler). Universities and academies also operate at a strategic level, so much so that approximately 40% of research funding is directed to these two institutions.
Considering universities and research institutions combined, the quantitative and natural sciences receive 25% and 21% of resources, respectively. Norway, on the other hand, is at the forefront of aquaculture, especially salmon farming, and all related scientific innovations. The social sciences have also experienced rapid growth in recent years. However, almost half of Norwegian research is conducted in industry and focuses primarily on raw materials such as oil (of which Norway is a major producer and exporter) and gas. Norway also has many industries that invest in R&D much more than their foreign counterparts, especially in pharmaceuticals, aerospace, consumer electronics, and professional electronics. One-third of research spending is allocated to the information technology sector.
In Norway, research spending is slightly below the EU average and half a percentage point lower than the OECD average.
Scientific Research in Norway
The plan for research and higher education has three main objectives:
- to raise the country’s level of innovation and competitiveness
- to develop high-quality, internationally renowned research communities and groups in various fields
- to enable Norway to address environmental and technological development challenges
The plan identifies five main thematic areas to which the majority of research funding will be allocated. These are:
- Seas and oceans
- Climate, environment, clean and sustainable energy
- Public sector innovation
- Civil protection and social cohesion
- Industrial technologies
Norway’s traditionally strong research sectors are:
- Arctic climate change
- Public health
- Geology and earth sciences
- Marine and maritime activities
- Petroleum technologies
- Public administration and governance
- Renewable energy
The education and research system in Norway
Siva is the industrial development finance institution – Siva
Eksfin is the export credit agency – Eksfin
Enova is the green transition finance institution – Enova
SkatteFUNN is a program to help businesses choose green and tax-efficient solutions – SkatteFUNN
The level of education in Norway is very high, second only to the Netherlands. There are 68 research institutions in the country, about ten of which are part of university campuses.
Spending on research and development (R&D) in Norway is approximately €4 billion annually. Approximately 2% of the country’s GDP is invested in research and development. Funding comes from institutions such as the Research Council (Forskningsrådet), the European Union, SkatteFUNN, Innovation Norway, and Siva.
The industrial sector is the largest investor in research in Norway (46%), followed by universities (34%) and research institutions (20%).
Regarding the number of researchers in Norway, approximately 40,000 men and 24,000 women participate in research and development projects. They are researchers, academic staff, technicians, and other support personnel. The percentage of female researchers working in industry is 23%, 45% in research institutions, and 50% in higher education and healthcare.
Approximately 30-35% of researchers and academic staff are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. This represents a significant increase compared to 2007 (18%). In the fields of natural sciences, engineering, and technology, over 50% of researchers have an immigrant background.
The majority of foreign researchers in Norway are German. The number of Italian researchers is 659 (as of January 2025).
Norway participates in the European Horizon program under the same conditions as EU member states. Horizon is a platform for international cooperation and innovation. The Research Council of Norway encourages researchers and companies to participate in the European program.
Norway received nearly 2.8% of the funds, participated in more than 1,800 projects, and received funding totaling €10.6 billion. Norway’s total funding for research and innovation through Horizon 2020 was NOK 16.2 billion. Of this, NOK 4.2 billion went to the private sector.
The number of patents filed in Norway is declining, excluding “green” patents, the number of which has grown significantly in recent years.
Large Norwegian companies are increasingly focusing on green innovation to strengthen their reputation and profitability, which incentivizes research and stimulates investment.
Sources:
- – Norwegian Institute for Innovation and Research Programmes (NIFU)
- – National Statistics Centre of Norway (SSB)
- – National Research Council (Forskningsrådet)