Research Council of NorwayResearch Council of NorwayRCN_8a937cb9-bf2a-44f3-bdff-b3e42ef17122To promote high-calibre research of benefit to society at large_59598343-3cb3-4caf-8b00-d6677af4b031Main StrategyResearch Expands Frontiers_c3c53cd0-1b94-46b5-bbbb-2f9fa7f5a0621The Research Council's main strategy, Research Expands Frontiers, was adopted in 2004 to apply for the period from 2004 to 2010. The strategiy defines five strategic priorities to guide the research Council's efforts to generate insight, enhance opportunity and promote innovative solutions... In the time that has since elapsed, new perspectives affecting research policy have emerged in a number of important areas, among other things through the white paper on research (Report no. 20 (2004-2005) to the Storting: Commitment to Research), the current Government's Inaugural Address, the launching of the Government's Strategy for the High North and the development of the EU Seventh Framework Programme. As a result, the Research Council's main strategy is currently undergoing revision. Policy memoranda in key areas The Research Council has prepared a series of policy memoranda to facilitate the integration of the main strategy and the overall research policy perspectives into the organisations work programme and action plans. Memoranda have been produced on the following topics: Research-based innovation Thematic and technological priority areas Basic research Gender equality and perspectives in research Internationalisation The policy memoranda (only available in Norwegian) further seek to identify potential changes in needs in relation to emerging research policy perspectives and shifts in the research framework. They will also be used as input in a process of revising the main strategy which is expected to be completed in the course of 2008. QualityEnhance quality in research_c50f5f94-c10e-4d03-a63b-dac5318a6f421.1InnovationIncrease research for innovation_b78f9a11-6d01-4f49-b52e-722176284fe11.2DialogueExpand dialogue between research and society_db53c19d-0c4b-4eb8-a1b6-26a79d1c253a1.3InternationalisationIncrease internationalisation of Norwegian research _ae3ec8f9-1b98-4ccf-b657-790a4b4dc6771.4TalentDo more to foster talent_95623cf1-5f4f-45a8-8005-d5437786430b1.5Other StrategiesInitiate and prepare strategic plans and policy documents for individual disciplines, subject areas and research topics_d8513a32-4707-4960-aa0e-075e94017f9e2 Tools for researchNational strategy for research infrastructure_75166f55-70c5-4caa-aa95-34ce6b3110292.1To ensure reliable, long-term financing for research operation and renewal, the national infrastructure strategy proposes the establishment of a government fund with a start capital of NOK 20 billion, from which the entire yield (approximately NOK 800 million) would be reserved for investment in new and existing research infrastructure.Northern AreasResearch strategy for the Northern Areas_512cfcfc-da15-4bd6-81e5-524ef0f1adbb2.2The Research Council's strategy for the Northern Areas, forskning.nord, established the framework for wide-ranging, dynamic research activity within and for the High North. Research relevant to the Northern Areas is to be incorporated into and closely integrated between the entire range of the Research Council's activities. The strategy for the Northern Areas is placed in a broad-based social context, and clarifies key questions relating to priority areas, internationalisation, funding and organisation.Nanoscience and NanotechnologyNational strategy for nanoscience and nanotechnology_d9f1491c-f3ee-419a-830c-381bf43378a42.3Norway seeks to become a leading research nation within selected niches of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Through the application of fundamental insights, advanced technology and broad-based, cross-disciplinary expertise, Norway will establish a sound basis for increased value-creation, innovative industrial activity and new knowledge.ClimateNational action plan for climate research_c557b833-2544-4ca4-9f23-51eb02b870dc2.4In 2005, in response to a request from the Ministry of the Environment, the Research Council appointed a committee to draw up an action plan for Norwegian climate research. The action plan presents the assessments, conclusions and recommendations of the committee.Health and MedicinePolicy for medical and health-related research_19550aeb-69c5-41ec-b978-ae0c735f9b0e2.5The policy spans the period from 2007 - 2012 and summarises the state of the art, identifies challenges and sets out research priorities. The policy proposes that funding channelled through the Research Council is concentrated in areas that offer optimal added value.Engineering ScienceStrategic development plan for engineering science_42fd8d22-53b1-4df2-b3a4-8cdc56cef13c2.6According to the subject planning committee, the continued development of Norway's national framework in engineering science must be rooted in a curriculum that ensures access to the basic knowledge that will be needed in a long-term perspective.ICTStrategic development plan for information and communication technology_91ae60b8-5f17-4419-ac15-6566539901872.7The subject planning committee recommends substantial growth in funding for university-level ICT research in Norway. This funding increase must be accompanied by structural changes that will help to enhance research production and encourage students at Masters and doctoral levels to complete their degrees.MathematicsStrategic development plan for mathematics_27aeeb89-e6d9-4e6e-975c-0f2bfd2ca8d72.8University-level mathematics subjects must be strengthened substantially if the mathematics community is to maintain its current calibre, develop mathematics as a discipline and at the same time successfully meet the major challenges facing mathematics as an integral part of other subject fields.Political ScienceStrategic development plan for political science_64f5517d-fbc2-48dd-8f7f-c70d0761ca8a2.9The greatest challenge facing Norwegian political science is ensuring that research is of adequately high international calibre. The subject planning committee states that both the allocating authorities and the individual institutions must create a better framework for curiosity- and problem-driven research activity.BioscienceStrategic development plan for bioscience_b7d469be-3e32-4e79-ae84-0883e7e127422.10The curriculum planning committee asserts that independent, curiosity-driven research in the biosciences must be increased, even if this is ultimately at the expense of use-driven research. The committee also recommends that the university departments introduce more clearly-targeted strategic research management.PhysicsStrategic development plan for physics_77874957-fa1f-48c3-874b-9abe33908da22.11A significant portion of the funding to physics subjects should be allocated directly to the universities as basic funding for researchers. The number of post-doctorate positions must be greatly increased. The curriculum planning committee also recommends that more of the responsibility for strategic research thinking is assumed by the university departments and universities themselves.GeoscienceStrategic development plan for geoscience_af08ecc0-d746-45b5-8e14-90220a47d31a2.12According to the curriculum planning committee, the Norwegian geoscience community should move more in the direction of quantitative, process-oriented studies, and should seek to profile itself to a greater degree internationally while continuing to maintain its expertise in the offshore sector. The committee also points out the importance of improving scientific integration between geophysics and geology subjects, as well as the need to enhance the interface with subjects such as meteorology, oceanography, hydrology and paleoclimatology.ChemistryStrategy for chemistry research_32c4b296-5dea-41bd-811c-eb7e541c9e282.13High-calibre chemistry research is essential to a modern society. Chemistry subjects in Norway are faced with a variety of challenges relating to funding, recruitment and prioritisation of important strategic areas.RecruitmentResearcher recruitment_00e49515-ccf5-4233-9ed5-bb8e1f3d9fc13The development of a dynamic research community is dependent on a good basis for recruitment. Activities to motivate talented young people to choose a career in research are extremely important, as is a concerted effort to increase the proportion of women in research. In addition, it is necessary to encourage highly-qualified researchers from other countries to come and work in Norway. Inadequate recruitment to higher education and researcher training may severely jeopardise the future of the research community. The present level of recruitment of Norwegian researchers is too low in relation to the research policy objectives that have been established.Strategic MeasuresEncourage those who have pursued a research-oriented education to continue on as practicing researchers._6892de8e-6968-4672-82c7-b69cf31be4b83.1The Research Council wishes to encourage those who have pursued a research-oriented education to continue on as practicing researchers. Thus, it is important to make every effort to facilitate the transition from educational to occupational activity. The Research Council has drafted a national strategy for strengthening basic research in mathematics, science and technology subjects. The ability to create a competitive industrial sector is contingent on the availability of highly trained candidates in these fields. Key measures outlined in the strategy include promoting greater interest in the science subjects among children, adolescents and teachers; further developing systems for recruitment at all levels of the research system and increasing the number of women researchers in particular, and providing a sound economic framework for specially qualified research groups.Children and Young People Cultivate new researcher talent at a young age_7eb3db80-7393-4c37-b079-c796330f1d7a3.2New researcher talent needs to be cultivated at a young age, and an interest in a particular field of study is often sparked long before a student embarks on a higher education programme. Important choices have to be made in the transition from lower to upper secondary education, and it is vital that measures to stimulate or maintain an interest in research are available at this level of the educational system. An action plan providing guidelines for the Research Council's activities for children and young people is under preparation. This plan will contain proposals for specific measures to be implemented during the 2007-2010 period.International TalentRecruit researchers from abroad_964d2425-1f7c-4de1-b09d-27684f1d9c763.3Researcher exchange with other countries is a key factor in enhancing the capacity and expertise of the Norwegian research community as well as open the door to international research arenas. Norwegian research institutions are eager to host well-qualified researchers from abroad, and use measures such as the Norwegian section of ERA-MORE, the European network of researcher mobility portals, in their recruitment activities. A comprehensive international scholarship programme has also been established to support recruitment efforts.Gender IssuesPromote gender equality_c9304ab2-b231-4e91-9a45-5f314c8227f94Norwegian legislation stipulates that all public institutions in Norway must take active steps to promote gender equality. The Research Council bears national responsibility for research policy-related activities to analyse and develop gender research, gender perspectives as well as gender equality in research. The Council is also responsible for initiating, implementing and monitoring research activities within this field.Higher EducationGender equality in the higher education sector_e7bfbc7d-06fa-460d-b357-c31ce5c4e9594.1In Norway, all public institutions are required by law to work actively to promote gender equality, and these efforts are to be documented each year. Norwegian universities and university colleges have drawn up specific action plans on gender equality. In 2007 the Ministry of Education and Research established a national committee to promote gender equality in science. The Committee for Mainstreaming - Women in Science will support and provide recommendations on measures to facilitate the mainstreaming of gender equality efforts in the higher education and independent research institute sectors. The Research Council is represented on this committee by Special Adviser Gunnar Bolstad. The committee has launched the Resource Bank for Gender Mainstreaming in Science as a resource for those who are working to improve the gender balance in the research sector, and those who are interested in issues on gender equality in science. The Resource Bank has been developed by KILDEN Information Centre for Gender Research in Norway.Research CouncilGender equality as a component of Research Council activity_7a9f3d26-a15b-475f-b38f-9ee0914a4ae24.2Besides bearing national responsibility for research policy-related activities to analyse and develop women's and gender research and gender equality in research, the Research Council is also responsible for initiating, implementing and monitoring research activities within this field. In 2007 the Research Council adopted a new policy for gender equality and gender perspectives in research. An action plan for further efforts has also been drawn up. Gender perspectives are to be integrated into all research activity funded by the Research Council. The Research Council seeks to create a framework for increasing the recruitment of women to subjects with a low percentage of women and develop initiatives to boost the proportion of women in tenured academic positions. A number of activities related to gender research have been integrated in the Research Programme on Gender Research.EthicsEthics in research _fd93fbff-9e73-4989-80ee-f34d42a0bce95The effectiveness and credibility of research cannot be maintained without carefully weighed consideration and active implementation of ethical standards. Ethics in research encompasses two normative systems: one to ensure good scientific practice (i.e. researcher ethics) and one to safeguard individuals and society at large (i.e. research ethics). Scientific MisconductResearcher ethics: new Act and investigative committee_f4f42695-34a0-436d-8eee-9c37cb0b1e0a5.1The new Norwegian Act on scientific misconduct entered into force in July 2007. The new legislation defines scientific misconduct as "falsification, fabrication, plagiarism and other serious breaches of good scientific practice that have been committed wilfully or through gross negligence when planning, carrying out or reporting on research". In August 2007 the Ministry of Education and Research appointed a national committee to investigate cases of research misconduct. The investigative committee is chaired by Professor Johan Gjertsen of the University of Bergen. The committee was established on the basis of a recommendation submitted by a committee of experts appointed by the Research Council.National CommitteesResearch ethics: National Committees for Research Ethics_333ad8a3-2cee-4b67-b99a-9c2bfad5a0be5.2Research ethics is not merely a matter of concern for researchers and other knowledge workers. Research-related ethical issues affect us all. The ethical implications of research carried out today, not least within biotechnology and gene technology, is often wide-ranging and complex. Three national committees have been established to monitor developments in Norway: The National Committee for Medical Research Ethics (NEM) The National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology (NENT) The National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (NESH) The committees are administered under the auspices of the Research Council. However, they operate as independent bodies, and have both advisory and informative functions. The committees work to enhance researchers' ethical awareness, encourage public debate on research-related ethical matters and ensure that Norway contributes to the establishment of international norms in this area. The committees have also been charged with the important task of developing ethical guidelines for research.2004-01-012010-12-312010-02-08http://www.forskningsradet.no/en/Strategy+plans/1185261825593ArthurColman (www.drybridge.com)colman@drybridge.com