Consultants, News, Research & Development

R&D: Let ideas open the door

In several areas, Norway can offer unique competence and research opportunities. Its strengths are largely related to the country´s geography, economic specialization patterns and institutional characteristics.

Marine bio prospecting – Norway’s untapped treasure

The Norwegian government has launched a new national initiative on marine bio prospecting to stimulate development of the northern hinterlands of Norway around Tromsø. The country’s unique Arctic environment, combined with its long tradition of harvesting the sea, make it a promising new research and technology area for Norway and one of the government’s main pillars in its High North Strategy.

Interview with entrepreneurial and r&d legend Fred Kavli
Fred Kavli is a naturalized Norwegian-American physicist, business leader, inventor and philanthropist. Born in a small village in Møre and Romsdal County, Mr. Kavli now lives in the city of Santa Barbara. In 2000 he established The Kavli Foundation to further basic scientific research, and it is only recently that the vast extent of his support and philanthropy with the areas of R&D is becoming truly known. Mr. Kavli agreed to a short interview regarding his perspectives and his views regarding his viewpoints.

 

Rockets – Norway powers its way to international space contracts
When it comes to hybrid rocket technology, Norway is first on the European Space Agency’s (ESA) list. With a respected background in the missile field, the Nammo Group is part of the Norwegian Centre of Expertise at Raufoss, an industrial and research cluster that can claim status as Norway’s strongest cluster of goods manufacturing companies.

Out of the box – user driven innovation
The research landscape is changing, and with changing times the need to think outside of the box is one important key to success. Here in Norway, the commitment to R&D has always been high, with the Research Council at the forefront – also in terms of finding new approaches to finding new solutions. The rules have changed, and “User-Driven Research-based Innovation” (BIA) is in the spotlight.

 

Students – go north!
Norway is an increasingly popular destination for students and researchers from all over the world. The options in high quality courses and degrees are many, and the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education (SIU) is responsible for getting the good word out to the world.

Energy in the high north – addressing the arctic challenge
The frigid waters of the Barents Sea teem with a treasure trove of natural resources. Rich stocks of cod, herring and capelin feast in the ocean’s chilly depths. Cold-water coral reefs, hotbeds of marine biodiversity, scatter the ocean’s floor, offering vast nurseries for the region’s 150 fish species. Auks, guillemots and Arctic gulls wheel and cry overhead, evidence of the internationally important seabird nesting colonies here.

 

The Norwegian space programme
The Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry has the overall responsibility for the Norwegian Space Programme, and in this issue of Norway Exports Research & Development, we interviewed Ministry State Secretary Øivind Slåke.

Carbon capture & storage – Norway’s moon landing
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has estimated that carbon capture can amount to almost half of the emission cuts this century. The Norwegian Government has made it a priority to reduce CO2 emissions through carbon capture and storage in power plants such as Mongstad, which has been hailed by Norway’s prime minister as the technological equivalent to the moon landing for the US.

Norwegian centres of expertise – innovation through cluster cooperation
Clusters are regional concentrations of specialized companies and institutions, with multiple linkages and mutual interests for collaboration. Dynamic clusters are key drivers of innovation and growth, for regions and for nations. Building unique strengths out of the specialized capabilities of the cluster will strengthen competitiveness in an open and global economy. The competition to be qualified and selected as an NCE project is demanding. The 12 NCE projects accepted so far represent the most dynamic and ambitious clusters in Norway.

 

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