The higher education sector

Norway has eight universities (Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim, Nordland, Tromsø, Agder and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in Ås), six specialised universities and 25 university colleges. The university and college sector carries out approximately one-fourth of Norway's total R&D activities. These research efforts are financed through the institution's basic allocations, grants from the Research Council and contracts from industry, public administration, private funds, etc.
 

The university and specialised university institutions have a considerably higher level of R&D activity than the university colleges. Moreover, the university and specialised university institutions have been given special responsibility for long-term basic research and researcher training.