-
Apply for funding
-
-
Find calls for proposals
-
For applicants from abroad
-
Application information
- Deadlines
- Payroll expenses and rates
- Depreciation of equipment
- Application form
- General application requirements
- Application types
- Application processing
- Application status
- Complaints procedures and the Appeals Committee
- Regulations on Impartiality and Confidence
- Publication of application information
- Key terms
-
Funding schemes
-
Find programme webpages
-
Contract
-
Project follow-up and reporting
-
FAQ
-
Project database
-
-
-
Events
-
News
-
Policy and strategy
-
International
-
For Industry
-
The Research Council
Bright outlook for the Norwegian biotechnology industry
According to a recent study, the majority of Norwegian business leaders view biotechnology in a positive light, and three in five Norwegians believe that biotechnology will improve their everyday lives. Such attitudes form a good basis for the further development of biotechnology-based industry in Norway.
In recent years, Norwegian attitudes to biotechnology have changed radically - in a positive direction. At the same time, the Norwegian Government has proposed amendments to the Biotechnology Act that will remove a number of previous obstacles to research in this area. "The Research Council of Norway seeks to apply its instruments actively to promote the development of Norway's own biotechnology-based industry," states Arvid Hallén, Director General of the Research Council.
Wide-ranging commercial potential
Despite the relatively small size of the current Norwegian biotechnology industry, various entrepreneurial groups, investors and companies are experiencing international success. They have successfully negotiated the demanding path to market - either on their own, or in partnership with established industry players.
There are also a number of commercially interesting bio banks in the fields of agriculture and aquaculture, and Norway's unique human bio banks are expected to have considerable commercialisation potential in the future.
Also emerging as a new and exciting field is bioprospecting. Bioprospecting allows researchers to study living organisms found in nature - for example, in the ocean - in order to identify commercially valuable genetic and biochemical resources.
Norway's large-scale initiative regarding the development of the northern regions focuses on the utilisation of the unique natural resources in the Arctic sea areas as a key area for both industrial and knowledge development.
"This is an approach that provides considerable opportunities for developing Norway's own biotechnology-based industry," believes Hallén.
Research Council instruments
Industry is eligible for support for biotechnology projects from several of the Research Council's programmes within life sciences (Functional Genomics in Norway (FUGE); Aquaculture - An Industry in Growth; and Norwegian Food from Fjords and Farms) and also from the new, non-industry specific Programme for User-driven Research-based Innovation (BIA).
The Research Programme on Basic Industry-oriented Biotechnology (GNBIO) supports more fundamental projects that nevertheless have commercialisation potential.
- Written by:
- Anne Ditlefsen/Else Lie
- Published:
- 02.03.2007
- Last updated:
- 01.03.2007
