Norway and Romania sign cooperation agreement

The agreement is a key part of a wider overall agreement between Norway and Romania which is part of the EEA and Norway Grants scheme. The scheme seeks to reduce economic disparities in the European Economic Area (EEA).

NOK 150 million for research

The budget framework of the overall agreement with Romania totals approximately NOK 2.3 billion. Of this, NOK 150 million has been earmarked for research collaboration.

In addition to the Research Council the Icelandic Centre for Research is also involved in the project on behalf of the EEA countries.

Gry Larsen, State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed the agreement in Bucharest together with Leonard Orban, the Romanian Minister of European Affairs. (Photo: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Renewable energy part of the agenda

“The details of the research agreement are to be drawn up together with our Romanian partner over the upcoming months,” says Inger-Ann Ulstein, acting department director of the Department for Cooperation and Development Research at the Research Council. “The research agreement will provide a host of opportunities for Romanian researchers as well as for Norwegian researchers seeking collaboration with Romanian research institutions.”
Ms Ulstein points out that the agreement makes special mention of research in the field of renewable energy.

EUR 100 million in research funding

The beneficiary countries of the EEA and Norway agreements are the 12 newest EU member states together with Portugal, Greece and Spain. The agreements are primarily funded by Norway.

Altogether, the research funding allocated under the current agreements amounts to over EUR 100 million.

Kick-off in 2012

The Research Council encourages Norwegian research groups to start preparing to respond to upcoming funding announcements under the EEA scheme. Several of the bilateral research programmes will be launched in earnest in 2012.

An information meeting will be held in Oslo on 24 April about funding opportunities for research cooperation with Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. This will give Norwegian researchers and research institutions a chance to learn more about the thematic orientation and timing of the coming funding announcements.