National budget for 2010:
Research budget elicits elation and disappointment
Infrastructure-building measures and research on climate and energy can look forward to increased allocations, thanks to the national budget proposal submitted 13 October. But there is no increase in store for allocations for the open funding arenas for basic research and industry-oriented research.
Arvid Hallén, Director General of the Research Council, is pleased that the Government has heeded the Council’s recommendations for increased allocations for renewable energy, climate research and infrastructure investments. He expresses concern, however, that the thematically independent schemes for industry and basic researchers are not being strengthened, and is also disappointed that the budget proposal maintains zero-growth funding for Norway’s universities.
Budget favours renewable energy
The year’s budget winner is research on renewable energy, with an allocation increase of NOK 300 million. The Government also proposes growth of NOK 50 million for climate research.
“These increases represent a follow-up of the broad-based political agreement on climate policy achieved in the Storting in winter 2008. In this sense, an increase was expected, so it’s good to see the Government delivering on its promise in this area,” stated Dr Hallén, who also stresses the importance of the proposed growth of NOK 140 million in allocations for infrastructure and equipment.
“Strengthening of infrastructure is also a follow-up of decisions taken earlier – and is critically important to Norwegian research. New in this respect is that the Government is earmarking another NOK five billion for the national infrastructure fund,” explains Dr Hallén, “so for 2011 allocations of NOK 280 million will be available for laboratories and other advanced scientific equipment.”
Concerned about cuts
The Director General finds it very troubling that the proposal calls for what amounts to a budget cut for the Research Council’s open funding arenas for industry and for basic research.
Arvid Hall�
“One of the Research Council’s greatest challenges is to enhance knowledge development and innovation within Norwegian industry. We had hoped for a continuation of the growth that began with the stimulus package to face the financial crisis last winter. Instead,” he laments, “we see a weakening of the Programme for User-driven Research-based Innovation (the BIA programme), our strongest industry-oriented funding instrument.”
Correspondingly, funding available for independent projects in basic research is being reduced through zero growth.
“The Research Council highlighted these aims in its input to the national budget. It is disappointing that this did not make an impact, despite the significant focus on both these areas in the government white paper on research policy from this spring and in the Government’s declaration after the September parliamentary elections,” concludes Dr Hallén.
Further deliberations
The Storting will begin deliberations on the national budget for 2010 in late November, with final approval due by 15 December.
- Published:
- 16.10.2009
- Last updated:
- 16.10.2009
