New programme in the pipeline:
The Research Council strengthens development research
The new research programme "Norway - A Global Partner" will expand the framework for Norwegian development research. A number of existing activities will be consolidated under the new programme, which is designed to promote coherence and flexibility, as well as to encourage the development of research activities in the relevant partner countries.
The work programme for the Norway - A Global Partner programme was approved at the beginning of September. The programme's first call for proposals will be issued in 2009.
Three primary objectives
The programme's activities will seek to
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(Photo: Shutterstock) Strengthen Norwegian research on development and also help the Norwegian public to view development issues in a broader context.
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Strengthen research that generates new knowledge of benefit to developing countries, for example in the fields of science and technology.
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Strengthen research capacity in developing countries by enhancing research cooperation between relevant Norwegian research groups and leading research groups in the countries in question.
"The new programme will have a greater focus on strengthening the research capacity of the developing countries themselves than has previously been the case in Norwegian development research," explains Jesper Simonsen, Director of the Department for Global Issues at the Research Council of Norway.
The fight against poverty
Jesper Simonsen
According to the government white paper, Commitment to Research, if Norway is to emerge as a better global partner it must generate more knowledge that can be of direct use in combating poverty, and must share this knowledge with developing countries through cooperation and the development of research capacity in these countries. Simonsen emphasises that such activities must be carried out between Norwegian and foreign stakeholders in equal partnership.
Several Research Council programmes to be involved
Development perspectives must also be integrated into other RCN activities, such as the climate and technology research programmes.
"If Norway is to achieve its aim of becoming a better global partner, development perspectives must not be confined to the scope of the new programme, but must be integrated into the Research Council's other activities, for example in the fields of climate research and technology," states Simonsen.
"Joint calls for proposals between Norway - A Global Partner and the NORKLIMA, RENERGI and MILJØ 2015 programmes would be a good starting point," asserts Simonsen. The aim is to incorporate researchers from the South in more projects under these programmes.
A total of NOK 5 million per year has been set aside to finance the participation of developing countries in projects that have been allocated funding by the Research Council. In addition, NOK 6 million has been earmarked to strengthen the focus on global perspectives in Norwegian climate and energy research.
Global perspective useful for Norway
Seeking to become a better global partner is fully in keeping with targets aimed at developing a knowledge base and establishing research collaboration in line with Norway's own national interests. "Dramatic global changes, so evident in many areas, mean that an increased focus on development research will be of major, direct significance to Norwegian industry and businesses," Simonsen emphasises.
- Published:
- 30.09.2008
- Last updated:
- 30.09.2008
Relevant RCN research programmes
Contact
- Jesper Werdelin Simonsen Executive Director +47 22 03 72 70 jws@forskningsradet.no
