International

Activities and contact points in the Framework Programme

The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) consists of the following special programmes: I - Cooperation, II - Ideas, III – People, and IV - Capacities. In Norway, we have national contact points (NCPs) in all these areas. Below is a list of contact persons in the Research Council of Norway and links to the various special programmes in FP7, and to some related areas.

I - Cooperation

Cooperation: transnational research collaboration in and outside the EU in 10 thematic areas corresponding to the most important knowledge and technology areas in Europe.

Health

The objective is to improve the health of Europeans and to strengthen health-related enterprises, while at the same time addressing global health issues. Combating diseases, methods for diagnosis/treatment and good health systems are key elements.

Contacts at RCN:: Berit Nygaard (Special Adviser, 22 03 71 74, bn@forskningsradet.no), Mari Kristine Nes (Director (department), +47 22 03 71 53, man@forskningsradet.no)

Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology

A knowledge-based bio-economy describes the vision of a Europe that prospers economically by investing in the exploitation of biological resources and biotechnology.

Contacts at RCN:: Øystein Rønning (Special Adviser, 22 03 71 06, oro@forskningsradet.no)

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

The primary objective is to improve the competitiveness of European industry, as well as enabling Europe to master these technologies and shape technological developments in such a way that the needs of European society and industry are met.

Contacts at RCN:: Till Christopher Lech (Senior Adviser, 22 03 75 62, tcl@forskningsradet.no), , Kim Davis (Senior Adviser, 22 03 72 85, kid@forskningsradet.no), Tron Espeli (Special Adviser, 22 03 73 13, te@forskningsradet.no)

Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies

The programme is divided into four activities: Nanoscience and -technology, Materials, New production and Integration of technologies for industrial applications. An increasing proportion of the funds is channelled through public-private parterships.

Contacts at RCN:: Tor Einar Johnsen (Senior Adviser, 22 03 75 44, tej@forskningsradet.no), , Astrid B. Brenna (Special Adviser, 22 03 73 11, ab@forskningsradet.no)

Environment (including Climate Change)

The Environment programme aims to create the knowledge base for Europe’s resource management and environmental policy. The programme also aims to boost environmentally friendly technologies.

Contacts at RCN:: Ingunn Borlaug Lid (Special Adviser, +47 22 03 72 34, il@forskningsradet.no), Julie Christiansen (Senior Adviser, +47 22 03 73 72, jc@forskningsradet.no)

Energy

The objective of this programme is to help move today’s petroleum-based energy systems in a more sustainable direction by developing a number of alternative sources of energy and energy carriers and to increase the efficiency of energy systems.

Contacts at RCN:: Beate Kristiansen (Special Adviser, +47 22 03 72 30, bki@forskningsradet.no),

Transport, including Aeronautics

This programme includes every type of transportation – land, sea and air - as well as Galileo (Europe’s satellite navigation system). One of the primary objectives is to make all aspects of transportation "greener"f.

Contacts at RCN:: Øystein Strandli (Special Adviser, 90 05 11 44, ost@forskningsradet.no), Frøydis Gaarder (Senior Adviser, 22 03 74 46, fg@forskningsradet.no), , Eirik Helge Normann (Director (department), 22 03 71 79, en@forskningsradet.no)

Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities (SSH)

SSH deals with the challenges currently facing Europe. It addresses a number of themes relating to growth, employment, quality of life, language, culture and globalisation.

Contacts at RCN:: Tom-Espen Møller (Senior Adviser, 22 03 72 23, temo@forskningsradet.no), Solbjørg Rauset (Senior Adviser, 22 03 73 98, sol@forskningsradet.no)

Space

Europe’s space policy is developed in collaboration between the European Commission and member states in the European Space Agency (ESA), of which Norway is a full member.

External contacts:: Terje Wahl (Phone: 22511815)

Security

The structure of the programme is as follows: Protection against terrorism and crime, Security of infrastructure and supply facilities, Border protection and Security in connection with crises.

Contacts at RCN:: , Bjørg Ofstad (Special Adviser, 22 03 73 74, bo@forskningsradet.no),

II - Ideas (European Research Council, ERC)

The ERC supports frontier research in all disciplines. The focus is on dynamic, creative and outstanding research. The projects must be conducted by individual research teams or individual researchers in

Contacts at RCN:: Per Magnus Kommandantvold (Senior Adviser, +47 22 03 74 59, pmk@forskningsradet.no), Terje Emblem (Special Adviser, 22 03 72 27, tem@forskningsradet.no)

III - People, Marie Curie Actions (MCA)

Schemes for researcher training, career development and researcher mobility. They are implemented through the MCA programme by means of three grant schemes: Researcher training, Career development, and Collaboration between industry and academia.

Contacts at RCN:: Terje Strand (Senior Adviser, 22 03 71 20, ters@forskningsradet.no), Per Magnus Kommandantvold (Senior Adviser, +47 22 03 74 59, pmk@forskningsradet.no), Thorbjørn Gilberg (Senior Adviser, 22037433, thg@forskningsradet.no)

IV - Capacities

Capacity: the goals are to improve research and innovation capacity throughout Europe, and to ensure that research is put to the best possible use.

Research Infrastructures

Research facilities of the highest quality and their coordinated, optimised use at the European level are a priority theme in the Seventh Framework Programme.

Contacts at RCN:: Solveig Flock (Senior Adviser, 22 03 70 34, sfl@forskningsradet.no), Per Magnus Kommandantvold (Senior Adviser, +47 22 03 74 59, pmk@forskningsradet.no), Odd Ivar Eriksen (Special Adviser, +47 22 03 70 23, oie@forskningsradet.no)

Research for the benefit of SMEs

The goal of participation in the EU research programme is to improve the quality and capacity for innovation in Norwegian research and industry, and to involve Norwegian research communities and businesses in international R&D collaboration.

Contacts at RCN:: Vebjørn Walderhaug (Special Adviser, 22 03 73 04, vw@forskningsradet.no),

Regions of Knowledge

Regions of Knowledge aims to strengthen the research potential in Europe’s regions. These efforts will fit well with Norwegian innovation and regional policy and enable Norwegian regions to establish international links.

Contacts at RCN:: Sverre Sogge (Special Adviser, 22 03 74 87, sso@forskningsradet.no)

Research Potential

Research Potential is intended to strengthen the research potential of the least developed regions in the EU.

Contacts at RCN:: Sverre Sogge (Special Adviser, 22 03 74 87, sso@forskningsradet.no)

Support for the Coherent development of Research Policies

In this programme, support will be given to collaborative projects between policy-makers nationally and/or regionally through the so-called OMC-Net.

Contacts at RCN:: Sverre Sogge (Special Adviser, 22 03 74 87, sso@forskningsradet.no)

Activities of International Cooperation (INCO)

Activities aimed at achieving a permanent improvement in international cooperation. INCO is intended to expand and consolidate international cooperation. INCO calls for proposals is part of the 10 thematic programmes as well as the People Programme.

Contacts at RCN:: Inger-Ann Ulstein (Special Adviser, +47 22 03 73 43, iau@forskningsradet.no)

Science in Society

FP7 aims to develop a competitive and knowledge-based Europe. The goal of the Science in Society programme is to contribute to making this development democratic and efficient, with the best possible interaction between research and society.

Contacts at RCN:: Mari Susanne Solerød (Special Adviser, 22 03 72 60, mso@forskningsradet.no), Lise Christensen (Senior Adviser, 22 03 74 67, lc@forskningsradet.no)

Euratom

This is part of the EU’s Framework Programme for Research, but is not covered by the EEA Agreement. In the EURATOM context, Norway is considered a third country.

Contacts at RCN:: Helene Stensrud (Senior Adviser, +47 22 03 72 92, hs@forskningsradet.no)

EUROSTARS

Eurostars is a joint initiative by EUREKA and the Commission aimed at strengthening research-intensive SMEs with high growth capacity. There is well over NOK 100 million in the pot for Norwegian candidates over the next seven years.