International

The EEA agreement

The EEA Agreement includes a common goal to reduce social and economic disparities in the enlarged European Economic Area (EEA). Norway is contributing to this through the EEA and Norway Grants, which also aims to strengthen the relations between Norway and the beneficiary states.

As a consequence of the recently concluded negotiations with the EU, the EEA/EFTA countries Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein will provide EUR 357,7 million a year in the period 2009–2014.

Financial mechanisms

EEA Grants Norway The EEA Financial Mechanism is open to the 12 newest EU members and to Greece, Portugal and Spain. The Norwegian Financial Mechanism is aimed at the 12 new EU member states Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

In total, the financial mechanisms will make available EUR 1734,8 million over the five-year period 2009-2014, to support projects in the fields of environmental protection and climate change, green industry innovation, health, research and scholarship, cultural heritage, decent work, civil society, and justice and home affairs. About a quarter of the funds are to be used to step up efforts on environment and climate change.

Academic research

Academic research is an important cross-cutting dimension in the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Norway/the EFTA states and beneficiary countries. Scientific projects within the priority sectors are eligible for support through the Norwegian/EEA Financial Mechanisms.

An important objective in the MoUs is that the EEA Financial Mechanisms should strengthen EFTA states/ Norway's relations with the beneficiary states and increase co-operation on common challenges related to research.

Norwegian research institutions will be pleased to take part in research projects in the priority sectors and other areas that are in line with the objectives of the EEA Financial Mechanisms. High quality research, technology development and research-based innovation are vital in order to preserve and strengthen the European social model and to achieve the goals in the Lisbon strategy for a competitive European knowledge-based economy.

International co-operation is crucial in order to pursue scientific excellence, exploit the opportunities presented by the new generic technologies and find new ways of promoting sustainable development. Norwegian institutions and enterprises are ready to engage in bilateral research projects and to act as host organisations for research fellowships as partners in EU-funded multinational research consortiums and other co-operation arrangements.

The Research Council of Norway

The Research Council of Norway (RCN) is the national funding agency for research in Norway. It also plays a key role as an adviser on research policy to the government. The RCN is responsible for the entire spectrum of research activities ranging from fundamental research to innovation.

The RCN plays an important role in Norways international research co-operation, and is the body responsible for implementing bilateral and multinational research co-operation agreements.

Through the EEA Agreement Norway participates as a full partner in the EUs Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. As the Norwegian co-ordinating body for 7FP co-operation, as well as for Eureka and COST, the RCN plays a significant role in strengthening Norways ties with the European research community.

This provides good opportunities for co-operation and network-building across sectors and disciplines. The RCN is involved in an ongoing dialogue with research communities, trade and industry, public administration and other actors, both in Norway and abroad, about future priorities and areas of co-operation.

The RCN is therefore a natural contact point for anyone wishing to explore the possibilities of co-operating with Norwegian partners.

Resource centre for researcher mobility

The Research Council of Norway has established a resource centre for researcher mobility as part of the European Network of Mobility Centres. The centre serves the needs of researchers both in Europe and other parts of the world. Universities, colleges and other institutions use this centre actively to advertise vacant positions and scholarships and to announce new opportunities to visit and work at the institution.

Source: regjeringen.no (Europaportalen)