Norway is a member of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France and the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund, Sweden. ESS is currently in the pre-construction phase.

The main purpose of the current program is to support method development within both synchrotron and neutron research to strengthen the national competitiveness within these areas. Within neutron related research there has also been identified a national need for increased research capacity and this will therefore be another prioritized area for the program.