Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa announced the five projects that were awarded funding in Bodø on 16 June 2009. (Photo: Marte Eline Stryken) Five consortia in Norway's three northernmost counties recently received the important news that their projects had been awarded substantial public funding. The five project topics are: Earth observation, value creation in tourism and hospitality, waste management, cold-climate technology, and sensor technology related to the oil and gas sector.

Four of the five consortia include strong international participation

Research Council teams up with Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development

The NORDSATSING initiative, established jointly by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the Research Council, is an instrument under the Norwegian Government's High North Strategy. The NORDSATSING initiative will span a period of five years with a possible three-year extension, and is designed to enhance land-based value creation in Northern Norway.

Subsea technology

Two of the thematic priority areas of the Research Initiative for Northern Norway (NORDSATSING) are tourism and hospitality and Arctic technology. (Photo: Samfoto) (Photo: Samfoto) The project "Subsea Sensors for Oil and Gas" has been granted NOK 33 million in funding over five years. This project will support existing and new technology-based companies in the oil and gas sector in Northern Norway, and its research activities are expected to lead to technology that provides more accurate information for the development of subsea sensors.

The University of Tromsø is heading the project. Norut Tromsø and Bodø University College are participating in the consortium, while research partners include the Norwegian Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education (NIFU STEP), the University of Bergen, and Christian Michelsen Research. The project will involve cooperation with a number of private companies, as well as EnergiCampus Nord.

International consortium participants: Babson College (USA), Fraunhofer Institute (Germany), University of Southampton (UK)

Cold climate

The project "Cold-climate technology" will receive NOK 48.2 million in funding over five years. The project is targeted toward buildings and facilities and other infrastructure for cold-climate performance.

Norut Narvik is heading the project. Consortium participants include Narvik University College, EnergiCampus Nord, Norut Alta and DNV Harstad. The project will be conducted in close contact with small and large companies in Northern Norway, including North Energy and Hammerfest Energi. The Research Council's Programme for Regional R&D and Innovation (VRI) - Nordland region will also be involved.

International consortium participants: Luleå University of Technology (Sweden), Arkhangelsk State Technical University (Russia), Canadian Hydraulics Centre (Canada)

Waste management

The project "Technology - waste management in the Arctic environment" has been allocated NOK 46.9 million in funding. Its objective is to solve the considerable environmental challenges relating to oil and gas activities and shipping in Northern Norway. A cluster for expertise in the management of waste from these two sectors will be established.

The University of Tromsø is heading the project. The consortium includes Eni Norge, the University Centre in Svalbard, Akvaplan-niva, the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Unilab Analyse, Norut Narvik, Narvik University College, and the consultancy firm Rambøll Storvik.

International consortium participants: Technical University of Denmark, RWTH Aachen University (Germany), Aalborg University (Denmark)

The research initiatives on Arctic technology and on tourism and hospitality in Northern Norway are parts of the Government's High North Strategy. (Photo: Samfoto)
Tourism and hospitality

The project "Value creation for tourists, the tourism and hospitality industry and destinations" has been granted NOK 34.7 million in funding to address research questions of relevance to the tourism and hospitality industry and related education in Northern Norway, in order to enhance value creation. A number of companies in Northern Norway's tourism and hospitality industry will take part in the project.

Bodø University College is heading the project. Consortium participants include the Nordland Research Institute, Harstad University College, the University of Tromsø, the Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk, Northern office) and Norut Alta. The Research Council's VRI programme will also be involved in the project.

Earth observation

The project "Earth observation" has been awarded nearly NOK 40.5 million in funding to develop new technology for more reliable and accurate information about environmental changes resulting from increased economic activity in the Northern Areas. The project encompasses education as well as basic and applied research on new technologies for satellite-based Earth observation.

Norut Tromsø is the project owner. The consortium includes Narvik University College, the University of Tromsø, the Norwegian Polar Institute, the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, the International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). The project will also receive support from EnergiCampus Nord, while the Andøya Rocket Range is contributing scientific equipment. Technology Transfer Office (TTO Nord AS) and Northern Innovation (Norinnova) will be involved in the commercialisation phase. As users, Kongsberg Satellite Services and Kongsberg Spacetec are participating partners as well.

International consortium participants: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Japan), University of Cambridge (UK)