The Research Council’s new main strategy circulated for review
The Executive Board of the Research Council of Norway is drawing up a new main strategy for the Research Council. All interested parties are invited to submit their input.
"Dialogue with the research community, trade and industry, and society at large is an important part of the strategy process," says Arvid Hallén, Director General of the Research Council. "We are therefore circulating the strategy widely for review, including here on our webpages," adds Ingvild Myhre, chair of the Executive Board.
The document sets out the overall guiding principles for the Research Council's activities in the period from 2015 to 2020, and will replace the current strategy In the Vanguard of Research.
Six target areas
The draft of the strategy takes its point of departure in two fundamental societal challenges: Norwegian society must become more innovative in both the private and the public sectors, and it must become more sustainable in all areas.
Meeting these challenges will require dynamic, innovative research groups that can compete and develop to a greater degree within an international framework. In light of this, six objectives have been established for the strategy period. The Research Council will seek to:
- increase investment in pioneering research and innovation;
- strengthen research that promotes sustainable solutions within trade and industry and society at large;
- strengthen initiatives that promote more research-oriented, innovative trade and industry;
- ensure that the public sector applies research in its modernisation efforts;
- facilitate increased international cooperation and participation in EU-funded research;
- play a strategic role by promoting greater integration and renewal in the research system.
The strategy identifies key action points in all six areas. Some of these involve strengthening and further developing current activities while others entail new activities. The action points will also contribute to the follow-up of the Government's long-term plan for research and higher education, which was presented on 8 October 2014.
The strategy will be refined on the basis of the input. The document is planned to be finalised in early 2015.