The strong partnership between Norway and Russia was confirmed at the Research Council's annual Arctic and Northern Areas Conference, recently held in Tromsø. Under the Council's new social science research programme Russia and International Relations in the Northern Areas (NORRUSS), Norwegian researchers are seeking to acquire greater knowledge of social conditions in Russia, Norway's neighbour to the east.
Russia is one of Norway's 10 prioritised partners for research cooperation. "Norway is seeking to develop long-term relations with Russia in the spheres of research, trade and industry and culture. In order to achieve this as effectively as possible we need to gain even more in-depth knowledge of conditions in Russian society," said Arvid Hallén, Director General of the Research Council, in his opening remarks.
Enhancing expertise through research
The establishment of the NORRUSS programme is an important step in the development of Norwegian-Russian relations. The primary objective of the programme is to generate knowledge of relevance to Norwegian foreign policy and the expansion of international relations in the northern areas, and of relevance to Norwegian-Russian relations within trade and industry, the political sphere, the public administration and civil society.
The programme issued its first call for proposals in October 2010. Some NOK 10 million in research funding will be allocated in January 2011.
Extensive research activities and close relations
The change in Russia's economic and political position over the past decades has made it easier to establish research contacts and develop the knowledge base in an increasing number of areas. Collaborative projects between Norway and Russia in the fields of energy, environmental and polar research, marine technology, innovation and education make up a significant part of the Research Council's portfolio. Russia is currently the fifth most important country for Norway in terms of bilateral cooperation funded by the Research Council.
The NORRUSS programme is rooted in the Norwegian Government's High North Strategy and the Research Council's own Research Strategy for the Arctic and Northern Areas (forskning.nord) under the Focus on the Arctic and Northern Areas Initiative, and encompasses both basic research and industry-oriented research. In 2009 the Research Council of Norway and the Russian Academy of Sciences signed an important memorandum of understanding regarding cooperation in science and technology, with particular focus on topics of significance to the northern areas.
Joint project on climate, nature and the environment
Annika Hofgaard, Senior Research Scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), heads a Norwegian-Russian research group that is involved in the Norwegian-coordinated project PPS Arctic ("Present day processes, Past changes, and Spatiotemporal variability of biotic, abiotic and socio-environmental conditions and resource components along and across the Arctic delimitation zone"). The project focuses on the thematic areas of climate and the environment, forest preservation and biodiversity .
"Thanks to the funding we have received from the Research Council we have been able to establish a close and constructive partnership," states Dr. Hofgaard. "Both we and our colleagues at the Russian Academy of Sciences and Moscow State University contribute knowledge and experience, while the funding is provided by Norway."
The researchers have been recording the impact of climate change on the biodiversity of the tundra and its effect on vegetation and animals in sub-Arctic ecosystems. Their observations are also being used to draw up maps of the area.
Dr. Hofgaard describes the collaboration as extremely fruitful and emphasises the importance of the results for all people in the northernmost part of the world. The PPS Arctic project is a good example of how joint Norwegian-Russian research will benefit both countries while at the same time having broader significance.
