Norway's international research cooperation takes many different forms - everything from research under the auspices of international cooperative organisations to individual projects with participants from several countries to various types of bilateral collaboration. Much of the bilateral activity involves countries outside of Europe.
Norway has signed bilateral research agreements with a long list of countries, including the US, Japan, China, Russia, India and South Africa, and work closely together with a number of other countries, such as Canada. The Norwegian authorities are also seeking to expand cooperation with Brazil, Argentina and Chile.
Bilateral research cooperation has two policy dimensions: one related to knowledge production and the other to industrial development. The latter applies especially to the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China).
Norway's priority partner countries
USA and Canada: Broad-based cooperation within many disciplines and subject areas, related both to basic research and innovation. For Norway, cooperation with the USA and Canada serves as a means of enhancing research quality, fosters collaboration on how to address global challenges and promotes integration into well-functioning systems for research-based innovation.
China: Broad-based cooperation within many disciplines and subject areas, related both to basic research and innovation. For Norway, cooperation with China serves as a means of enhancing research quality, fosters collaboration on how to address global challenges and promotes participation in the development of Chinese markets for products and services as well as systems for research and research-based innovation.
Japan: Cooperation within selected disciplines and subject areas in which the two countries have shared interests. For Norway, cooperation with Japan serves as a means of enhancing research quality.
India: Cooperation in a number of disciplines and subject areas in which the two countries have shared interests. For Norway, cooperation with India fosters collaboration on how to address global challenges and promotes participation in the development of Indian markets for products and services as well as systems for research and research-based innovation.
Russia: Cooperation within selected disciplines and subject areas in which the two countries have shared interests. For Norway, cooperation with Russia serves as a means of enhancing research quality and geopolitical cooperation in the northern areas, fosters collaboration on how to address global challenges and promotes cooperation in the areas of resource management and trade and industry.
South Africa: Cooperation within selected disciplines and subject areas in which the two countries have shared interests. For Norway, cooperation with South Africa serves as a means of enhancing research quality, fosters collaboration on how to address global challenges and strengthens dialogue with Norway's most important point of contact for research in Africa.
Brazil: Cooperation within selected disciplines and subject areas in which the two countries have shared interests. For Norway, cooperation with Brazil promotes participation in the development of Brazilian markets for products and services as well as systems for research and research-based innovation.
Chile: Cooperation primarily on aquaculture research. Norway's participation is motivated by the significance of this research field for both countries.
Argentina: Cooperation primarily on climate research. Norway's participation is motivated by the significance of this research field for both countries.
