Government funding to augment private research donations
Once again, private donations for research may trigger additional contributions from the state. Donations of NOK 3 million or more may be matched by 25 per cent of the amount donated.
The donation matching scheme was reinstated on 1 January 2014. Under the scheme, private donations towards basic, long-term research activities may be supplemented by a contribution from the state equalling 25 per cent of the amount donated. The donation must amount to at least NOK 3 million and must be made to a university, a university college which is entitled to award doctoral degrees, the Research Council of Norway or the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
A total of NOK 50 million has been allocated for the scheme for 2014
The Research Council administers the scheme on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Research. The application form for funding under the scheme is available on the Research Council's website (in Norwegian).
"I am hoping that the donation matching scheme will give rise to greater involvement and encourage more companies and individuals to make donations to research. It is the best investment they can make for the future," says Arvid Hallén, Director General of the Research Council of Norway.
NOK 470 million in state contributions over five years
A similar scheme was in place from 2006 to 2011. During that period, close to NOK 2 billion from a total of 43 private donors elicited nearly NOK 470 million in state contributions that was distributed among 14 recipients.
The majority of this funding went to the following recipients: the University of Bergen (NOK 738.5 million), the University of Oslo (427.3 million), the University of Stavanger (157.8 million), UiT The Arctic University of Norway (NOK 150 million), the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NOK 100 million), the Research Council of Norway (NOK 71.5 million) and BI Norwegian Business School (NOK 60 million).
The largest donations came from prominent business leaders in Norway such as Frank and Trond Mohn and Stein Erik Hagen and his foundations. Other important donors were the Bergen Shipowners' Association, the Bergen Medical Research Foundation, Sparebanken Vest, the University Fund for Rogaland and a number of savings bank and insurance foundations.
