Norway’s research budget for 2011 sees boost for basic research

“It is very positive indeed that the government has recognised the need to strengthen this funding instrument, which boosts working conditions and adds volume to the activities of Norway’s top researchers, regardless of what their research focuses on,” says Anders Hanneborg, Executive Director at the Research Council.

Over the past few years the Research Council has assigned priority to enhancing the open competitive arena for high-quality research in its input to the national budget. In its budget proposal for 2011, the Council recommended an increase of NOK150 million (€18.55 million) for funding of independent projects.

With the proposed NOK 60 million rise, the 2011 budget for the FRIPRO scheme will total NOK535 million (€66.19 million).

Hanneborg noted that the Ministry of Education and Research stresses the need to bolster independent basic research in order to better equip Norway to meet coming challenges to society as well as to strengthen the various subject areas.

“High-quality basic research in a wide array of subject fields and disciplines lays the foundation on which all new knowledge and innovation builds. Many independent basic research projects have served as a springboard for listed companies or established medical treatments, while others have generated new insights that expand our understanding of the world around us,” he said.

The rigorous quality assessment of the grant proposals submitted is seen as the FRIPRO scheme’s major strength. Proposals are assessed on their own merits, independent of the politically-defined thematic priority areas or technologies.

“Fostering favourable conditions for innovative, high-quality research is crucial if Norway is to successfully tackle the changes it is facing,” says Minister of Research and Higher Education Tora Aasland.