Over the past few months the Research Council has been consulting with universities and the business sector to pinpoint future research priorities.
“The primary focus of the FUGE programme has been on the technological aspects of research,” says Steinar Bergseth, Special Adviser at the Research Council of Norway. “In the next phase we will focus more strongly on how technology can address the challenges society is facing.”
Bergseth cites climate and environmental issues, health, food and nutrition, and an ageing population as examples of relevant areas for research under the new initiative. He also stresses that Norwegian biotechnology research must address social challenges from a global perspective.
Øystein Rønning, Special Adviser in the Research Council’s Department for Bioproduction, International Cooperation and Commercialisation, agrees the research must reflect current international focus and concerns. In his opinion, the EU’s Lund Declaration of 2009 and the OECD’s view of biotechnology as a key force in the transition to a knowledge-based bioeconomy, provide good guidelines for further refining Norway’s biotechnology initiative.
High quality essential to international impact
Norway has high ambitions in terms of its participation in international biotechnology research. “Quality is crucial if we are to succeed in competing for international research funding,” says Ole-Jan Iversen, Chair of the FUGE programme board.
Eight of the 21 Norwegian Centres of Excellence conduct research related to biotechnology, which makes the field one of Norway’s strongest research areas.
A central topic in the current debate on biotechnology research in Norway is whether or not the FUGE programme should be succeeded by an initiative that focuses more broadly on the life sciences. A large number of those involved in R&D agree that this would be a good direction to follow, helping to shift the focus away from the technology itself, towards applying it to resolve social challenges and reaping the benefits of the resources already invested in Norwegian biotechnology research.
Moreover, there is general consensus in the research community that Norway needs a separate programme for this type of research, that it should not be incorporated into existing thematic programmes such as the Food Programme and the Aquaculture Programme.
National strategy underway
The work on formally drawing up a national strategy for biotechnology will soon be launched under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Research. The input received by the Research Council in connection with the development of the new biotechnology initiative will form part of the basis for the strategy.
For more information, see the Research Council of Norway website.
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