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SIOS – an Important Element in
Norwegian Polar Research Policy
Pål Sørgaard, Deputy Director General
Ministry of Education and Research
Department of Research
The High North is a Strategic
Priority to the Norwegian
Government
• Research and education form an essential part
of the Government’s High North Strategy
• Priorities concerning research include:
– International cooperation
– Research infrastructure, including SIOS
– Thematic focus on climate, polar, marine
and environmental research
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Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
Svalbard is special
• Legally
– The Svalbard Treaty recognizes Norwegian
sovereignty over Svalbard
– Signatory countries shall be treated equally
in certain areas enumerated in the Treaty
– But: The Svalbard Treaty does not regulate
research
• Geographically and ecologically
– Easily accessible
– Natural laboratory
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Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
Research in Svalbard
• Research and higher education as one of three
pillars for Norwegian activity
• Further develop Svalbard as an international
platform for research, by
– making optimal use of its facilities,
– by strengthening the cooperation between
the researchers, and
– by upgrading its infrastructure
SIOS will be an important element in this
• Strong emphasis is being put on protecting
the environment
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Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
Future goals for Norwegian
Research Policy
Global challenges
Public services and
research based
professional practice
Better health and
health services
Industrial research in
strategic areas
Knowledge based
industry in all regions
A successful research sector
High quality research
Internationalisation of research
Efficient use of results and funding
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Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
SIOS and Norwegian Research
Policy
• SIOS is an important element in several
priority areas for Norwegian research:
– Research to meet global challenges
– Thematic priority areas, including climate,
polar, environmental and marine research
– Research infrastructure
– Internationalization
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Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
SIOS is important to the Ministry
• The Ministry
– submitted the project proposal in 2007
– follows the work of the Research Council
and the SIOS consortium closely
– coordinates processes concerning legal
issues:
• ERIC
• Work package on special legal issues
relating to Svalbard
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Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research