The Norwegian response towards these developments

Norway is not formally part of the Europe2020 strategy, and therefore has no obligation to follow it. However, internationalisation of Norwegian research has been a priority for many years as evidenced in the 2005 White Paper on research policy39_, and again in the White paper of 200940_{. The Framework Programme, and increasingly} ERA, is seen as the largest arena for this type of activity, including collaboration between Norwegian and other international researchers. However, Norway also participates in various international “big science” organisations such as CERN, ESA, and EMBL.

In 2008, the Research Council of Norway, which was tasked with many of the relevant actions, published the “Forskningssamarbeid Norge-EU” (Research Cooperation Norway-EU) Action Plan setting out detailed arrangements for interfacing with FP7 and ERA, including in the programme committees.

The growing importance of internationalisation activities within the Framework Programme, both through increasing cooperation with third countries and through actions to support mobility of researchers more generally has not been reflected in the level of participation of Norway in these actions. Generally Norwegian participation in INCO activities and in the Marie Curie Actions promoting mobility have been low. The new mechanisms introduced under FP6 and FP7 reflecting the development of ERA include several areas where Norway was extremely active. The ERA-NETS, for example, introduced towards the end of FP6 aimed to improve bottom-up coordination of national R&D funding with a view to potentially developing joint multinational programmes involving several Member States. Participation in ERA- NETs is optional, but RCN was one of the national research agencies with the highest level of participation (47 participations out of 71 ERA-NETs). Through this participation, Norway (mainly through RCN staff) gained significant experience on how R&D activities are organised in other Member States. This gave Norway access to 39 _{St meld nr 20 (2004–2005), “Vilje til forskning”}

networks and communication channels that they would otherwise find difficult to reach. This networking enabled, for example, the development of the cooperation with Spain and Belgium that was needed to lead the Oceans JPI.

The principle behind the Research Infrastructures activities is that national facilities of high quality should be upgraded and made available to European researchers. Examples include not only examples such as the GÉANT high-speed network, but also Intergovernmental initiatives like CERN, ESRF, ILL, EMBL, ESA and ECMWF. Norway participates as an Associated State in the ESFRI strategy forum.

The Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) entered into force on 28 August 2009. This specific legal form is designed to facilitate the joint establishment and operation of research infrastructures of European interest. This is, however, proving slightly problematic in its transposition under the EEA agreement because of the applicable law and jurisdiction provisions. Norway coordinates the SIoS (Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System), eccSeL (European Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage Laboratory Infrastructure) RIs, the Council of European Social Science Data Archives (CESSDA) and participates in the eIScAt_3D (next generation European incoherent scatter radar system) project, and participates in the thematic working groups.

European Technology Platforms brought together stakeholder groups, usually led by industry to draw up long-term strategic research plans. Norway’s industry, after a slow start, participates in most of the ETPs mainly in areas of direct interest to the Norwegian economy. Other public-private partnerships are also emerging in Europe such as the Innovation partnership but their precise modalities have yet to materialise. Norway continues to consider Europe as its main target for cooperation and research because it remains the major market with 80% of exports and 70% of imports being from EU. Norwegian industry also cooperates bilaterally across Europe.

Norway’s contribution to ERA has not only been through the FP participation but through active involvement in policy coordination activities outside the FP. It has participated as observer in ERAC-meetings, dealing with financial coordination outside of the FP and the development of better framework conditions for research in Europe (mobility, careers, intellectual property and so on). ERAC will likely be the platform where the European Commission will discuss its plans for ERA-type regulations and directives and seek sufficient support from the Member States before launching anything. Norway participates in ERA-policy committees such as the Strategic Forum for International Science and Technology Cooperation (SFIC), the High Level Group on Joint Programming (GPC), the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), the Steering Group on Human Resources and Mobility, the Working Group on Knowledge Transfer and the European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC). The past five years Norway was also invited to participate in the Informal Ministerial Competitiveness Council.

Thus although not an EU Member State Norway has actively taken part in policy coordination activities. Given the stability of the EEA agreement its role does not have to be renegotiated with each new Framework Programme.

With this focus, Norway has been positive in its approach to the ERA developments and has participated extensively. However, as a relatively small country there are questions as to how far they can realistically participate across the board – there may be need for more targeted participation, building on the experience of the ERA-NETS where it could be argued that resources were spread too thinly. This need for focus is mentioned in the 2009 White Paper, which specifically sets out the strategic aim of developing an active policy for participation in the ERA and recognises the need for prioritisation among the participation activities. It also highlighted the need for adaptation within Norwegian activities to react to the changing focus of European research policy and programme.

However FP7 saw a measurable shift away from traditional collaborative research projects towards fundamental research projects led by individual research teams and the ERA structuring instruments where the Norwegian system is not particularly well organised to take full advantage.

4.5 Summary

European research policy in the last 5-10 years has shifted from an extensive vehicle R&D-project funding to a more strategic policy making forum, which involves coordination between Commission and Member and Associated States. The concept of ERA has enabled a European policy culture with more coordination (using open method of coordination as a tool) and more strategic consultation between the European Commission and the Member and Associated States and between the Member States and Associated States themselves. Norway has been an active member of this European policy community and has therefore helped to shape the decision making on research policy, despite the fact that it has no formal voting rights.

With the integration of research and innovation and the extended authorities of the Commission, taking part has become much more than being successful in acquiring R&D funding for companies, universities and research institutes. With the new Lisbon Treaty and Horizon2020 the scope of research and innovation policy has widened. While careful consideration has to be made of possible consequences of these changes, Norway’s EEA Treaty provides a stable relationship with the European community. Nevertheless with the changing European context there is no ‘business as usual’ scenario for Norway as the relation between EU and its Member and Associated States is very dynamic.