Norwegian Innovation, Research and Education policies and the Norwegian Research and Technology Forum in the US and Canada

Remarks by State Secretary Helle Hammer

Ministry of Trade and Industry, Norway

Research Excellence and Co-operation

      - A recent international evaluation of Norwegian ICT research concludes that Norway has research groups of high international standards in several key areas.

• - Norwegian mathematical research has recently received honourable grades by an international evaluation committee.

 

• - 10 out of the 13 newly established Norwegian Centres of Excellence are within the fields that the Forum has singled out as focal areas for Norwegian – American collaboration.

Norway – Exports by Country, incl. oil - 2001

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

Other exports

Mineral fuel, oil

Industrial Policy Challenges

• Economic globalization

• EU-enlargement and transition to a knowledge-based economy

• Need to develop a more dynamic and innovative economy, including growth in non-petroleum based industry

• Modernising the large public sector

• Further reduction of state ownership in the Norwegian economy

Government net cash-flow from petroleum activities and old age and disability pensions Per cent of GDP

0

5

10

15

20

0

5

10

15

20Pensions

Net cash-flow

1973 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

A Comprehensive Industrial Policy - overview

• A Sound Business Environment– Reduction of taxes and charges– Good communication systems and

infrastructure– International co-operation and

benchmarking– Simplifying rules and regulations

• A Policy for Growth and Innovation - Need for a comprehensive approach to

innovation

• A Reduced State Ownership– Reorganise and streamline State ownership– Clarify strategy and action

A good foundation, but little growth.…..

Number of employed as percentage of workforce population Share of population between 25 and 64 years

with higher education (1998 and 1999)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Total Women Men

Norway

Sweden

USA

OECD

High Penetration of New Technology

0

50

100

Great Britain

Korea

Norway

Finland

Canada

Netherlands

United States

Denmark

Internet users and mobile phone access (percentage of total adult population)

Internet users

Mobile phone access

Source: Taylor Nelson Sofres Interactive 2001, 2002

High-technology exports

0 20 40 60 80

Singapore

Ireland

Netherlands

Korea

United States

Japan

Finland

Israel

Sweden

Switzerland

Canada

Germany

Norway

Source: Human Development Report 2002

% of merchandise exports

We need to increase innovation …...

0 50

Norway

Finland

Sweden

EEA

Germany

Share of private sector sales attributable to innovation in EEA-countries (percent)

1. A sound business environment for innovation:

• New knowledge and technology fuels innovation

• International market activities fuels innovation

2. Education and research policies are important to trade and industry policy

3. Selective instruments of policy that support innovation

Source: Nås (2000)

Regional, national and international dimensions

… and secure enough production of knowledge

• Norway has fewer doctorates than the other Nordic countries measured as percentage of total population

• The number of doctorates in Finland and Denmark is increasing faster than in Norway and Sweden

• Almost half of all doctorates in Norway was confered during the 90’s

• The share of natural scientific doctorates is higher in Norway than in the other Nordic countries

Kilde: NIFU

Confered doctorates in the Nordic countries 1990-1999

Norway

… and businesses need to increase R&D spending

• Goal: To reach the OECD average by 2005

• Increase industry-financed R&D

• Increase R&D co-operation between industry and academia

• International and bilateral co-operation

• Tax credits for R&D expenditures 0 2 4

Norway

Canada

France

Total OECD

Germany

Korea

United States

Japan

Finland

Sweden

Industry R&D

Total R&D

Source: OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators 2001

Norwegian Research Priorities

• Four main national targets: Marine Research, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Medicine and Health and research in the interface between Energy and the Environment

CommercializationApplied researchBasic research

PublicPrivate

Review of policy instruments

– Evaluate and reorganise policy instruments for research & innovation, business development and internationalisation

– More pointed instruments on the basis of:

1. Focus areas2. Target groups