Research blind spots

The Research Council's website states that at a time when challenges are multiple, multi-faceted and complicated, research has never been more important. However: Research into HSE has dropped off the radar.

On paper, the Research Council has a relatively simple societal mission: to ensure that the best research and innovation projects receive funding. In reality, this is far from simple to achieve. The task is both extensive and demanding.

Over 1700 national and international experts in their field assess and rank applications to the Council every year. The portfolio boards, consisting of 200 independent board members from all sectors, then decide on which projects should be awarded funding.

HSE must be prioritised

The upside of this effort is that the Research Council has a unique overview of what is moving and shaking in the research field both nationally and internationally. They know where the shoe pinches.

It is this knowledge which allows the Research Council's Director for Energy and Energy Transition, Rune Volla, to sound the alarm with authority.

At a time when geopolitics, security and artificial intelligence compete for all-consuming attention, blind spots appear. Certain areas become forgotten or receive less attention than warranted.

"We see this in HSE and working environment-related research; the number of applications we are receiving is declining. That´s not good,” says Volla.

“The reason behind the decline is probably complex, so it is difficult to find a simple answer. But that´s not important.

What is important here is that we are not happy with the number of HSE applications. This should not be the case. It must be possible to juggle multiple balls in the air.”

The Research Council does not exist simply to allocate funds. We are here to challenge and to provide strategic advice on research and development to both the authorities and the energy sector.

Think long-term

Volla is happy with much of what is going on in the research field in Norway. The projects are plentiful and varied.

“For instance, we are registering tremendous interest in energy transition matters. Both Norsk Industri and Offshore Norge are very switched on. We see that the offshore industry is keen to take advantage of the opportunities created by AI and which has increased both awareness and knowledge around security.

When it comes to HSE, however, the industry needs to take note.

There are many ways of financing projects,” he points out.

“Apart from the Council schemes, we have R&T*, where the Council can raise questions about industry activity and influence R&D priorities.

This is a useful and constructive dialogue. For us, it is important to point out that the key to good research is to keep continuity and a long-term perspective clearly in mind.”

The message from Volla is that precisely in times of high activity and large-scale restructuring, it is important to stop and realign one's focus.

“The Research Council does not exist simply to allocate funds. We are here to challenge and to provide strategic advice on research and development to both the authorities and the energy sector.”

*R&T scheme

• R&T stands for Research and Technology.
• The scheme forms a part of the regulations for the NCS, necessitating that the licenses pay a fixed percentage of Exploration, Capex or Opex. 
• The main requirement for an operator to be eligible for this funding scheme is that the research project is beneficial to the NCS and that the business operation can be defined as research and development (R&D).

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