December 21, 2020

 

25 new research projects for Nofima

 

 

Nofima will participate in as many as 22 new research projects funded by the Research Council of Norway (NFR) and three projects funded by research funds for agriculture and the food industry, the research institute announced on December 18.

 

“The assignments prove that our expertise is both in demand and relevant. For Nofima, this year's allocations prove that industry values our expertise,” said Øyvind Fylling-Jensen, managing director of Nofima.

 

The production and processing of food is one of Norway's largest mainland industries.

 

Research will support jobs, industry and settlement in rural areas. According to Nofima, COVID-19 has made this even more relevant, with the significance of the national security of supply becoming more important as world trade slows down.

 

Small margins in the food industry show that access to collectively funded research contributes to strengthen businesses' ability to innovate.

 

“In many ways, we are the research department of small and medium-sized businesses. In order to assist these businesses, we need a strong, applied and relevant research effort. We need research that supports green and blue businesses throughout the country,” Fylling-Jensen said.

 

The Research Council of Norway is clear that the funds are destined for solving the major challenges to society. Close cooperation between scientists, private business and the public sector is required. The new projects will develop new knowledge and build research expertise that society needs.

 

“We've maintained close dialogue with the industry, which focuses on research projects that contribute to making food production more sustainable and that also hopefully creates new jobs. I'm very pleased with the outcome. Now we will deliver applied research that strengthens the food industry's competitive ability,” Fylling-Jensen said.

 

11 of the assignments are innovation projects in industry (IPI projects). These are projects headed by industry with Nofima as research partner.

 

In addition, there are eleven expertise and partnership projects of which Nofima will head eight. The final three projects are financed by the fund for research fees on agricultural products (FFL) and the Agricultural Agreement (AA funds).

 

The total amount for all of the projects Nofima will be involved in is kr274 million (US$31.5 million).

Nofima's share has not yet been determined as the project funds are to be distributed among partners.

 

- Nofima