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Research

Ostfold Research (Østfoldforskning in Norwegian) is a Norwegian national research company. Our vision is to contribute to knowledge for the sustainable development of society through innovation. The research is centered around two areas, each one headed by a research manager:

• Environmental Protection Research
• Business and Regional Development Research

The basic idea behind Ostfold Research is to be a central force in the development and execution of research projects both nationally and regionally, within its core areas, and to be an important part of the regional system of innovation in the county of Ostfold and surrounding areas.

The research is largely aimed at private companies. The basic funding from the Norwegian Research Council is utilised for increasing  general competence in the organisation, as well as long term strategic projects.

Ostfold Research primarily carries out applied research and development together with companies, often as network projects with other research institutions and companies. The main share of the projects are financed through so called user-directed innovation programmes at The Research Council of Norway. The most important ones are: User-directed Innovation Arena (Brukerstyrt Innovasjonsarena), The Food Programme (Matprogrammet), Clean Energy for the Future (Renergi-programmet) and Programme for Regional R&D and Innovation (VRI; Virkemidler for Regional Forskning og Innovasjon). Approximately 30 % of the projects have clients and partners from Ostfold, 60 % come from the rest of Norway and10 % from abroad

The research company is located in Fredrikstad and has 23 employees as at September 2009. Three researchers possess PhD degrees and five are currently working on their doctorates on respectively: network development between companies, environmental technology, energy trade and the environment and energy efficient service production. This is arranged through the Edwor programme at NTNU and the University of Aalborg in Denmark. In the latter case there is also cooperation on a guest professorship and on projects.