Norway-U.S. Science & Higher Education Week Washington, D.C. October 4-6, 2004

1. The Norwegian Washington Embassy’s Research and Technology ForumReview & Assessment of First Three Years Norway-U.S. Science & Higher Education Week Washington, D.C. October 4-6, 2004

2. Background • Launched in Washington in December 2001 as integral part of the Norwegian Government’s then newly adopted overall USA – Strategy • General recognition of the need to strengthen Norway’s R&D relations with the U.S. (implicitly, not “only” with the European Union) – also, against the background of a dramatic reduction of Norwegian students in the U.S. • The Embassy in Washington mandated to establish a targeted Forum; -- quickly expanded to include Canada, anchored in Norway’s Embassy in Ottawa Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Education & Research Ministry of Trade & Industry, others Embassy in Washington, D.C. Embassy in Ottawa Advisory Board Steering Committee General Membership Research & Technology Forum in Canada Steering Committee Organization Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

4. Overall Objectives • Strategically re-energize and broaden co-operation and contact between Norwegian and North-American R&D-institutions, companies, research labs and higher educational institutions. • The initiatives to be targeted, spanning basic as well as applied research and technology , espec. in areas where Norway is strong and becomes an attractive partner • Contribute to the enhancement of collaborative transatlantic research based innovation, commercialization and stimulate creative/dynamic institutional networks. Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

5. Past Forum Events • Launching of the Forum – Thematic focus: Presenting Norway: Front-Line Energy& Information Technology Partner, Washington, December 4-5, 2001, with Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, Minister of Petroleum and Energy Einar Steensnaes, and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Oluf Ulseth • Presenting Norway: Front-Line Medical & Health Research and Technology Partner, Washington, May 15-16, 2002, with Norwegian Minister of Health, Dagfinn Hoeybraaten • First Annual Meeting and Conference, Washington, September 17-18, 2002, with focus on collaborative research in energy, climate, medicine, sustainable marinemanagement, coupled with a Special Transatlantic Dialogue on Educational Exchange, with Norwegian Minister of Education and Research, Kristin Clemet • Norway – U.S. Cooperation on Space Research & Satellite Communications Technology in Northern Regions, at Carnegie Institution in Washington,December 9-11, 2002, coupled with World Pemiere Showing of the Film Documentary about Norwegian Scientist Vilhelm Bjerknes, “The Father of Modern Meteorology” Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

6. Past Forum Events cont. • Forum Conference on Marine Fisheries: Research, Management, Technology and Trade, February 3-4, 2003, with Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, Svein Ludvigsen, organized as a “two-track” conference, first Washington, then Ottawa • The Embassy’s First Forum Workshop Dialogue between Norway and the World Bank Group, Washington,May 12-13, 2003 • A Trans-Atlantic Dialogue on Genetics and Health - “Research Frontiers and Ethical, Social, Legal, and Economic Issues”, Washington May 16, 2003, a Forum Symposium incooperation with CSIS, with Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik and Dr Rita Colwell, NSF, among the Keynote Speakers • The Environmental Impact of Agriculture and Energy Use: “How New Technologies, including Biotechnology, can Provide Sustainable Solutions”, Minneapolis,June 29-July 1, 2003, with Norwegian Minister of Agriculture Lars Sponheim, co-organized with the University of Minnesota and the Norwegian Consulate General in Minneapolis Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

7. Past Forum Events cont. • Second Annual Forum Meeting, “A TransatlanticUniversity Summit”, Washington,October 6, 2003, with Norwegian Minister of Education and Research, Kristin Clemet. (with a total of 28 universities and colleges represented (8 Norwegian, 3 Canadian, 17 U.S.) • Second Annual Conference, “Climate Change and New Energy Technologies”, Washington, October 7, 2003, with Norwegian Deputy Minister of Education and Research Bjoern Haugstad and Nobel Laureate Sherwood Rowland, co-organized with National Academy of Sciences, and University of Maryland • Norway-Canada Seminar on Research, Technology, and Innovation, Ottawa,November 7, 2003, with the Norwegian Embassy in Ottawa as principal organizer through the Forum • The Forum’s First Transatlantic Networking Conference on Research, Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Commercialization, Washington D.C.,December 3, 2003, in co-operation with Georgetown University • Forum Seminar on Science and Security: The Transatlantic Dimension, with CSIS, Washington D.C.,December 12, 2003 Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

8. Past Forum Events cont. • Forum-initated Collaborative Medical Research Workshop between the University of Johns Hopkins Medical School and University of Oslo, Baltimore, March 29, 2004, with Nobel Laureate Peter Agre • Forum-initiated Collaborative Medical Research Workshop between University of Harvard Medical School and University of Oslo, March 30, 2004, Boston • Norway – U.S. Forum Seminar on Defence-related R&D, Norwegian Embassy, April 30, 2004 • The Second Workshop Dialogue between Norway and the World Bank Group, Washington, May 10-11, 2004, with Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Torhild Widvey • Collaborative U.S.-Norway Medical Research Seminar, Minneapolis, June 23, 2004, in co-operation with the University of Minnesota and the Norwegian Consulate General in Minneapolis • The Enviromental Impact of Agriculture and Energy Use, -- a follow-up of the Minneapolis Seminar in 2003, at Staur Gaard, Norway, August 16, 2004, hosted by Norwegian Minister of Agriculture, Lars Sponheim (included 15 U.S.participants) Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

9. Past Forum Events cont. • Third Annual Meeting of the Forum’s Advisory Board, Washington, October 4, 2004, the principal topic being “Transatlantic Co-operation in Research and Higher Education” • Third Annual Forum Research Conference, ”Meeting the Climate-Energy Challenge”, Washington, October 5, 2004, in co-operation with the Carnegie Institution • Forum Workshop on International Health, Washington,October 5, 2004, in co-operation with National Institutes of Health, NIH, through Dr Reidar Lie. • Forum Workshop on U.S.-Norway Petroleum R&D Coperation, Washington, October 6, 2004, co-organized by Norwegian Research Council • Forum Workshop on U.S. Norway R&D Cooperation on New Energy & Environment Technologies, Washington, October 6, 2004 , co-organized ny Norwegian Research Council Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

10. Remaining Event in 2004 • The Second Transatlantic Conference on ”Research Based Innovation, Technology Transfer, Commercialization” -- to include focus on the establisment of a ”Transatlantic Accelerator” In Washington,D.C.,December2,2004, in co-operation with Innovation Norway, Georgetown University, and Virginia Tech • Plans underway for a series of events in 2005 • Special Opportunity:Work futher with the Kavli Institute / KavliFoundation, includingtheir plans for the Kavli Prize being given in Oslo – more on this later today from President David Auston. Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

11. Preliminary Assessment • Transparent results/effects • The Forum “is still around” after 3 years, in good health • New institutional research agreements facilitated • Strengthened / broadened networks of persons and institutions • A principal effect: Official Norwegian commitment, by now launching a special long-term R&D strategy for North America, with funding • Forum Budget means increased : Started with practically zero seed money in 2002, up to US 200.000 in 2004, anticipating ‘significantly” more from 2005 onwards (the real costs /investments over the last 3 years substantially higher, close to USD 3 million, including the participants’ self-financed travels, time spent, etc) Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

12. Preliminary Assessment cont. • Less concrete/measurable results/effects • Whether in effect increased interest, knowledge, motivation and commitment for transatlantic cooperation in R&D and higher education? • Long-term strategic value? • Whether the assumed new, re-energized process will have lasting effects & indeed make a difference (including the potential for a “New Fulbright Generation”)? Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

13. Some Measurable Results / Effects Forum-facilitated R&D Agreements / MOUs: • University of Oslo with Johns Hopkins University Medical School • MOU NOAA Fisheries/ Norwegian Institute of Marine Research • MOU Aquaculture - Norway/Canada • University of Oslo with: University of North Carolina, University of Oregon and University of Washington • University of Bergen with Millennium Institute, Washington D.C. • Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, with University of Maryland • University of Stavanger with MIT • University of Oslo with Harvard Medical School • University of Stavanger with University of Michigan and St. Olaf College, Minnesota • University of Minnesota and Norwegian University of Agriculture Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

14. 25 20 15 10 5 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 Number of Agreements, Norwegian and North-American educational institutions, 2001 – 2004 Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

15. Some Process-related Effects • New procurement related contracts and also additional contractual employment for Norwegians in the wake of the two Norway-Word Bank Dialogues • New and expanded personal and institutional contacts, visits, and networks • Several “spin-off” joint publications and workshops • Follow-up Seminars (Brussels and Oslo) • Media coverage, including at educational institutions in the U.S., Canada and Norway. Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

16. “Commitment” from Norwegian Minister of Education and Research, Kristin Clemet “The Second Annual Meeting in the Norwegian Research and Technology Forum proved to be of significant interest both from a U.S. and Norwegian perspective, to further develop co-operation. I will assure you that we will do our best to pursue the forum achievements so far. I also appreciated that I could witness the signing of the many agreements between Norwegian and American Universities during the Forum meeting. My impression is that Norwegian Universities actively work to realize these agreements.” Letter from Clemet to Ambassador Vollebæk, Oct. 15, 2003 Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

17. “Preliminary Milestones” • The Forum has contributed to the formulation and recent adoption of a long-term Norwegian R&D strategy for N.America • The accumulated “attitudinal” effect of 3 years of activities, involving 25 meetings, conferences, workshops and seminars, both in Norway, the U.S. and Canada, involving a total of 2600 participants, including 800 speakers • Continuous focus on inter-university partnerships Norway-North America, following a special Forum survey in 2003.A Partnership Inventory has been established with contact information about key Norwegian and North American international educators • The likely prospect of a Bilateral U.S-Norway Agreement in Science and Technology being signed later this year Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

18. Where the Forum has not made much progress • In promoting stronger contact & cooperation between R&D oriented industry and businesses in Norway and North America. • In helping to reverse or slow down the sharp numerical decline of Norwegian students in the U.S. (on the positive side, an increase in Canada) • To stimulate the increase in the number of U.S. students and researchers going to Norway Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

19. Some other “Significants” • Transatlantic research and higher education a bit more clearly on the Transatlantic radar screen • Research and higher education events also serving as Norway-U.S. “public diplomacy” initiatives, including the Annual Forum Meetings & Conferences in Washington -- “the visibility factor” • Research and higher education higher on the agendas of Norway’s Embassies in Washington and Ottawa, with the respective Ambassadors as committed Champions. Also involving our Consulate Generals, and hopefully offering needed inspiration to traditionally Norway-oriented North American Colleges and Universities Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.

20. Some other “Significants” cont. • The Norwegian Government’s newly adopted Strategy will hopefully send good and the right signals to the research and higher education institutions on both sides of the Atlantic the next years. • In total, our Forum activities much inspired by sequence of events and resultant processes -- The Road Ahead to be staked out with new energy, and some “real budgets” Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in North America, JMY, Embassy Washington D.C.