Uses less than they promised on research - Aftenposten

SV promised to spend at least 1 percent of GDP to research. The real percentage is 20 percent lower.

Ministry has again taken the temperature of the Norwegian research, and present the results of the Research Survey 2013 at a conference today.

survey comparing different countries and tells how Norway is likely terms including investment in research and the academic impact Norwegian researchers internationally.

Focusing less

Some key conclusions are:

No matter how we measure as Norway spends less on research than in neighboring Finland, Sweden and Denmark.

If we measure by the proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) used for research and development (R & D), then a jumbo Norway among countries we are compared, and a lower proportion than OECD countries and similarly for EU countries.

Another way to measure is to see how much it invests in R & D per. capita, but also with this method of counting is Norway behind Finland, Sweden and Denmark.

– What’s become of the focus on research?

– When it comes to public investment in research pr. capita, so we are highest, and the real growth has been 32 percent. What is the big challenge is that business researcher for small, says Education Minister Kristin Halvorsen (SV).

lower than promised

SV’s work program states that: “SV will increase public research efforts to at least 1 percent of GDP.” In Norway amounted public funding for R 0.8 percent of GDP in 2012.

– Can you be content after SW has been Minister and Minister for eight years?

– Yes. We have had a clear growth. The public share of GDP is 0.92, and there is an increase from 0.79 in 2005, says Halvorsen.

– According to research survey that the proportion of 0.8 percent?

– We must take the tax credit scheme and contingent Norway pay for participation in the EU Framework Programme for research. It has been a very good real growth, and it must continue. We have big challenges ahead, but we have got a good real growth and have some good results.

Wrong, says expert

tax credit scheme implies that firms that collaborate with, among other universities on research, can get tax credits for research investment.

President Sveinung Skule at the Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education (NIFU) explains that neither tax incentives or fees to be included in the calculations.

– The international standard way to measure is that one can not take it. It is not customary to bring tax benefits. And for the dues we know not what we get back, he says.