New portfolio board for defence capability, national security and emergency preparedness
The Research Council's executive board has decided that a portfolio board for defence, national security and emergency preparedness will be established from 1 January 2026. The new board will manage R&D investments and provide strategic advice on the development of research and innovation in the field.
"In the current security policy situation, increased involvement of civilian research communities in research that is relevant to defence, national security and emergency preparedness must be urgently facilitated. The Research Council is now taking an important step towards fulfilling its role in this work," says Gunnar Bovim, Chair of the executive board of the Research Council of Norway.
The portfolio board shall have a threefold purpose:
- strengthen research-based knowledge in defence, national security and emergency preparedness
- contribute to more interaction than is currently the case between research groups at the research institutions and relevant users of the new knowledge
- contribute to building research environments and the expertise of individual researchers that may be relevant for later collaboration in sheltered or graded research
As open as possible, as closed as necessary
As a general rule, the new portfolio board must have open calls for proposals, but it must also be able to handle shielded or classified research.
"Research and innovation play an important role in safeguarding national security interests. Now that more civilian communities are to participate, it is crucial that we safeguard the importance of being as open as possible, as closed as necessary. We look forward to getting started on preparing for the establishment of the portfolio board from next year," says Mari Sundli Tveit, chief executive of the Research Council of Norway.
Security clearance
This means, among other things, finding seven and thirteen members for the new board. Relevant members have experience from defence, national security, research, business or public administration.
The members of the board must be able to have security clearance. In addition, the Research Council will recommend to the Ministry of Education and Research that the chair and deputy chair of the board be given security clearance so that the board can fulfil its overall management responsibility.
Messages at time of print 2 May 2025, 14:05 CEST