International acknowledgement for Norwegian brain research

Today The Centre for the Biology of Memory at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim was proclaimed one of the world’s 15 Kavli Institutes. The Kavli Foundation, founded by Norwegian-American Fred Kavli, has previously established Kavli Institutes at elite institutions such as Harvard, Stanford and Cambridge, to mention a few. – I am delighted that The Norwegian University of Science and Technology now forms part of the prestigious list of Kavli Institutes, says the Norwegian Minister of Education and Research, Øystein Djupedal. 

The new Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience has as its goal to understand the biological process of memory. The Kavli Institute is a focal point for internationally leading neuroscientists, and will build on the expertise at the Centre for the Biology of Memory at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Edvard Moser and May-Britt Moser will lead the new institute.

- The establishment of a Kavli Institute at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim enables Norwegian scientist to take part in an international network of world class researchers, says Djupedal. 

The funding of the Kavli Institute will be split between The Kavli Foundation, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology and The Ministry of Education and Research, who will provide an annual contribution of  375 000 USD (approximately NOK 2,3 million) each. 

Fred Kavli received his education in physics at the former Norwegian Institute of Technology in Trondheim. He moved to the USA in 1956, and within two years he started the Kavlico Corporation which was one of the world’s largest suppliers of sensors for aeronautics, automotive and industrial applications. In 2000 Kavli sold the company and founded the Kavli Foundation. 

The Kavli Foundation provides substantive support to research in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. The Kavli Foundation promotes research within these fields, and also promotes public understanding of scientists and their work. The Kavli Foundation has established three international prizes within these fields of research of 1 million USD each. These are to be awarded in Oslo, Norway, every two years. The Kavli Foundation, The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research and The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in 2005 entered into a cooperation agreement concerning the award of the Kavli-prizes. The Kavli Prizes will be awarded for the first time in 2008.

Link to The Kavli Foundation

Link to The Norwegian University of Science and Technology