Research, Innovation and Regional Policy Division

The Research, Innovation and Regional Policy Division is responsible for developing and following up the research policy, the overall innovation policy, education and regional and district policy issues under the remit of MAF. Effective management of the funds through the state budget, an efficient institute sector, and disseminating research, skills and education to the private sector  and the civil service are key elements. 

Essential guidelines for the department's work is found in e.g. Prop. 1 S, Meld. St. 9 (2011-2012) and the Government's Long-Term R&D Plan. Cabinet directives are another important policy source.

The department evaluates the role of agriculture and provides input in regional level politics, and has sector responsibilities vis à vis the Ministry of Education (ME) and the Ministry of Municipalities and Modernization (MMM) wrt. managing the County Governor office and the Norwegian Research Council on  the agricultural and food sector. The Division is responsible for managing the Norwegian Institute of Bio-economy.

The department is responsible for international projects in this sector vis à vis the EU, as well as coordinating other bilateral research projects.

The department consists of the following sections

• Regional Policy Section

  The Regional Policy Section aims to profile the role of the agricultural and food sector in regional and district policy. The section is responsible for the Ministry's agencies directorship, relations with the County Governor offices and for facilitating the interaction between market participants at the regional level. RPS target groups include the municipal sector, municipal and regional reform and the municipal sector revenue system. The section deals with regional policy, such as a forthcoming Regions whitepaper. Responsibility for information on and distribution of organization budgets as per Sec. 1138, 70 also rests with the section. The section deals with education on all levels, recruitment into education, skills / post-graduate education, such as financing county level recruitment and expertise in the agricultural sector. The section handles coordination with the Ministry of Education (ME) and the Ministry of Municipalities and Modernization (MMM) on relevant issues.

• Research and Innovation Section

  The Research and Innovation Section works to develop research and innovation policy emphasizing the fundamental provisions and the role of the public sector. The section is responsible for the ministry's directorship of the Norwegian Institute for Bio-economy (Nibio) and coordination with the Norwegian Research Council. The section handles the Ministry's contact with the Society for Industry Increase (SIVA). The section formulates research and innovation policy, including monitoring the government's long-term plan for research, higher education and the development of bio-economy in Norway. The section also designs institute policies and monitors agricultural and food related research groups. The section handles international research cooperation. The section coordinates with the Ministry of Education (ME) and the Ministry Industry and Fisheries (NFD) and other ministries on relevant issues.