Nordic-Asian Research Funding Cooperation,  Asia NORIA-net

The aim of the Nordic-Asian Research Funding Cooperation NORIA-net (Asia NORIA-net) was to identify the needs and prepare a model for joint research funding activities between Nordic countries and their Asian counter part countries, focusing on China and India. The ultimate goal was to establish long-lasting funding instruments and funding mechanisms coordinated and funded by NordForsk and the national research councils together.

The project liked to identify current practices, needs and potential players for multilateral cooperation. Doing that, the project benchmarked and disseminated good practices among the Nordic partners and, at the same time, structurised and deepened Nordic joint research activities with China and India.

The two-year project was funded by NordForsk and coordinated by the Academy of Finland. The project was a joint activity of five partners:

• Academy of Finland (AoF)
• Research Council of Norway (RCN)
• Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS)
• Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannis)
• Danish Agency of Science, Technology and Innovation (DASTI)

The project consisted of two tasks:
Task 1. Identification and mapping of the counterparts in Nordic countries and in China and India
Task 2. Needs and models for research funding collaboration

The results of the Asia NORIA-Net are published in a Project Report:

Project Report

Final workshop on Future prospects for Nordic-Asian cooperation
2nd March 2010, 11:00-15:30, hotel Crowne Plaza, Helsinki

The two-year Asia NORIA-net-project coordinated by the Academy of Finland held its final seminar on 2 March 2010 in Helsinki, on the theme “Future prospects for Nordic-Asian cooperation”. The project report was presented at the seminar, and future potential for cooperation was discussed. The strengths and special characteristics of the Nordic research funding organisations in cooperation with Asia were an additional topic of discussion. In the audience, there were representatives of Nordic research funding organisations and researchers who work on Asia-related topics.

The project report (Asia NORIA-net: Future prospects for Nordic-Asian cooperation) covers the existing cooperation of Nordic research funding organisations with Asia, including the forms, themes and extent of cooperation. The report also outlines alternative themes and models for future cooperation.

Programme

Perspectives on Nordic-Asian research cooperation
Harry Zilliacus, NordForsk

Results and suggestions of the Asia NORIA-Net
Jaana Roos, Academy of Finland

Commentary address
Kenneth Abrahamsson, Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research

Next steps in Nordic-Asian collaboration: National perspective
Kari Kveseth, Research Council of Norway