The research and development effort has the following sub-goals:

  • contribute to long-term knowledge and technology development for a secure, robust and flexible energy system
  • promote competitiveness and increased value creation in Norway’s energy and petroleum industries
  • support a knowledge-based energy transition towards a low‑emission society by 2050
  • provide new expertise, technology and innovation that improve HSE conditions in ocean industries and strengthen security in the petroleum and energy sectors

Investments in energy and petroleum research are crucial for achieving the goals of energy transition, new green industries and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in Norway. This effort will help further develop the Norwegian energy industries and ensure their profitability in the future. Research and development shall also help strengthen the knowledge base on safety, security, working environment, occupational health and risk conditions within the petroleum and energy industries, as well as protection against floods, landslides and avalanches.

Research efforts and technology development shall have predictable framework conditions, be long‑term, and adapt to new needs and changes in society.

Norwegian Industry and the technical research institutes carry out most of the research in the energy and petroleum sectors. Public R&D funding shall support research and development activities that would not otherwise be initiated by the industries themselves. Altogether, investments in research and technology development help secure increased value creation and welfare for today’s society and future generations.

Key Challenges and Priorities

The Petroleum Sector

The petroleum sector is a major source of income for the state. Future value creation in the oil and gas sector depends on how effectively we manage to produce the remaining resources on the Norwegian continental shelf. Investment in R&D and competence development is important to ensure efficient, safe and environmentally friendly utilization of petroleum resources, while also developing the Norwegian petroleum industry—which is one of our advanced industries.

Under current plans, about half of the oil will remain under the seabed. Increasing the recovery rate will provide substantial revenues for the state. It is therefore necessary to undertake targeted efforts to increase extraction from existing fields. At the same time, the potential for new discoveries remains considerable, especially in the northern areas. R&D that can identify new resources and contribute to the development of both new and existing discoveries, is therefore a priority. The Government aims to further develop competence that enables us to conduct petroleum activities in a sustainable manner. Therefore, the Government emphasizes R&D that can contribute to increased energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions from operations on the Norwegian shelf. A common factor for the challenges on the shelf is that digital solutions and the use of artificial intelligence are key drivers of increased value creation. R&D that contributes to data sharing and increased digital and AI competence in the industry is therefore receiving growing attention.

The Energy Sector

Climate challenges and the transition to a low‑emission society require investment in technology development within renewable energy and efficient energy use. As a nation, Norway has a natural advantage in the energy sector, partly due to vast hydropower resources. Our knowledge and competence can play an important role in finding solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the production and use of energy.

The public R&D effort shall contribute to efficient utilization of national energy resources, and ensure an efficient, robust and environmentally friendly power and energy supply in Norway. At the same time, it shall increase the opportunities for Norwegian businesses and expertise to compete in the international market for renewable energy solutions. As in the petroleum sector, research on digital solutions and technologies, and the use of artificial intelligence, is gaining increasing attention. These technologies are crucial for value creation and for developing a more efficient energy system.

CO₂ Management (CCS)

There is a significant need for development and demonstration of new technologies for CO₂ capture and storage linked to fossil‑based activities. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states in its sixth assessment report that there is an urgent need for deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, including CO₂, to limit global warming to 1.5 °C or 2 °C. At the same time, fossil energy will remain necessary for several decades to meet the growing energy demand resulting from increased welfare in countries outside the OECD.

CO₂ management will therefore play an important role in reducing emissions. R&D and demonstration efforts related to CO₂ management in Norway will provide new knowledge and contribute to the development of more efficient and cost‑effective solutions. Such efforts are necessary if CO₂ management is to develop into an effective climate policy instrument with broad global application.

Key Actors and Instruments

National R&D Strategy: Energi 2050

In 2025, the Ministry of Energy established a new strategy group, Energi2050. This group replaces the OG21 (Oil and Gas in the 21st Century) and Energi21 strategy groups. The mandate of Energi2050 is to develop a unified national R&D strategy for the petroleum and energy sector that can guide both industry and government. The strategy will also include seabed minerals. The work is led by a board representing industry, research environments and funding agencies. This collaboration forms the basis for a coordinated, efficient and targeted research and technology effort, with strong industry engagement at its core.

The Ministry of Energy will base its R&D allocations administered by the Research Council of Norway on this strategy. The strategy will be launched in autumn 2026.

The Research Council of Norway

The Ministry of Energy’s allocations for research and development in the energy and petroleum sectors are mainly directed through the Research Council of Norway. The Research Council’s energy, petroleum and seabed minerals portfolios, the CLIMIT program, as well as 13 Centers for Environment‑friendly Energy Research (FME) and three PETROSENTERs, are the most important instruments funded by the Ministry.

Gassnova

Within R&D related to CO₂ management, Gassnova SF is responsible for administering support to demonstration projects in the CLIMIT program. The Norwegian state, through Gassnova, is also one of the owners of the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM), which opened in May 2012. The center is built to test and demonstrate CO₂ capture technologies. The Government’s objective is for the center to be a long‑term and targeted arena for development, testing and qualification of CO₂ capture technologies.

Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE)

NVE is also responsible for a portion of research activities within the energy sector. This primarily relates to management-oriented energy and water resources research.

International Research Cooperation

In addition to national research activities, Norway and Norwegian research entities participate actively in international energy research cooperation. Participation in international R&D efforts is an important supplement to national research and help strengthen the quality and capacity of Norwegian research. It shall also ensure access to international knowledge production, strengthen business competitiveness, and promote Norway as a leading research and innovation nation in the energy and petroleum sector. The EU and the International Energy Agency (IEA) are key arenas for international R&D cooperation.