Polar funding model ‘hampers collaboration’

Norwegian polar research funding makes it difficult for researchers to work together, a report has found.

The funding is channelled through multiple routes and often has disparate priorities, the report, published by the Research Council of Norway on 12 September, said. It found that polar research in Norway involves a large number of universities, organisations, institutions and companies and lacks a clear process for coordination and collaboration.

This fragmentation leads to a lack of focus and hampers communication and the building up of critical mass, it said.