India and Norway have bolstered their science and technology collaboration through the signing of five key agreements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway. These agreements focus on green energy, sustainable development, ocean technology, innovation, and geoscience cooperation. The aim is to enhance institutional partnerships, foster industry and startup engagement, boost academic cooperation, and expedite sustainable growth initiatives between the two nations.
One of the significant agreements inked was a Memorandum of Understanding between DSIR/CSIR and the Research Council of Norway (RCN) to boost joint efforts in research, technology development, innovation, and capacity building. This pact includes provisions for joint workshops, collaborative research projects, scientist exchange programs, and implementation mechanisms concentrating on global challenges and Sustainable Development Goals like climate change, clean energy, ocean research, and healthcare.
Furthermore, CSIR has entered into a Collaboration Agreement for 2026–2029 with SINTEF, Norway’s prominent independent research organization, building upon an existing 2014 agreement between the two entities. This partnership will concentrate on circular economy and sustainability transition through collaborative innovation and research programs covering areas such as bio-based materials, ocean energy, offshore wind, carbon capture, storage and utilization, and waste valorization.
In another crucial development, several CSIR institutes have signed a project-specific collaboration agreement with SINTEF institutions to collaborate on ocean energy and offshore wind energy technologies. This collaboration involves CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre, CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, and CSIR-Fourth Paradigm Institute along with SINTEF Ocean, SINTEF Digital, FME NorthWind, and SINTEF Community. The joint initiative aims to enhance India’s offshore renewable energy capabilities and support national renewable energy and carbon neutrality objectives.
CSIR will provide funding support of nearly Rs 341 lakh for this initiative. Additionally, a Joint Declaration of Intent titled “Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation for the Green Shift” was signed between CSIR, the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). This declaration emphasizes cooperation in sustainability, circular economy, ocean science and technology, healthcare, and civil infrastructure engineering, envisioning student and faculty exchanges, joint research activities, academic seminars, and collaborative educational programs.
