Research and Innovation background
- National Transport Plan (NTP) 2025-2036:Issued every four years, this White Paper by the Ministry of Transport outlines Norway’s long-term transport goals, including sustainable development and infrastructure priorities.
(Last updated: 18/05/2026)
Institutional framework of transport research
- Ministry of Transport: Responsible for setting Norway’s national priorities in transport policy and research objectives. Has responsibility for the framework conditions covering postal activities and for the civil aviation, road, rail and ferry transport sectors.
- Institute of Transport Economics: Norway’s leading transport research institute specialising in transport policy analysis, mobility behaviour, freight systems and decarbonisation modelling. The Institute aims to promote the results of its research through advice to the national authorities, including the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Public Roads Administration and the Research Council of Norway, who are its key clients. Research is organised under 12 areas, including economic analysis, transport modelling, transport technology and the environment.
- SINTEF Transport Research: Non-profit applied research organisation conducting projects on a wide range of topics. Keay areas of interest in transport include automated transport systems, EV batteries, bioenergy, hydrogen, maritime transport and railways..
- ITS Norway (Intelligent Transport Systems): National innovation network connecting industry, research institutions and public agencies in smart mobility and digital transport systems. There is a focus on projects to develop the sector and on linking business partners.
(Last updated: 18/05/2026)
Funding Sources and Support Initiatives
- Research Council of Norway: Funds research and innovation projects and provides advice to the Government on the areas to focus research on. Has 12 portfolios under which it funds research, including Energy and Transport, Climate and Environment, and Enabling Technologies. The Energy and Transport portfolio is focussed on environmentally friendly energy, low emissions, petroleum, the maritime industry and transport
- Innovation Norway: Provides grants and services for green transport technology development, including smart mobility and environmentally-friendly transport solutions.
- Pilot-T Programme: This initiative, managed by the Research Council of Norway and Innovation Norway, focuses on developing new mobility and transport solutions through innovation and research, including R&D activities, prototyping, and demonstration projects. The programme encourages collaboration between R&D providers and industry partners to bring emerging transport technologies closer to market readiness.
- TRANSPORT 2050: An initiative from the Research Council of Norway, this long-term programme aims to develop an integrated, future-oriented, and emissions-free transport system and to support decarbonisation research. By supporting projects that advance knowledge and provide solutions for effective and sustainable transport, it aims to address the needs of both public and commercial transport sectors. The programme also seeks to promote a high level of international collaboration and has specific targets for doctoral fellowships and research-driven innovation centres.
- Green Platform Initiative: This initiative from the Research Council of Norway promotes sustainable economic growth by funding large-scale projects that create new green industries, including transport. The focus is on collaborative projects that can scale Norway's green transformation, integrating sustainable transport solutions with environmental goals.
- National Research Centres in Transport: Dedicated public funding from the Research Council of Norway to support multi-institution research centres focused on resilient and sustainable transport infrastructure and policy support.
- Enova: Working with the Ministry of Climate and the Environment, Enova translates policy into actions. They use funds from the Climate and Energy Fund, and from special assignments to support projects to accelerate the transition to a low-emissions society. The aim is to support enterprises at the high-risk parts of technology development so that they can take innovations forward.
(Last updated: 18/05/2026)