International projects and cooperation

NIVA is renowned for its high level of competence in environmental management, both nationally and internationally. We participate in EU research programmes, have projects in development research and carry out advisory assignments around the world. We also participate in a number of international forums.

With our competence in aquatic sciences we have contributed to projects in over 70 countries. For instance we have had many projects in China, Sri Lanka, Chile, Venezuela, Ghana and Greece.

International activities at NIVA are organised in four areas:
1. EU framework programmes for research
2. Participation in international forums
3. Projects in development research
4. Advisory services

1. EU framework programmes for research

Through our engagement in EU research programmes we participate in a development of knowledge that increases our competence. NIVA is currently a partner in over 20 projects in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.

Examples of projects:

• EUROLIMPACS: A project on the ecological impact of climate change
• REBECCA: Models for the environmental impact of nutrients in water
• SARIB: New ecotoxicological methods for river basin monitoring
• STRIVER: A project dealing with water resource management in Europe and Asia. It gives advice on systems for evaluating various parties' needs and wishes.

2. Participation in international forums

NIVA participates in a number of international forums. This network enables us to build and share our competence with other professional circles and with government agencies, and also generates research and development assignments. NIVA:

• has served for 15 years as an advisor for the European Environment Agency (EEA) through its Topic Center on Water. Among other things, we lead work on freshwater and contribute with our expertise on environmental toxins in marine environments.
• is a Norwegian representative in EurAqua (European Network of Freshwater Research Organisations) and held the chairmanship during the period 2005-2009. Research institutes in 20 European countries cooperate in this network.
• led the UN/ECE's (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) programme for monitoring long-range transboundary air pollution for 25 years.
• actively participates in ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) and OSPAR (Protecting and conserving the North-East Atlantic and its resources) which lead efforts in monitoring the marine environment.
• has been a member of the Norwegian UNESCO Commission for many years. The commission is an arena for support of research and education in developing countries.

3. Projects in development research

NIVA helps Norwegian authorities implement development aid strategies. We cooperate with  authorities in developing nations to establish projects with Norwegian and multilateral funding, for instance the Nordic Development Fund, the Water Fund of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the World Bank.

NIVA activities include:

• Sharing state-of-the-art environmental management competence with local stakeholders, decision makers and researchers
• Establishing concepts and solutions to meet environmental challenges in collaboration with local researchers
• Building competence that can manage environmental challenges locally and sustainably
• Providing advice for adapting to the demands of and following up international environmental conventions and directives
• Contributing to the establishment and development of institutions for local environmental authorities
• Help in establishing monitoring activities and laboratories for analyses

4. Advisory services

NIVA helps the private and public sectors in many countries to solve their environmental challenges and improve environmental supervision, as well as to improve cost-efficiency and productivity related to water. The projects are financed by grants or by the clients themselves. We often collaborate with other Norwegian, international or local professional agencies or institutes.

We also have subsidiaries in Chile (NIVA Chile), Sweden (AquaBiota) and Russia (Akvaplan-niva Barents) that actively collaborate in our international initiatives.

Contact:

Benthe M. Wathne, director for international projects
Merete Johannessen Ulstein, project director
Anne Lyche Solheim, senior research scientist and research coordinator for the EU Water Directive
Haakon Thaulow, senior advisor, Water resource management
Thorjørn Larssen, research manager, Contaminants in freshwater environments
Morten Schaanning, research manager, Contaminants in marine environments