2026 designated as Total Preparedness year amid rising crises – The government frames 2026 as the “Totalberedskap” year, citing more frequent extreme weather, accelerating technology races, heightened NATO tensions, and an ongoing war in Europe, prompting a focus on national readiness [1].
Knowledge preparedness lacks plan and stable funding, analysis shows flat growth – An Oslo Economics and NIFU study finds the research sector’s real growth has been nearly flat for years while costs have risen sharply, and no dedicated plan or baseline financing exists for “kunnskapsberedskap” [1].
University core budgets cut by about 3.1 billion NOK since Solberg era – Since the efficiency cuts introduced under Erna Solberg, universities have lost roughly 3.1 billion kroner in basic funding, shrinking resources for core activities [1].
Researchers now spend 13 % of work on grant applications, up from 3‑4 % a decade ago – The time burden of writing proposals has grown, diverting effort from research, teaching, and outreach and weakening the system’s capacity to generate knowledge [1].
Magnar Bjørås warns current funding model wastes tax money, likening it to a factory without raw materials – “It is unwise to build a whole research system and then pinch project financing; it’s like building a factory, investing in machines and staff, but not buying raw materials,” he said [2].
Government’s 5 % rule forces short‑term budgeting, hindering long‑term knowledge resilience – Universities may only carry over 5 % of unspent funds to the next fiscal year, a rule that encourages short‑term spending and prevents the creation of buffers needed for future crises [1].