Cooperation – optimal use of resources

FFI is a large interdisciplinary research institute, and in order to optimally utilise resources, we cooperate with many actors, nationally and internationally.

This especially applies to the Ministry of Defence and subordinate agencies including the Armed Forces. They are our main contracting authorities and we therefore cooperate with e.g. Armed Forces’ personnel on a wide range of tasks. We also cooperate with other government ministries and agencies, especially relating to our work on societal security and emergency preparedness. 

The Triaxial collaboration model – for the good of Norwegian defence industry

An internationally competitive Norwegian defence industry is important for Norway’s defence capabilities, labour market and competence building. This is why we work according to the Triaxial Model – where the Armed Forces, defence industry and FFI cooperate closely on efforts related to innovation, knowledge and technology.

This way, the Norwegian defence industry can assert itself internationally as a significant export industry – at the same time as the overall defence sector is developed over time. Our contribution to this work ranges from technology scouting to prototype development and testing the robustness of finished products. 

High academic standard

In order to ensure that we maintain a high academic standard, cooperation with academia and participation in international research communities is important. Our employees teach and supervise students at universities and university colleges, among other places. We also publish in international journals and participate in international conferences.

International participation

International cooperation in the field of military research and development is important for Norway from a security policy perspective but also to maximise the use of resources. We participate in several expert groups in the NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO) and in the European Defence Agency (EDA).

We also have bi- and trilateral cooperation agreements with several countries, including the Netherlands, the UK, France and the U.S. For instance, the SMART cooperation with the Netherlands includes, among other things, space research for military purposes and protective measures against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.