Cooperation with the Nordic Institutions
Nordic Co-operation funds about twenty institutions throughout the region. Here are links to all the institutions under the umbrella of official Nordic Co-operation.
The Nordic Council of Ministers Information Office in Kaliningrad develops cooperation with the following Nordic Institutions to achieve its objectives:
Nordregio – Nordic Centre for Spatial Development
Nordregio is a European centre for research, education and documentation. It develops and communicates relevant knowledge to authorities within regional development and planning in the Nordic countries. The institute seeks to integrate regional development policy, on the one hand, and physical planning, on the other, with the aim of promoting long-term development. The institute carries out and disseminates contract and thematic research, providing a relevant knowledge base for decision making to politicians and authorities. The institute offers continuing education courses for administrators and planners and further develops and updates statistical databases. More about Nordregio at www.nordregio.se
NordForsk - Nordic Research Board
NordForsk is responsible for Nordic cooperation within research and research training. Central players in NordForsk are the national research councils, other research-funding agencies and the universities. Cooperation focuses on the areas within research where the Nordic countries are strong scientifically and perhaps also world leaders. The aim of NordForsk is to promote research of supreme international quality. More about NordForsk at www.nordforsk.org
NICe - Nordic Innovation Centre
NICe is the Nordic Council of Ministers single most important instrument for promoting an innovative and knowledge-intensive Nordic business sector. Each of the Nordic countries possessing knowledge through increased co-operation will significantly improve innovation capabilities and competitiveness for Nordic businesses. Today, the Nordic Innovation Centre is an important player in Nordic knowledge platforms within the areas of innovation policy, creative industries, biotechnology, food safety and innovative building & construction. Establishing common Nordic knowledge platforms on strategically important areas give Nordic businesses access to the best knowledge possible and greatly enhance their innovation potential. More about NICe at www.nordicinnovation.net
NOPEF - Nordic Project Fund
The main objective of NOPEF is to strengthen the international competitiveness of Nordic Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). Nopef grants favorable loans and grants to Nordic SMEs for their feasibility study expenses for international business set up and project export. More about NOPEF at www.nopef.com
NVC - Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues
The Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues aims to improve the quality of social policies in the Nordic countries through education, information, the promotion of research, development work, network building and international co-operation. More about NVC at www.nordicwelfare.org
NIB - Nordic Investment Bank
NIB offers its clients, comprising businesses and organizations in private and public sectors, long-term loans and guarantees on competitive market terms. NIB can help to finance projects presenting adequate security and a good risk classification, both within and outside the member countries. NIB was originally formed by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in the mid-1970s. In the beginning of 2005 NIB acquired three new members with the accession of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. More about NIB at www.nib.int
NEFCO - Nordic Environment Finance Corporation
NEFCO finances a wide range of environmental projects in Central and Eastern European countries, including Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Its purpose is to facilitate the implementation of environmentally beneficial projects in the neighbouring region, with transboundary effects which also benefit the Nordic region. NEFCO`s portfolio currently comprises over 250 projects spread across different sectors, including: chemical, metals, food and engineering, agriculture, water treatment, power utilities, municipal services, waste management, environmental management and environmental equipment manufacturing.
NEFCO projects are usually run in partnership with the enterprise that “owns” the project. Emphasis is placed on direct investments from, for example, public-private partnerships and corporate public services. The structure of any project supported by NEFCO needs to create reasonable equilibrium between risk and reward for all interested parties. More about NEFCO at www.nefco.fi
NER - Nordic Energy Research
Nordic Energy Research is the funding institution for energy research under the Nordic Council of Ministers – an intergovernmental body between Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland. More about NER at www.nordicenergy.net
NIVA - Nordic Institute for Advanced Training in occupational Health
NIVA is a Nordic organisation which provides a forum for the dissemination of knowledge in the field of occupational health and safety. NIVA organises various forms of training courses, seminars and workshops. More about NIVA at www.niva.org
NKF - Nordic Culture Fund
The Nordic Culture Fund aims to further Nordic cultural cooperation. The Fund concerns itself with a wide range of art- and culture related areas, involving both professionals and amateurs. More about NKF at www.nordiskkulturfond.org
NHV - Nordic School of Public Health
NHV is an institution for higher education and research within the area of public health. The school offers basic, advanced, and research training courses in public health science for personnel in the health care and nursing professions in the Nordic countries and adjacent areas. More about NHV at www.nhv.se
Edited October 2009
