ABSTRACT
Norwegian research institutes are important participants in the research infrastructure, and have a special role in applied research. The Research Council of Norway (RCN) states that the research institutes should offer research of high quality and relevance for utilisation in industry and commerce, public administration and society in general. In order to ensure that these institutes fulfil the social task they have been given, they are measured according to four main criteria:
1 relevance to society 2 scientic quality 3 competitiveness 4 structure.
