Collaboration with NTNU

It is important for society to take advantage of the knowledge developed in research communities. Effective communication and teamwork with external partners provides motivation for further development of research and education.

Many of the research communities at NTNU have well-developed collaboration and partnership with the world of business. Areas of collaboration range from organized research training and student projects to exchange of data and specific skills.

Collaboration and contract management

Collaboration generally involves businesses and one or more academic communities at NTNU. The academic communities can provide information about different models of cooperation. It is important to agree on expectations, constraints and the framework for your collaboration. For all externally funded projects at NTNU, a contract must be signed.

More information on contract management (in Norwegian).

Intellectual property (IP)

NTNU emphasizes creating a reliable and predictable framework for collaboration with external research and industrial partners. Our aim is that our partners find that they get the rights they need for commercial utilization in their own operations. At the same time, NTNU’s policy on intellectual property must safeguard the academic freedom of the university and the researchers.

The general rule is that NTNU owns the intellectual property rights that are generated from NTNU’s resources. To ensure the widest possible application of our research results, collaborative partners in business and the working world are granted rights of use primarily through licensing.

More on intellectual property rights

CIP – Center for Intellectual Property

The Center for Intellectual Property (CIP) is an interdisciplinary development center currently jointly governed by Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, and NTNU.

CIP provides a platform for the promotion of research, education and collaboration based on the strategic management of intellectual assets and property.

Rights, contracts and purchase of technology

The role of NTNU Technology Transfer Office – TTO – is to create the basis for commercial activity at NTNU. The TTO’s responsibilities include safeguarding interests with regard to policy, rights and contracts. TTO can contribute with expertise in

• patenting
• intellectual property rights
• law
• market analysis
• business development
• licence agreements
• business start-ups

TTO can assist those who want to invest in research and technology. They have an overview of NTNU technology that is ready for licensing and commercialization. TTO can also help you to start a dialogue with relevant academic environments and key people at NTNU.

Contact TTO for help and available technologies

Funding

The Research Council of Norway offers a variety of support schemes for businesses that would like to work together with NTNU.

• The SkatteFUNN tax incentive scheme is one of the easiest ways to get in. The scheme provides a tax deduction for the costs of research and development.
• Businesses and organizations can obtain support for an Industrial PhD (Nærings-ph.d)  to contribute to long-term development of expertise. A similar scheme is available for a public-sector PhD (Offentlig sektor-ph.d., OFFPHD)
• The Research Council of Norway also offers a number of innovation programmes and EU-funded support schemes. For more about this, see the web page the web page For Industry at the Research Council of Norway.

NTNU Discovery offers early-stage funding of ideas with commercialization potential ideas.

Business networks

In recent years, many of the business networks known in Norwegian as “næringslivsringer” have been established at faculties, departments and programmes of study at NTNU. The main purpose of these forums for collaboration is to involve partners in business, industry and government administration in fruitful cooperation to strengthen the educational activities at the university.

Business network partnerships at NTNU

Cluster collaboration

NTNU is a member of a number of cluster collaboration networks at national and international level, through Norwegian Centres of Expertise (NCE), Global Centres of Expertise (GCE) and ARENA clusters. The cluster collaboration networks share the goal of promoting innovation and collaboration between businesses, research and educational environments, and public-sector players.

Cluster collaboration networks at NTNU

Contact the academic environments

Most collaboration linking business and the public sector with NTNU is anchored in the academic communities at the various departments and faculties. These communities of experts have a wealth of knowledge about making the most of partnerships to provide professional benefits for all parties.

Contact the academic community that you are interested in

NTNU in Gjøvik

NTNU in Gjøvik has strong knowledge communities in areas such as information security, computer and information science, patient safety and welfare technology, manufacturing and bioeconomy.

The Center for Cyber and Information Security (CCIS) is one of Europe’s foremost research and educational environments in cyber and information security.

Bioeconomy research groups work in close collaboration with industry and other research environments to gain a leading position in the woodworking industry with a focus on wooden building in urban regions, as well as on bio-based plastic.

Research and development on patient safety and welfare technology lead to a safer public health service and improved welfare services. Human services research is interdisciplinary and is characterized by close contact with the field of practice.

Contact NTNU in Gjøvik

NTNU in Ålesund

NTNU in Ålesund is recognized for its close and successful collaboration with the maritime industry.

The maritime cluster in Norway’s Møre region is in the global forefront in maritime technology and operations. Much of the collaboration goes through Ålesund Kunnskapspark (in Norwegian), and the cluster collaboration networks Blue Legasea and Blue Maritime.

NTNU hosts the MOVE Centre for Research-based Innovation (CRI) and the Ship Design and Operations lab (ShipLab), which conduct advanced research and simulation of marine operations.

Students are also strongly involved in innovation and business collaboration, through the student organization Start Ålesund and student businesses.

Contact NTNU in Ålesund