Dear colleagues,
The main purpose of the long-term plan for research and higher education is to ensure predictability, transparency and a long-term perspective in connection with national investments in knowledge.
In the new plan published in the autumn, the government has introduced two national social missions to contribute to society making greater use of research findings: Sustainable feed and Include more children and young people in education, work and society.
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Sustainable feed
Through the sustainable feed social mission, the government wants to help ensure that all feed for livestock and farmed fish in Norway comes from sustainable sources. This will be an important step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Norwegian feed industry, ensuring better utilisation of our resources, and improving our food security.
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Include more children and young people in education, work and society
Many people who end up falling outside the system have often had a rough start in life. By reducing the proportion of young people who fall outside the system, we create value for both the individuals concerned and for society. In this way, we can build a stronger democracy and help level out inequalities in society.
How can MED’s research contribute?
The question is how our research and education can contribute to these two social missions. Nutrition and antibiotic resistance are of course natural points of departure for the sustainable feed social mission. And mental health is obviously an important topic when talking about how to ensure children and young people do not drop out of education, the labour market and society.
However, it is also important that we keep an open mind and continue to look for other ways to contribute to these social missions. Can your research make a long-term contribution to resolving the challenges addressed in the two social missions?
Development of the Norwegian research system
The two social missions must also be regarded as pilots that will give the government experience of how these kinds of missions can work in the Norwegian research system. By contributing actively, we want to be involved in this development.
I would love to hear your ideas on how you think we can resolve this. How can your research contribute to fulfilment of the government’s social missions? Would you consider contributing to a panel to work on some suggestions as to how MED can contribute? Use the Dean’s digital mailbox to report your interest and feel free to provide input and ideas.