Fridtjof Nansen Institute

About the Fridtjof Nansen Institute

The Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) is an independent foundation engaged in research on international environmental, energy and resource management politics.

Within this framework the institute’s research is mainly grouped around six focal points:

Global governance and sustainable development Law of the Sea and marine affairs Biodiversity and biosafety Polar and Russian politics European energy and environmental politics Chinese energy and environmental politics

The main discipline is political science, but FNI researchers also hold degrees in law, economics, history, social anthropology and biology, and have special language and regional competence on Russia and China.

FNI currently has a staff of around 35, including around 25 full-time researchers and 3-6 students.

FNI’s activities include academic studies, contract research, investigations and evaluations.

FNI’s sources of funding include the Research Council of Norway, various Norwegian public bodies, business associations and private companies, the European Commission and international research foundations. Annual turnover is around 30 million NOK.

FNI collaborates extensively with other research institutions and individual researchers, in Norway and abroad. It strives to make its expertise available and relevant to users as well as to the public at large. FNI research is published in international scholarly journals and books. The institute also has its own report series. In addition, it publishes a bi-annual newsletter – The FNI Newsletter.

FNI is the research arm of The Fridtjof Nansen Foundation at Polhøgda, established in 1958 to conduct research within the interest areas of Fridtjof Nansen and to maintain the property of Polhøgda, Nansen’s home. The Foundation is governed by a seven-member Board, elected by a Council. The Board appoints the Institute Director for periods of four years.