Moser success is built partly to travel out to learn, but largely through … – Aftenposten

When May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser this week receive the Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology, it is a milestone for Norwegian research.

Can we learn from their experiences and transfer knowledge to other research, the result could be epochal.

Today I discuss this in a Scandinavian perspective in the Norwegian embassy in Stockholm ; with representatives from the Norwegian Research Council, the Royal Vetenskapsakademien, Karolinska Institute and not least Nobel laureates themselves.

We have a shared ambition:

Scandinavian countries must be attractive in the extremely sharp international competition we face .

un-Norwegian?

“The heartfelt cheers to Nobel laureate May-Britt Moser is so wonderful un-Norwegian and makes me touched and happy. Wow! Congratulations! “Were the words writer Tom Egeland put on feeling.

un-Norwegian. It was also the title commentator in Dagens Næringsliv, Eva Grinde, used about the complexities of facilitating elite scientists, while other tasks also require attention and resources.

Yes, perhaps the un-Norwegian – some would call it elitist – the priorities we have done. May-Britt and Edvard Moser’s goal has been to reveal the brain’s secrets.

As a university leadership we have had to be bold enough to believe that they can do it. And to provide lasting, predictable and internationally competitive conditions for them and the people they wanted to hire.

Not everyone can win a Nobel Prize. May-Britt and Edvard Moser have reached so far because they have some basic important personal characteristics. They are dedicated, outstanding scholars, with a very special ability at the same time to think again and to keep the thread. They are also wonderful lagbyggere.

Network and recruitment

But one important strategy that everyone can learn from, their ambitious approach to network and recruitment. They have been very conscious to build an international network at the highest level. One result of this is that they now share the Nobel Prize with John O’Keefe.

Moser couple success is built partly to travel out to learn, but largely by inviting world Trondheim.

We are importing now the world’s leading labor. Many of those who today are employed at the Center for Neural Networks and Kavli Institute for system neuroscience, have job offers at renowned universities worldwide. But they have chosen Norway.

They have found that for people with ambition, is Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is good place to be. And that Norway is a good country to be good in.

Commodity Producers

Today, Norway is commodity producer in terms of scientific talent. Many have studied with us, started up a promising academic career – then complete abroad.

Now we must turn the tide! We must realize that we have all the prerequisites to obtain the greatest talents here.

Norway is one of the best countries to live in. It’s about welfare, equality and good upbringing. About democracy and peace. About unlimited access to nature and outdoor activities. About opportunities for all to succeed.

We have some natural advantages for the world’s leading research, for example in the energy and marine / maritime research. Now we have also received a boost in the state budget; this time 70 million spread over five universities which starter to create world-class environments.

Should we create environments world, we must focus. NTNU has started a star program, where 17 especially talented researchers receive additional funding and support. Other universities have other initiatives.

NTNU launches International Chairs: We will recruit foreign top researchers in “next-to-Nobel” level to strategically important areas.

It will require substantial resources; wages, accumulation of research and laboratories. We are therefore in dialogue with major Norwegian and international companies for contributions to financing.

Recognition

The Nobel Prize is an acknowledgment of what is possible to achieve at NTNU in Trondheim Norway. How has the meaning of the entire Research Norway.

It was easy to get infection of enthusiasm that occurred in October. Enthusiasm can go overboard. When I still think that this might be epochal for Norwegian research as a whole, due to the reactions after the price.

More asks namely: “What can we learn? How can this be recreated in other communities? “No one is satisfied with the success, all want it to be used to inspire!

We are currently working to formulate the answer to how one story can lead to many. Nobel Laureates themselves are eager to help, which they show when we meet for conversation in the Norwegian Embassy in Stockholm today.

Read also:

Chronicle “Nobel Prize in medicine can send laureates out of Norway”

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Published: 07.des. 2014 9:40 p.m.