The Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)

NIVA is Norway’s leading institute for basic and applied research on marine and freshwaters. The institute’s research comprises of a wide range of environmental, climatic and resource-related fields. Its problem solving and advisory services applies a multidisciplinary approach through combining research, monitoring and evaluation.

NIVA was founded in 1958 and is a non-profit research foundation with its board appointed by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Research Council of Norway and employees.

NIVA has five offices; one at Oslo Innovation Centre/CIENS (head office), and four regional offices in Bergen, Grimstad, Hamar, and Copenhagen, in addition to a research facility in the Oslo Fjord.

Currently NIVA has over 400 employees, whereby two-thirds have backgrounds in water sciences and over half work in research areas such as chemistry, biology, limnology, geology, hydrology, environmental technology, ecotoxicology, oceanography, geography, resource management and environmental economics.

NIVA has good experience with international research cooperation and about 20 % of its turnover comes from international projects.

As one of the subsidiaries of NIVA, NIVA China Environment Research and Development Co. Ltd (NIVA China) is dedicated to providing proven solutions to China’s environmental problems by introducing advanced environmental protection concepts, experience, technology and equipment from Norway and Europe. NIVA China carries out consulting services and technology transfer in the fields of water pollution detection, traceability, and early warning and emergency response, with focus on the development of artificial intelligence-based online detection technology for non-targeted pollutants in water bodies, to achieve the integration of technology and equipment, automation, intelligence and information technology. NIVA China’s work areas also include sewage treatment, environmental-friendly disposal of hazardous waste, remediation of contaminated soil, integrated application of algae, aquaculture, and food safety, as well as working as a bridge for international environmental cooperation by organizing international conferences, workshops and seminars.