When the world-leading energy researcher Professor Benjamin Sovacool was appointed by Western Research, according to the research leader, it was as great as if Sogndal football had signed Ronaldo. This week saw the younger researchers in particular benefit from Sovacool's unique experience as a writer and publisher. They are very satisfied.

Vestlandsforsking has been awared funding for its research on ICT and minority integration in Norway by the Rådet for anvendt medieforskning (RAM) program of the Medietilsynet.

A research based committee was appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday 7th of Januar. The committee's mandate is to evaluate all sides of the EEA Agreement and other agreements between Norway and EU and look at the over all effects on the Norwegian society. Research Manager Ivar Petter Grøtte from Vestlandsforsking will be one of three secretaries for the committee in its two year long work.

Robert Engels, who holds a position as a scientific adviser at Vestlandsforsking, has two great passions: semantic technologies and motorbikes. He now tries to combine these two in his Linux-enabled motorbike!

Vestlandsforsking is engaged by the Agency for Public Management and eGovernment (DIFI) to develop a strategy for renewal of the personal public service portal Mypage and the information portal www.norge.no together with the consulting company Bouvet AS.