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Our growing partnership with the University of Bergen is creating new opportunities for research, education, and international collaboration between the UK and Norway.
Professor Margareth Hagen, Bergen's Rector, led a senior delegation to Durham, allowing leaders and academics from both universities to build on existing partnerships, share research strengths, and identify opportunities for closer international collaboration.
Exploring new opportunities for collaboration
Discussions highlighted the complementary academic and research strengths of Durham and Bergen, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and opportunities for joint research and external funding.
Durham researchers showcased work across energy transition, sustainability, climate and environmental risk, health and wellbeing, Arctic and space research, cultural heritage and international law.
The Bergen delegation commented on the breadth and quality of research taking place at Durham, particularly its interdisciplinary approach, and the potential to develop closer connections between researchers and academic teams at both institutions.
The visit also provided opportunities to explore closer cooperation across education, research and institutional partnerships.
Building on a growing strategic partnership
The visit builds on a series of senior-level exchanges between the two universities, including previous visits by Bergen's Rector Margareth Hagen, and University Director Tore Tungodden to Durham in September 2025 and a reciprocal visit by Durham's Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) to Bergen in April 2026.
Durham and Bergen jointly lead and coordinate the North Sea University Partnership (NSUP), an eight-university network established in December 2024 to strengthen collaboration between the UK and Norway.
Through NSUP, the institutions are working together to address shared challenges across the North Sea region, bringing together expertise from different disciplines and engaging with wider research, policy and industry communities.
Turning shared priorities into research
Eight collaborative projects were awarded funding through NSUP's inaugural Research Seed Fund in June 2026, involving three Durham researchers:
- Coastal Region Circular Options for Soil & Water Management (CoSoW) - Dr Ciara Keating;
- Tracks in the Seabed: Cultural-Legal Pathway Dependencies and Crossings in Norwegian and British Ocean Frontiers - Professor Philip Steinberg;
- North Sea 2040: From Energy System Dream to Reality - Professor Volker Röben.
The North Sea 2040 project brings together researchers from Durham, Bergen, Newcastle and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) to explore future North Sea energy systems. It is led by Professor Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui (University of Bergen), with Professor Volker Röben's participation as a Durham University project partner.
Together, these projects demonstrate how NSUP is translating shared priorities into collaborative research across the UK and Norway, spanning environmental sustainability, maritime governance and the energy transition.
Contributing to European priorities
NSUP also contributes to European research and policy discussions. The partnership published a position paper highlighting the strategic importance of the North Sea and made a collective contribution to the European Commission's consultation on its forthcoming European Ocean and Water Research and Innovation Strategy.
Celebrating Durham's heritage and connections
Alongside the academic discussions, the delegation experienced Durham's distinctive heritage through private tours of Durham Castle and Palace Green Library and Special Collections, including a specially curated selection of materials for the Bergen visitors.
Looking ahead
The visit reinforced the shared ambition to deepen bilateral collaboration, develop new research connections and pursue larger international funding opportunities.
Both universities will continue to work closely through NSUP, including preparations for its upcoming conference, North Sea Risk and Resilience - Research, Innovation and Policy for a Secure and Sustainable North Sea, taking place in Brussels on 3 December 2026.
The conference will bring together university leaders, researchers, policymakers and external stakeholders to examine the North Sea's strategic importance and explore shared approaches to critical infrastructure, security, sustainability and societal resilience.
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