Research in the Faroe Islands

A thriving and growing culture

A Diverse Research Landscape

There are several institutes, laboratories, museums and private companies working on original research projects in the Faroe Islands.

International collaboration is essential to the quality of Faroese research and innovation. Faroese researchers participate in many international networks, and the Faroese research and innovation landscape is to a large extent anchored in international partnerships.

higher education sector

Education and research

The Faroe Islands have an institution of higher education which is also a centre for research.

The University of the Faroe Islands

The University of the Faroe Islands - Fróðskaparsetur Føroya - is a research and education institution.

Research is conducted in a number of fields that are being taught at the university. The university collaborates closely with other research institutions and with private companies in certain research areas. The university also collaborates with several universities in neighbouring countries.

The university has five faculties.

Faculty of Faroese Language and Literature

The Faculty of Faroese Language and Literature conducts research on Faroese language and literature and lectures in these fields.

Faculty of Education

The Faculty of Education conducts research in education and didactics.and offers degrees and professional qualifications for school teachers and social educators.

Faculty of History and Social Sciences

The Faculty of History and Social Sciences conducts research and offers degrees and in history, politics, economics, and ethnology.

Faculty of Health Sciences

The Faculty of Health Sciences educates nurses and arranges training for nurses and nursing staff.

Faculty of Science and Technology

The Faculty of Science and Technology conducts research and offers higher education in geophysics, information technology and biology.

research institutes

Health, biology and environment

There are several governmental research institutes in the Faroe Islands. The institutes mainly conduct research in marine, natural and medical sciences.

Some of the institutes also have specific tasks assigned by the government.

Most institutes have substantial collaboration with international research institutes on joint research projects.

Medicine, Public Health and Genetics

The Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health

The Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health (in Faroese) - Deildin fyri Arbeiðs- og Almannaheilsu - has considerable experience in Faroese and international medical research.

The National Hospital of the Faroe Islands

The National Hospital of the Faroe Islands - Landssjúkrahúsið - has in recent years been involved in a growing number of research projects.

The Genetic Biobank

The Genetic Biobank - Ílegusavnið - maintains an active biobank with a Tissue Registry, a Diagnosis Registry and a Genealogy Registry. The Biobank processes applications for permission to access and study the information contained in these registries.

Marine Biology

Faroe Marine Research Institute

Faroe Marine Research Institute - Havstovan - conducts research on marine climate and ecosystems in Faroese waters.

The institute conducts regular research cruises with its research vessel, Jákup Sverri.

Aquaculture Research Station of the Faroes

Aquaculture Research Station of the Faroes - Fiskaaling - is a limited company, owned by the Faroese government.

The company conducts research and provides advice within the farming of water-based animals and plants and within bio-technology.

Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Faroese Geological Survey

The Faroese Geological Survey - Jarðfeingi - is the national geological survey of the Faroe Islands. It conducts research and geological mapping onshore as well as offshore and stores all relevant data in the national geological archive.

The directorate is responsible for all administrative tasks relating to petroleum exploration and exploitation activities as well as electrical energy in the Faroe Islands.

The Environment Agency

The Environment Agency - Umhvørvisstovan - conducts research on pollution in animals, humans, nature and urban areas. The institute maintains an environmental specimen bank with various biological items suitable for further research.

The institute also conducts impact and environmental status assessments.

The Faroese Food and Veterinary Authority

The Faroese Food and Veterinary Authority - Heilsufrøðiliga Starvsstovan - carries out statutory control and laboratory checks within the food and veterinary fields and undertakes research and development in connection with these tasks.

The Agricultural Agency

The Agricultural Agency - Búnaðarstovan - carries out statutory control and tests within the agricultural field and undertakes research and development in connection with these tasks.

National Heritage

The National Museum

The National Museum - Tjóðsavn Føroya - collects, catalogues and exhibits archaeological and biological specimens.

The museum participates in several international research programmes.

The National Archives

The National Archives (in Faroese) - Tjóðskjalasavnið - conducts research in administrative and political history.

The institute collects and preserves documents of historical value or of administrative and legal importance to citizens and authorities.

industrial sector

Private research programmes

The industry participates in several research projects conducted by governmental research institutes. A few private companies have research programmes of their own.

Research Park iNOVA

Research Park iNOVA is a scientific environment in Tórshavn providing access to modern laboratories, high-end instruments, offices and event location for private companies and public institutions.

There is a thriving and growing research culture in the Faroe Islands, with several institutes, laboratories, museums and private companies working on original research projects.

higher education sector

Education and research

There is one university in the Faroe Islands.

The University of the Faroe Islands

The University of the Faroe Islands - Fróðskaparsetur Føroya - is a research and education institution.

The university has five faculties.

Faculty of Faroese Language and Literature

The Faculty of Faroese Language and Literature conducts research on Faroese language and literature and lectures in these fields.

The faculty offers BA and MA degrees in Faroese. Subject to special regulations, candidates may also study for a Ph.D. in linguistics or literature.

Faculty of Education

The Faculty of Education offers degrees and professional qualifications for school teachers and social educators. The faculty conducts and promotes research in education and didactics.

Faculty of History and Social Sciences

The Faculty of History and Social Sciences offers degrees and conducts research in the areas of history, politics, economics, and ethnology.

Faculty of Health Sciences

The Faculty of Health Sciences educates nurses and arranges training for nurses and nursing staff.

Faculty of Science and Technology

The Faculty of Science and Technology offers higher education and conducts research in geophysics, information technology and biology.

Funding for Research

Financial support for research projects or studies in the Faroe Islands may be achieved from funds in the Faroe Islands.

fAROEse funding

Faroese government support

Several fully or partially government funds in the Faroe Islands offer financial support for research projects.

Faroese Research Foundation

The Faroese Research Foundation is a government funded research foundation, which funds research and research driven innovation projects connected to the Faroe Islands.

Grants are given to Faroese researchers and research students, research and development at or associated with Faroese research institutes and commercial enterprises, and research and development which is significant in the Faroe Islands.

Funding through the Research Council is allocated once a year. The application deadline is mid February.

It is required that at least one third of the total cost is funded by others than the Faroese Research Council.

Research Council Faroe Islands administers the Faroese Research Foundation.

Faroese Research Foundation

Marine Research in the North Atlantic Ocean

A research programme funded by the Danish government on Marine Research in the North Atlantic Ocean, especially related to climate change, is administered by Research Council Faroe Islands.

The aim of the programme is to generate new knowledge on the marine environment which may contribute to create solutions to challenges like the oceanic heat transport towards the North East Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic, the separation between upper and deeper water masses, growth and recruitment potential for commercially important fish stocks, and acidification of the ocean.

The programme also aims to promote cooperation between the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Denmark on marine research. Only research institutes from these three countries can benefit from the programme.

Marine Research in the North Atlantic Ocean

Fisheries Research Fund of the Faroe Islands

The Fisheries Research Fund is a government fund for fisheries research and development projects. The aim of the fund is to stimulate scientific and industrial R&D projects in order to develop the Faroese fishing industry, harvesting, processing and trade, with regards to the biologically, economically and socially sustainable use of marine resources.

The Fisheries Research Fund receives a yearly funding from the Faroese government.

Grants are given to Faroese researchers or research students and foreign researchers cooperating with Faroese researchers or research institutes.

Funding trough the Fisheries Research Fund is allocated once a year.

Fisheries Research Fund (in Faroese)

Business Development Fund

The Business Development Fund is a partly government funded fund supporting initiatives which diversify commercial enterprise and increase the use of knowledge. The fund provides grants for e.g. development of goods and services, innovative projects and research and study projects.

Grants are given to Faroese concerns only. Foreign researchers cooperating with a Faroese concern can apply for grants from the Business Development Fund.

Applications are considered every month.

Business Development Fund (in Faroese)

Policies on Research and Innovation

Research policies in the Faroe Islands are based on an Act of Research, Development and Innovation and a National Action Plan.

research policies

Merging of Research and Innovation

The Faroese Parliament has recently passed a new Act which merges research, development and innovation.

ACT ON RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION

Research, development and innovation have so far been regarded as three separate entities administered in different systems.

A new Act on Research, Development and Innovation has now been adopted which will merge the three areas into one by setting up a new council covering all areas.

The council will administer all government grants and provide clear and complete guidance to applicants about their opportunities. It will provide valuable strategic consultancy to the government and the industry and will also aim to clarify the country’s role in international collaborations in the fields of R&D and innovation.

The new Act on Research, Development and Innovation became valid on January 1st, 2021.

NATIONAL ACTION PLAN

A National Action Plan for Research was adopted by the Faroese Science Council in 2011. The headline for the policy was Knowledge & Growth.

The Plan set the framework for the joint effort of the political system, the research community and the administration to organize and strenghten Faroese research from 2011 to 2015.

A new strategic plan for Research, Development and Innovation will be set up by the new council responsible for the area.