North Sea Universities Deepen UK–Norway Collaboration in London

North Sea Universities Deepen UK–Norway Collaboration in London|12 June 2026

The North Sea University Partnership (NSUP) took another step forward on 12 June as university leaders from Norway and northern England met in London with representatives from the Norwegian and British embassies, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the British Antarctic Survey, Equinor, and the diplomatic community. Discussions focused on research and innovation collaboration, Arctic issues, security and defence, the energy transition and resilience and health.

A key rationale for NSUP is that universities in Norway and the UK have much to gain from working together because of their shared proximity to the North Sea. The North Sea connects us through common research interests, innovation needs, histories, and identities, while shaping our relationship with Europe, current challenges, and the wider world.

On Friday, the rectors and vice-chancellors of the NSUP universities met at the Norwegian Residence in London. In the building that hosted the Norwegian Parliament during the Second World War, discussions highlighted the central role that research and education will play in this growing collaboration between Norway and the UK.

The meeting followed the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding on Education by Norway’s Minister for Research and Higher Education, Sigrun Aasland, and UK Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith, further strengthening the strategic relationship between the two countries and reinforcing a shared commitment to collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation.

The signing took place at the Department for Education in London, alongside discussions on strengthening research collaboration and educational exchange between the two countries, including presentations on the North Sea University Partnership by Professor Claire O’Malley, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global), Durham University, and Professor Margareth Hagen, Rector of the University of Bergen, in the presence of Minister Aasland and Minister Jacqui Smith.

Both Professor Claire O’Malley and Professor Margareth Hagen also joined a roundtable discussion on UK–Norway higher education collaboration, focusing on barriers, strengths, opportunities for partnership, talent attraction, and ways to enhance shared competitiveness under the MoU between the Department for Education and Norway’s Ministry of Research and Higher Education.

Through strong academic collaboration, student exchange, and the sharing of knowledge about the North Sea, NSUP looks forward to contributing to this growing partnership.

The partnership is grateful to the Royal Norwegian Embassy in London, Ambassador Tore Hattrem, and Øystein Lund for hosting the meeting and providing an excellent setting for discussions on the future of UK–Norway collaboration.