OSLOMET - STORBYUNIVERSITETET

Their core work

OsloMet is Norway's largest university of applied sciences, specializing in social policy research, responsible research and innovation (RRI), and food system transformation. Their H2020 work focuses on understanding how social inequalities play out in employment, citizenship, digital access, and public health — then translating findings into policy recommendations and practical tools. They bridge social science methods (participatory research, citizen science, lifecourse interviews) with real-world challenges like youth exclusion, disability inclusion, and food safety, making them a strong partner for projects that need rigorous social impact analysis alongside technical development.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015–2018, OsloMet's portfolio centred on responsible research and innovation frameworks (RRI-Practice, PRINTEGER), labour market exclusion (NEGOTIATE), and early food chain sustainability work (Strength2Food). From 2019 onward, their focus shifted markedly toward social citizenship and rights (EUROSHIP, HARBOR), youth-centred citizen science and social innovation (YOUCOUNT, EQUALS-EU), and digital health applications (AI-Mind). The evolution shows a move from studying research governance processes toward directly addressing social inequalities through participatory methods and digital tools.

OsloMet is increasingly combining citizen science and participatory methods with social policy challenges — expect future proposals at the intersection of digital tools, social innovation, and inclusive governance.

How they like to work

OsloMet balances leadership and partnership well: they coordinated 11 of 30 projects (37%), often leading mid-sized social science consortia (EUR 200K–880K range). With 448 unique partners across 48 countries, they operate as a network hub rather than sticking to a fixed set of collaborators. This makes them adaptable consortium members who bring strong coordination experience and broad European networks, particularly valuable for SSH-oriented or multi-actor projects.

OsloMet has built an exceptionally wide network of 448 unique partners spanning 48 countries, placing them among the most connected Norwegian universities in H2020 social science research. Their collaborations span all of Europe with meaningful links to Nordic, Western European, and Southern European institutions.

What sets them apart

OsloMet occupies a distinctive niche as a university of applied sciences that combines deep social policy expertise with hands-on participatory research methods — they don't just study inequality, they co-design solutions with affected communities. Their dual strength in RRI governance and concrete social inclusion challenges (youth, disability, migration, healthcare access) makes them unusually effective at bridging the gap between EU policy frameworks and on-the-ground implementation. For consortium builders, they bring both coordination muscle (11 coordinated projects) and genuine methodological depth in citizen science and social innovation.

Highlights from their portfolio

• AI-Mind
  Largest single grant (EUR 984K) and a strategic pivot into AI-driven health screening — dementia risk assessment using brain connectivity and machine learning.
• EUROSHIP
  Coordinated a flagship social citizenship project (EUR 813K) addressing resilience, poverty, and social protection across Europe — directly tied to the European Pillar of Social Rights.
• YOUCOUNT
  Coordinated an innovative citizen social science project empowering disadvantaged youth to co-create social innovations and influence policymaking — exemplifies OsloMet's participatory approach.