Norwegian university specializing in rural development, sustainability transitions, migration governance, and health equity research across European consortia.
The University of Inland Norway is a Norwegian university conducting applied social science research with a strong focus on rural development, public health, and sustainability transitions. They study how communities — particularly in rural and mountain regions — can adapt to challenges like migration, climate change, and social inequality. Their work spans energy-economy modelling for low-carbon transitions, nature-based urban solutions for mental health, and migration governance in underserved areas. They bring a distinctive rural and regional development perspective to European research consortia.
SIMRA (social innovation in marginalised rural areas), MATILDE (migration in rural/mountain regions), and Co-VAL (public service transformation) all address governance and development in underserved communities.
LOCOMOTION developed integrated energy-economy-environment models using system dynamics and input-output analysis; GO GREEN ROUTES applied sustainability thinking to urban green infrastructure.
MATILDE specifically studied migrants' integration, migration governance, and place-based policy solutions for third country nationals in rural areas.
EDUHEALTH focused on equitable health outcomes through physical education; GO GREEN ROUTES linked urban nature-based solutions to mental health and resilience.
GO GREEN ROUTES (2020-2024) explored resilient urban environmental solutions connecting green infrastructure to public health outcomes.
In their early H2020 period (2016-2019), the university focused on social themes: health equity in education, physical activity research, and social innovation in rural areas. From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward environmental sustainability — energy transition modelling, migration impacts on rural communities, and urban green infrastructure for resilience. The trajectory shows a university moving from purely social research toward the intersection of social and environmental challenges.
They are converging on socio-environmental challenges in rural and urban settings, making them a strong fit for future Green Deal and Just Transition projects.
The University of Inland Norway has participated exclusively as a partner — never as coordinator — across all six H2020 projects, suggesting they contribute specialized expertise rather than lead large consortia. With 117 unique partners across 31 countries, they integrate into broad European networks and are comfortable in large, diverse teams. This makes them a low-risk, experienced partner who can reliably deliver their component without requiring project leadership responsibilities.
Extensive network spanning 117 unique partners across 31 countries, indicating strong pan-European reach despite being a relatively young H2020 participant. Their partnerships are broadly distributed rather than concentrated in any single region.
What sets the University of Inland Norway apart is their consistent focus on rural, mountain, and marginalised regions — a perspective underrepresented in European research where urban-centric institutions dominate. They combine social science rigour with environmental and sustainability expertise, bridging the gap between community-level impacts and system-level modelling. For consortia needing a partner who understands how European policies play out in non-metropolitan areas, they are a natural fit.
