Fridtjof Nansens Institutt

General information

The Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) is an independent research foundation, working on international environmental, energy and resource management issues.

Within this framework the institute's research is mainly grouped around six focal points:

- Global governance and sustainable development
- Law of the Sea and marine affairs
- Biodiversity and biosafety
- Polar and Russian politics
- European energy and environmental politics
- Chinese energy and environmental politics

The main discipline is political science, but FNI researchers also hold degrees in law, economics, history, social anthropology and biology, and have special language and regional competence on Russia and China.

FNI currently has a staff of around 35, including around 25 full-time researchers and 3-6 students.

FNI's activities include academic studies, contract research, investigations and evaluations.

FNI is the research arm of The Fridtjof Nansen Foundation at Polhøgda, established in 1958 to conduct research within the interest areas of Fridtjof Nansen and to maintain the property of Polhøgda, Nansen's home. The Foundation is governed by a seven-member Board, elected by a Council. The Board appoints the Institute Director for periods of four years.