The Barents Institute

Vision

Through knowledge production and capacity building on the high north and the European borderlands located in the Barents Region, our aim is to serve both the local and the global, the community in which we are located and those around the world interested in border and high north issues.  The Barents Institute aims to build excellent competence and expertise on borders and border regions in the Barents Region and beyond.

Mission

In response to the need to produce knowledge about and to explain the border region between Norway and Russia, and to gain competence on the transnational relationships among the countries in the Barents Region, The Barents Institute was forged in 2006. The central focus of The new Barents Institute is on the research and knowledge production regarding border regions and borderlands in Europe.  In the process, we aim to fill a niche in Norwegian academia, which does not yet offer a specialization on border studies and research. Located in Northern Norway, The Barents Institute also pursues goals outlined in Norway’s strategic plans on the High North within the Barents Region and in comparative perspective. 

Objectives

Our aim is to serve our community and stakeholders in Northern Norway and to gain visibility and trust within the local community of Sør Varanger, the Barents Region, and globally.

• In 5 (five) years, to be a leading research institute on border studies and filling the existing niche in Norway with regards to the study of borders and borderlands;
• To produce high level international refereed publications on our areas of focus:
  • border and borderland studies including everyday life in border regions ;
  • place and industrial development in the High North, including the impact of industry on populations;
  • resource extraction, trade, and logistics across borders;
• To do applied research commissioned by our constituents and community stakeholders;
• To facilitate teaching on border studies, transnational relations in the Barents Region, and Northern development;
• To comment on policies, and to advance and lead discussions and debates on border issues, transnational relations, and Northern development in the Barents Region based on solid research and data analysis.