The Research Council of Norway (RCN) has an annual budget of more than NOK 5 billion and plays a central role in Norwegian research. The mandate of the Council is to promote and support basic and applied research in all areas of science, technology, medicine and the humanities. Important goals include raising the general level of the understanding of research in society as a whole and supporting innovation in all sectors and branches of industry.

The Research Council of Norway is a strategic body which identifies areas of special effort, allocates research funds and evaluates the resulting research. The Council is the principal research policy adviser to the government, and it acts as a meeting-place and network-builder for Norwegian research.

The Research Council is organized in three research divisions, one division for administrative affairs and one international unit organised directly under the Director General. More information can be found in the menu under "Organisation".