Centre for Practice-Oriented Research and Co-creation

Our researchers have long experience from working closely with partners in the practice field when there is a need for knowledge-based development of services and solutions. By involving researchers with an understanding of needs, challenges, and opportunities in the practice field, we develop project ideas, identify external funding opportunities, and create innovative solutions.

Through action research, accompanying research, co-research, and co-creation, we have the methods which allow us to tailor collaboration according to the practice field’s needs. We access research competence among the hundreds of researchers in NORCE, collaborate with external researchers, and make use of the wide experience-based competence in the practice field. Many of our researchers have their own background from public institutions, NGOs, and business ventures.

At the centre we do not merely measure research results in number of scientific articles, but in successful solutions in local communities, with transfer value to other local communities.

Our research focuses on welfare, innovation in the public sector, co-creation with the voluntary sector, work-life, climate, environment, sustainability, public health, and regional development.

Together with our partners we have developed e.g.

• co-creation platforms between municipalities and the civil society
• activities for children and youth which promote coping skills and participation
• education models for professional education of adult immigrants
• improved follow-up services using peers for people in challenging life transitions after substance use treatment
• models for involving the entire local community in beach clean-ups of marine plastic
• innovative measures against social and work-life exclusion