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Rannís – The Icelandic Centre for
Research
Rannís reports to the Ministry of
Education, Science and Culture with the purpose of providing
professional assistance in the preparation and implementation of science
and technology policy in Iceland.
Its main functions are:
• Operation of the financial support system for research and
technological development.
• Provision of services and information to the Council for Science and
Technology Policy and its sub-committees.
• Coordinating and promoting Icelandic participation in collaborative
international projects in science and technology.
• Monitoring resources and performance in R&D, evaluating the results of
scientific research, technological development and innovation.
• Promoting public awareness of research and innovation in Iceland.
Rannís serves the Icelandic science community across all areas of
science and the humanities.
Structure
Rannís serves the framework for science and technology policy in Iceland
introduced by act of parliament introduced in 2003. This framework
operates under the auspices of the Council for Science and Technology
Policy headed by the Prime Minister and including the Minister of
Education, Science and Culture, the Minister for Trade and Industry, the
Minister for Finance and two other government ministers as occasional
members. The Council also includes 14 appointees representing the
science, economic and business communities within Iceland.
From the 14 non-ministerial members of
the Council for Science and Technology Policy the Minister of Education,
Science and Culture appoints a sub-committee on science and the Minister
of Industry and Trade a sub-committee on technology. The two ministers
also appoint boards of directors overseeing the Research Fund and the
Technology Development Fund respectively. There will be overlaps of
individuals across these bodies with the intention of promoting closer
policy coordination.
Staff
Rannís operates with a permanent staff of 14, including a managing
director and eight professional staff member. In its operations Rannís
relies heavily on the involvement of external contacts. Around 70–80
working scientists and technical experts will be coopted to assist in
the evaluation of grants applications and international contacts at any
time on a rotating basis. Rannís provides secretarial services to the
working groups set up by the Council for Science and Technology Policy.
Resources
Rannís operates on an annual budget of about 130 million Icelandic
krónur (ÍKr), of which about half comes from the direct budget and the
rest from service fees and contracts. The grants funds operated by
Rannís have the following annual budgets for 2003:
Research Fund: 412 million ÍKr
Instruments fund: 90 million ÍKr
Technology Development Fund: to be decided
Graduate Education Fund: 40 million ÍKr
Information Technology and Environmental Research Program 95 million ÍKr
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