From 1970-1993, NORSAR was a section of the Royal Norwegian Council for Industrial and Scientific Research, and from 1993-1999 a section of the Norwegian Research Council. NORSAR became an independent research foundation July 1st, 1999.

From the early days of devoted seismic array research, NORSAR has broadened its research activities to include subjects like earthquake hazard & risk assessment and seismic modelling for the petroleum industry.

1968

• A government-to-government agreement between the USA and Norway formed the basis for the construction and subsequent operation of a large seismic array facility in Norway. More..
• Construction of the NOA seismic array near Hamar in southeast Norway was started. The array was completed in 1970.

1970

• NORSAR became a section of the Royal Norwegian Council for Industrial and Scientific Research.
• The NOA seismic array near Hamar in southeast Norway was completed. Construction was started in 1968.

1973

• NORSAR became the first non-US node on ARPANET, the predecessor to today's Internet. More...

1975

• First research project within seismic hazard analysis.

1978

• Seismic modelling was established as a new research activity at NORSAR.

1984

• The NORES seismic array near Hamar in southeast Norway was completed.

1985

• Major increase in seismic hazard research and consultancy.

1987

• The ARCES array near Karasjok in Finnmark, northern Norway was completed.

1988

• Commercial software development was started.

1992

• First release of the NORSAR-2D seismic modelling software package.
• The SPITS seismic array in Adventdalen near Longyearbyen, Svalbard was completed.

1996

• The United Nations General Assembly in New York adopted the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
• First release of NORSAR-3D seismic modelling software package.

1999

• The Norwegian Government ratified the CTBT and NORSAR was designated the Norwegian National Data Center (NDC) for verification of compliance with the treaty.
• NORSAR became an independent research foundation on July 1st.

2000

• The NOA seismic array (PS27) was formally certified on July 28, 2000, as the first IMS station to be certified.

2001

• The ARCES seismic array (PS28) was formally certified on November 8, 2001, after a major upgrade of the array station.
• NORSAR Seismic Modelling opens its Bergen office.

2003

• NORSAR became a partner of the International Centre of Geohazards. More...
• The radionuclide station at Spitzbergen (RN49) was formally certified.

2005

• NORSAR Innovation AS established.

2006

• The seismic station at Jan Mayen (AS73) was formally certified.

2008

• NORSAR celebrates its 40th anniversary.
• NORSAR Innovation AS opens its Kuala Lumpur office.

2009

• NORSAR's branch office for applied seismic modelling was transferred to NORSAR Innovation on January, 1st 2009.