Purpose

Our purpose governs our activity. The Foundation’s statute-defined purpose is, on an ideal and socially beneficial basis, to:

• Function as the national competence and operations centre for Norway in the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
• Conduct research and development in related technologies (geophysical methods, infrasound, radionuclide) and geoscientific software solutions
• Work towards the application of the results of this research both domestically and internationally to promote Norwegian business and society
• Contribute to the acquisition and development of expertise within NORSAR’s field of research, including the education of professionals
• Engage in other activities related to the above, including collaboration, participation, and ownership in other companies and organizations

The Foundation is not for profit and does not pay dividends.

Mission

Listening to the Earth for a safe and resilient society

Our core values

• Competent
  expert | knowledgeable | credible | decisive | independent | recognized
• Collaborative
  respectful | open | trusting | transparent | welcoming | helpful | humble | energizing | non-hierarchical
• Curious
  creative | innovative | challenging | pragmatic | inquisitive
• Committed
  engaged | accountable | reliable | courageous | competitive | gritty | resilient

Strategic Focus Areas

NORSAR has identified four primary focus areas for our 2026 strategy, divided between research and operational test ban activities:

• World Leader in Seismology (Research): Aiming to maintain global leadership through outstanding detection research, attracting top talent, and investing in AI and fiber sensing.

• Nuclear Explosion Monitoring (Test ban Operations): Focusing on fundamental research and working with leading member states to monitor nuclear activity.

• Peace and Security (Test ban): Expanding monitoring capabilities to include non-nuclear conflict scenarios and specific fiber sensing applications.

• Environment and Safety (Research): Concentrating on critical infrastructure, polar research, environmental seismology, and hazard/risk assessment.

Research and Services

The strategy outlines specific goals for both the research and service/solution sides of the organization:

• Research Initiatives: Key activities include developing AI and fiber sensing, characterising nuclear blasts, and scaling up monitoring efforts in regions like Ukraine.

• Service Delivery: NORSAR intends to evolve its software sales, enable cloud delivery, and meet Norwegian CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty) commitments. They also plan to provide services for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) monitoring and geological risk management.

Cross-team Efforts

To support these strategic pillars, NORSAR is focusing on several internal "cross-team efforts":

• Organizational Health: Prioritizing the health and work environment.

• Technology & Efficiency: Utilizing AI, upgrading the tech stack, and maintaining a "lean team".

• Business Operations: Focusing on resilience and pricing strategies.

Note: Some elements of the "Peace and Security" and "Nuclear Explosion Monitoring" sectors are marked as classified work.