CMI is an independent development research institute in Bergen, Norway. We generate and communicate research-based knowledge relevant for fighting poverty, advancing human rights, reducing conflict and promoting sustainable social development. CMI’s research focuses on local and global challenges and opportunities facing low- and middle-income countries and their citizens. Our geographic orientation is towards Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
CMI Strategy 2011-2015
CMI's core purpose is to work towards a world of mutual tolerance and respect, where global justice prevails and where poverty is the exception. We believe that research-based knowledge can help drive the changes to realize this vision.
CMI’s work features:
Our most valuable asset is our staff. We are committed to working together to learn more, benefit from one another’s strengths, and bring out the best in all of us. Our work is guided by our core values:
CMI aims to be internationally recognized for the quality and relevance of our work.
CMI grows stronger through partnerships with other researchers and research institutions, locally and internationally.
Be an attractive partner for research institutions in the global South
Be a driver of development research in Bergen
We are dedicated to communication and dialogue to bridge the gap between knowledge and action, and to ensure the quality and relevance of our work. We will target those who can change policy, practice, and public opinion.
Organizational Development: Bring out the best in each other
An efficient, professional, and financially robust organization that brings out the best in all staff is essential if we are to deliver on our objectives
We welcome your interest in our activities. Do not hesitate to contact us for further information or comments:
Chr. Michelsen Institute
P.O. Box 6033, N-5892 Bergen, Norway
Street address: Jekteviksbakken 31
Phone: +47 47 93 80 00
Fax: +47 55 31 03 13
E-mail: cmi@cmi.no
Where to find us:
The Chr. Michelsen Institute for Science and Intellectual Freedom is named after Christian Michelsen (1857-1925), one of the great Norwegians of the 20th century. He was prime minister and led Norway's peaceful dissolution from the union with Sweden and the establishment of an independent Norwegian state in 1905.
(Peter) Christian (Hersleb Kjerschow) Michelsen was born in Bergen, 15 March 1857. A lawyer by profession, Michelsen was a major shiping magnate and politician. He was Mayor of Bergen, longtime member of Stortinget (Parliament), Finance Minister and Prime Minister.
He died in 1925 and bequeathed his wealth to the establishment of a foundation for science and intellectual freedom. The Chr. Michelsen Institute was established on the founder's birthday, 15 March 1930. In his will Michelsen specified four areas of priority: humanities, natural sciences, technology and medicine and "cultural and scientific work to foster tolerance between nations and races - religious, social, economic and political." It was the latter that justified a focus on development issues.
Christian Michelsen wanted to give particularly promising researchers excellent working conditions: they were to have no teaching or administrative duties and they were to be well paid. At the outset, a group of gifted, young men were given the title "members of the institute" conducting independent research in natural sciences and social sciences.
With the arrival of the economist Just Faaland in 1952 and the political scientist Stein Rokkan in 1958, everything changed. They initiated and developed broader research programmes and employed more people. They fianced the expansion through participation in international research programmes and by mobilising other financial resources. In 1961 they had defined research programmes in international economics and comparative politics.
In 1965, the Development Action and Research Programme (DERAP), a development economics project on growth problems in developing countries. was formally established. The DERAP model combined research work at the Institute in Bergen with applied and practical work in developing countries, a model to which CMI still adheres. DERAP gradually recruited other social scientists in addition to the economists.
In the early 1980s, Just Faaland established a Human Rights Programme which soon grew to become the other main focus in social science research.
In 1992, the Department for Natural Science and Technology split and established the Chr. Michelsen Research AS, jointly owned by CMI and the University of Bergen. The Department of Social Science and Development became the Chr. Michelsen Institute. DERAP and the Human Rights Programmed merged, and research became the main objective. Practical work in developing countries is still important, but longterm assignments are replaced by shorter missions and research-co-operation in the South.
CMI has an extensive network of international contacts and research partners. With some key institutions, there are formal collaboration agreements. The agreements facilitate joint research and include institutional development, competence building and the development of projects of mutual interest.
Other forms of co-operation include research, consultancies, staff exchange, student teaching and tutoring, advanced training, information technology, library support and publication exchanges.
Active and Formal Institutional Co-operation with Research Institutes and Universities
Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Bangladesh
Botswana
Canada
Denmark
Germany
India
Kenya
Malaysia
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Nepal
Norway
Palestine
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Sweden
Tanzania
Uganda
United Kingdom
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Regional Networks
CMI is a private non-profit institute.
In 2010, the total turnover was NOK 67, 74 million.
CMI receives core funding through the Research Council of Norway (NFR) from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.
Main sources:
Main clients include:
NB: INGEN UTDELING I 2013.
"Chr. Michelsen's gift to the nation" is an annual scholarship for a distinguished Norwegian scholar (Rest of the text in Norwegian).
Fondet ble grunnlagt ved gaver fra det norske folk til Chr. Michelsen i 1907.
"Rentene skal anvendes til fremme av vitenskapelige eller for næringslivet produktive formål ved stipend på minst kr. 25.000,- og høyst kr. 100.000,- til unge fremragende norske forskere for å sette dem i stand til hjemme eller ute å ofre seg for bestemte arbeidsoppgaver. Stipend kan gis til selvstendige forskningsprosjekter. Søknader vedrørende hovedfag eller masteroppgaver vil ikke komme i betraktning."
Søknader innen samfunnsvitenskap og humaniora mottas.
Prosjekter innen utviklingsstudier (inkl. studier om Øst-Europa) vil bli prioritert.
Stipendiatene skal helst ikke være under 20 år og ikke over 35 år.
Stipend utdeles for et år om gangen, men kan gis til samme stipendiat inntil fem år etter hverandre.
Bidrag kan gis i form av lån hvis de gis til arbeid som kan ventes å gi mottakeren større økonomiske fordeler.
Søknadsfrist: 15. mars hvert år. NB: INGEN UTDELING I 2013.
Søknader sendes til:
Fondet "Nationalgaven til Chr. Michelsen"
Postboks 6033 Postterminalen
5892 Bergen
Søknadene må skrives på eget skjema: Søknadsskjema Nationalgaven
Spørsmål kan sendes til cmi@cmi.no
Utdelingen finner sted 7. juni.
CMI is not an educational institution, but hosts 10 master's students. Most of our students come from the University of Bergen (UiB) or the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH), but we welcome students from other institutions as well. We welcome social science students, preferably political scientists, anthropologists or economists, or students from arts and humanities, like historians of religion, historians, or philosophers. Law students have also chosen to write their thesis at CMI.
Application deadlines: 15 May and 15 November every year.
To be a successful applicant you should be working with issues related to one of CMI's 10 thematic clusters:
CMI offers work space with a computer in a reading room (shared by eight) or in The Bergen resource Centre for International Development. CMI does not provide student scholarships and does not cover living- or accommodation costs. All students are expected to participate in and contribute to the daily activities, seminars and discussions at the institute. Every student is assigned a contact person at CMI, and the opportunity to present and discuss papers and thesis chapters at regular in-house seminars.
CMI sometimes accepts applications from the above groups and others. Since these fall outside the usual student program and staff positions available at CMI, it is recommended that candidates present their applications through the institutions to which they are affiliated.
If you wish to apply, please write an application which includes a project proposal, CV, university transcripts and a letter of recommendation from your supervisor to:
Chr. Michelsens Institutt
Att: Ingvild Hestad
P.O.Box 6033
N-5892 Bergen
Mark the envelope: "Student application"
You can also send your application by mail to: Ingvild Hestad
For more information, please contact Communication Director, Ingvild Hestad
