CMI part of new national centre for international economics

The Norwegian Centre for International Economics (NORCIE) was officially launched 8 June 2026. Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) is among the partners in the new research centre, which aims to strengthen Norway’s understanding of global economic change.

The centre was opened by Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide, and brings together researchers from the University of Oslo, CMI, PRIO, and a wide network of international institutions.

NORCIE’s mission is to enhance Norway’s capacity to understand, anticipate, and respond to structural changes and policy shifts in the international economy. The centre will provide research-based insights to policymakers, business, and the wider public.

“This is an important investment in knowledge about the international economy at a time of significant uncertainty and rapid change. Through NORCIE, we strengthen collaboration across disciplines and institutions, enabling us to deliver research that is highly relevant for policy and development”, says CMI Director Espen Villanger.

NORCIE is an interdisciplinary centre rooted in economics, political science and geography. Its research is organised around five thematic areas: geopolitical rivalry, climate change and economic interdependencies, global disruptions, international economic governance, and development.

CMI contributes to several parts of the research programme. Research Professor Ottar Mæstad leads one of the centre’s thematic pillars, focusing on development and de-globalisation.

The centre will also establish a platform for dialogue between researchers, policymakers, business and civil society, and provide on-demand briefings to support evidence-based decision-making.

NORCIE is funded by the Research Council of Norway and will run from 2026 to 2034.