The Life Science Building will house the nation's best researchers, and advanced research and educational infrastructure required for new scientific advances in chemistry, pharmacy and life sciences. We are committed to ensure bold impact and societal goals when the building is established – a building for research, education and innovation based on the principle of convergence.
This entails a synthesis of disciplines, research methods and ideas with different starting points, which presupposes a unified academic community of researchers in science and technology, health sciences, humanities and social sciences. Collectively, this will lay a new foundation for the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MN), UiO and the nation of Norway to provide world-leading research and education. The planned innovation center in the building will facilitate transformation of research and knowledge development into socially beneficial products, services and solutions. This will take place in close collaboration with UiO's and OUS' joint technology transfer office Inven2.
At MN, we have for a long time thoroughly planned future activities in the new building and scientific surroundings. The Faculty and its departments have been well represented throughout the construction process. We have also started the preliminary work to organize the extensive relocation process.
Furthermore, MN has laid the foundation for future priorities that support academic activity in the new building. The recently established thematic areas within life sciences at MN (only in Norwegian) and UiO will be important. Many of our researchers are now also making a major effort to provide the necessary core facilities for the new building by applying for the Research Council of Norway’s INFRASTRUCTURE Program. Moreover, there are many excellent SFF sketches under preparation, giving hope for new center allocations. Our ambition is to establish at least one new SFF in the new building.
MN is in close dialogue with the Faculty of Medicine regarding startup of an innovation unit between our two faculties, which will be implemented already next year. Furthermore, we are in the process of developing a master's degree program in medical technology, where physicists, pharmacists, computer scientists and physicians work together. Such an education is in demand by e.g. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health and is central in fulfilling the societal and impact goals associated with the new building.
Difficult ground conditions and increase in construction costs
However, the construction of this fantastic concept building is now in jeopardy, after identification of difficult ground conditions, which lead to a radical increase in construction costs. The huge construction pit in Gaustadbekkdalen is a sad sight after Statsbygg stopped the construction work pending financial clarification.
Based on a thorough analysis in which the Faculty Management and Department Heads from chemistry, pharmacy and biosciences have played key roles, the University Board concluded in a letter to the Ministry of Education and Research (KD) on September 30 explaining the limited opportunities to cut building costs from our side (only in Norwegian). The analysis is based on the assumption given by KD that the societal and impact goals must be maintained and that the convergence principle must be used as a basis. This is a conclusion that the Faculty supports.
On this basis, UiO requests increased funding in order to realize the building as planned. However, the University also presents an alternative solution involving a collaboration with OUS for further development of the building. The concept for such a collaboration is now further developed, and will be presented to KD within October 19.
We now put our trust in our owner – The Ministry of Education and Research – and our politicians to find an economically viable solution, allowing realization of the Life Science Building as planned. This is not only important for us, it is important for Norway.