This article covers cooperation between India and Norway in the maritime sector, the blue economy and fisheries, renewable energy, Arctic research, space, health, and education and research. It is based on the MEA bilateral brief of March 2026.
Maritime cooperation
According to the MEA brief of March 2026, India and Norway, as maritime nations, collaborate in the maritime sector. About 10% of crews in Norwegian vessels are Indian seafarers.
The two countries have a Joint Working Group on Maritime. Mr. Ottar Ostnes, DG in the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, visited India for the JWG in November 2022. Shri Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, led a delegation to Norway to co-chair the 9th Joint Working Group Meeting on Maritime in May 2024.
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, visited Norway from 1-6 June 2025. Ms. Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Norway's Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, visited India in October 2025 for the India Maritime Week 2025.
Blue economy and fisheries
India and Norway established a Joint Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development in 2019. Its last meeting, the 8th, was held on 16 December 2025. The brief lists initiatives including technical and research projects on:
- marine spatial planning
- persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
- ocean ecosystem services and accounting (INECO)
- people centric Tsunami early warning for the Indian coastlines
- deep-sea mineral exploration and test mining
Ministerial visits in this field include those of Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Earth Sciences, in June 2023, and of Shri Parshottam Rupala, Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, with Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State, in August 2023. A delegation led by Shri Nilkanthramnath Halarnkar, Minister of Fisheries of the Government of Goa, visited Norway in February-March 2024.
Renewable energy
The brief states that several Norwegian companies have established themselves in the Indian renewable space. Norwegian shipowners have used Cochin Shipyard Ltd to build two autonomous battery operated coast cargo ferries, and a hydrogen carrier is being constructed there.
According to the brief, there is scope to collaborate with Norway in renewable energy and CCS technology, and a new Task Force on Energy has been started.
Arctic research
India set up its first permanent research station in the Arctic, "Himadri", in July 2008 at Ny Alesund, Svalbard, Norway. The station focuses on polar scientific research covering biological, glaciological and atmospheric sciences.
The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) carries out multiple scientific expeditions to the Arctic every year. India started winter expeditions at Himadri from December 2023, and from 2024 onwards has had a presence at Svalbard round the year. India has also been an Observer State in the Arctic Council since 2013.
Space
ISRO uses Norway's Svalbard ground station on commercial terms to receive data from IRS satellites. KSAT is also setting up ISRO's antenna in Svalbard, and KSAT and NSIL are working closely on various space and satellite mission support activities.
Health
There are pilot projects under the Norway-India Partnership Initiative for maternal and child health in a few states of India: Bihar, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. The brief also records exchange visits by a few nurses from each other's health systems to understand critical care treatment.
Education and research
MoUs on education and research cooperation have been signed between premier institutions of India and Norway. In October 2015, Norway included India in its strategy for cooperation on higher education and research ("Panorama") for the period 2016-2020. This was extended for the period 2021-2027, with the addition of a few more countries.
The brief states that collaborative activities have increased following the visit to Norway of the DG, CSIR in March 2024, when Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR and DG, CSIR, led a five-member delegation. Several Rectors of Norwegian universities regularly visit India to renew their collaborations.