The aim of the procurement is to continue and further develop a national measuring system for research results in the health companies, which, from 2020, will be expanded to include innovation results in the health companies, as well as research results in research and competence centres outside the specialist health service.

The research results in the health companies form the basis for the distribution of the result-based part of the grant for research in health companies, cf. Chapter 732, Item 78). The calculations are then used by the regional health companies and the health companies for managing and planning their research activities.

The research and competence centres make up an important part of the national authorities' efforts to strengthen research and competence in health and care services. Uniform research indicators and reporting routines were established in 2018 for the research and competence centres' research activities. From 2021, a small share of the research resources for the centres will be reallocated within the limit of the centres, based on scientific publications, submitted doctor degrees, and the award of external resources.

Over time the system has been expanded with different indicators. Changes and options in the coming contract period:

— from the National Budget for 2021 (measurements for research activity in 2019, 2018 and 2017), an indicator for clinical treatment studies will be included in the measuring system for health companies. This involves the establishment of an assessment committee that the tenderer will be part of,

— innovation that is included as a development assignment in this assignment. In 2017 the regional health companies, on behalf of the ministry, developed an indicator for innovation that consisted of 2 components; activity and usefulness. The first trial report was submitted in 2018. This was limited to the activity component. The assignment in 2019 is to report on both components,

— an option for any changes in the publication indicator in light of Plan S. This would be coordinated with the publication indicator for the university and university college sector,

— an option where incentives will be assessed for universities and university colleges for the commercialisation of research results, with an emphasis on the implications for the health companies, cf. the health nutrition notification.

See Annex 1 for further details on the delivery.

The entire assignment must be carried out within a financial limit of 660 400 NOK excluding VAT per annum, total 4 622 800 NOK excluding VAT for the years 2020-2024 (+4), provided that the Norwegian Parliament grants resources for this. The costs of participating in meetings, establishing any work groups, obtaining data from the Norwegian Science Index and any use of sub-suppliers for carrying out parts of the assignment, are expected to be covered within the abovementioned limit for the assignment.