About us

The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) is one of the biggest marine research institutes in Europe, with about 1,050 employees. Our main activities are research, advisory work and monitoring.

In January 2018, the IMR was merged with NIFES – the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research.

Our head office is in Bergen. We also have an office in Tromsø and research stations in Matre, Austevoll and Flødevigen. Our Research Vessel Department has ownership responsibility for the research vessels, which are our most important tools for collecting marine data. The IMR also has several laboratories that analyse the samples taken by its monitoring and research programmes.

Through its research and advice, the IMR seeks to help society to continue exploiting the valuable assets in the sea sustainably. We are a neutral knowledge provider, and we publicise our research results both in Norway and internationally.

The IMR is affiliated to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, which provides around 40% of our funding. The rest of our funding comes from external research grants.

Our vision: Knowledge and advice for rich and clean marine and coastal areas. 
Our ambition: We will be an international leader in marine research and advisory services. 
Our values: All our work must be based on integrity, creativity, interaction and respect. 
Our social mission: The Institute of Marine Research will be a leading supplier of knowledge relating to the sustainable management of the resources in our marine ecosystems and the whole food chain from the sea to the table.