NTNU has extensive infrastructure, unique data resources, and a broad range of research activities connected to the Trondheim Fjord and the surrounding region.

The Fjord Systems initiative covers the region stretching from Ålesund in the southwest to the Outer Namdal in the north and the Trondheim region in the southeast. This area serves as a living laboratory for research and innovation, where insights, methods, and solutions can be developed, tested, and scaled for application in fjord systems across Norway and beyond.

In February 2026, we launched a call for interdisciplinary research projects aimed at developing, restoring, and preserving marine, coastal, and freshwater environments within fjord systems.

Four projects were awarded funding, supporting a total of six PhD positions and two postdoctoral fellowships. Our focus on fjord systems will continue to guide future funding calls in the coming years.

The selected projects contribute to the three dimensions of nature, society, and technology. They are interdisciplinary in scope and complement one another by addressing different challenges and research questions within the broader framework of a fjord system.