The Norwegian Taxonomy Initiative has engaged research groups that have otherwise seen a cutback in funding in recent years. Hundreds of scientists and experts, students and technicians are now involved in the survey project.

The Initiative has also helped advance Norway’s expertise in biosystematics – which in the future will provide us new knowledge about species found in Norway.

An important contribution to strengthening the country’s expertise in biosystematics has been the creation of the Research School in Biosystematics (ForBio). The research school helps link small, sometimes fragmented scientific communities in a research and education network, and offers both practical and theoretical courses in biosystematics.

ForBio is supported by the Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre and the  Research Council of Norway, and is coordinated by the university museums in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø.