FRI was established at Agder Research in spring 2008. FRI represents a development and strengthening of the established relationship between the Department of Work Life and Innovation of the University of Agder (in Grimstad) and the academic milieu at Agder Research. Previously, these milieus have been loosely connected through network structures like the Centre for Innovation and Work Life and research and development projects like VS2010 and VRI Agder. We would like FRI to contribute to strengthening research efforts in the academic fields represented by these milieus.

In FRI, we work on analyses of innovation in commercial enterprises, where the main interest is directed toward how innovation occurs in networks, clusters and regional innovation systems and how innovation politics and strategies are developed and executed (governance). In a Norwegian context, FRI represents a unique academic milieu. We have solid theoretical expertise on the topic and extensive experience in performing many different types of analysis. We would like the Agder milieu and FRI to be more visible to clients and to have a profile that distinguishes us as a research environment doing exciting new things in the field.

FRI will be directed toward the research market, but we will also use our research expertise in more applied projects for regional and national customers. Due to increasing demand for our services, we also began recruiting new researchers in autumn of 2008.