Norwegian Institute for Air Research -- NILU (Norway)

The Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) is an independent research foundation, specialising in all types of air pollution research from global to local problems. NILU is one of the largest European institutes in this field with a staff of 135 persons. The institute performs environmental research with emphasis on the sources of airborne pollution, atmospheric transport, transformation and deposition, and is also involved in the assessment of the effects on ecosystems and materials.

Over the years NILU has carried out many assignments involving the co-ordination of international environmental research. One example is the Co-operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-Range Transmission of Air Pollution in Europe (EMEP), for which NILU is the Chemical Co-ordinating Centre. NILU is a part of the EEA Topic Centre on Air quality, air emissions and Climate Change. It is currently taking part in a range of research projects funded by the European Commission. NILU provides services for international bodies, such as the World Meteorological Organisation, Paris and Oslo Commission, Helsinki Commission and Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program.

The atmospheric corrosion group at NILU focuses work on establishing relations between the indoor and outdoor environment and the degradation of materials, the so-called dose-response functions. Models for spatial distribution of corrosion rates have been developed. The group acts as the environmental co-ordinating centre for the UN ECE ICP on materials, and has participated in many international projects organised by EU, EUREKA, NATO-CCMS and the Nordic Industrial Fund.