The Competence Development Fund of Southern Norway

The objects of the Competence Development Fund of Southern Norway

The Competence Development Fund of Southern Norway (CDFSN) shall contribute to raising the level of competence in the county of Vest-Agder in order to secure jobs and good living conditions. Competence here means the ability to create and utilise knowledge for practical purposes. Institutions that receive grants are required to develop knowledge at university and university college level. Support may be granted to public or private research/educational institutions, local authorities, and to public and private enterprises. Funding is not granted to individuals.

CDFSN is organised as a public foundation and was created on 27 September 2000 by the fifteen local authorities in the county of Vest-Agder. The foundation’s articles of association stipulate that CDFSN shall serve the inhabitants of Vest-Agder in the long term by helping to raise the level of competence in the county in order to secure and create jobs and good living conditions. Competence here means the ability to establish and utilize knowledge for practical purposes. The aim of the foundation is to contribute to development of the University of Southern Norway.

The foundation’s funds were raised from a donation of shares in the newly merged power company Agder Energi AS. In December 2002, this shareholding was sold to Statkraft Holding AS for the sum of NOK 592 million, which after the deduction of various sales costs was injected in the form of basic capital into the CDFSN.

According to its articles of association, the CDFSN’s funds may be invested in shares, bonds, unit trusts or real property

The application deadline is 10 September. CDFSN reserves the right to make amendments.