The Institute has three main areas of expertise:
Regional development
Wilderness and mountain regions
Welfare
The researchers work across disciplines but are organised into two groups:
Regional and trade research (RN) with a main focus on the travel, culture and experience sectors, nature resource-based trades, mountain region politics and classical regional analysis (population, people movement, commuting, employment, trade, clusters, innovation, infrastructure and more). Merethe Lerfald is head of research.
Welfare, organisation and municipal research (VOK) with a main focus on healthcare and sick leave, entrepreneurship in education, children and youth skills development, diversity in organisations and innovation in welfare services. Trude Hella Eide is head of research.