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» NGI:
Special advertising supplement
Attracting experts
from around the world
Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
(NGI) is a leading international
centre for research and consulting
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centre of NGI are world class
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Natural hazards such as landslides, avalanches,
earthquakes and tsunamis continuously pose new
challenges to the geosciences. So too does offshore
development in ultra deep waters, the remediation
of contaminated sediments, the development
of offshore wind energy foundations and the
increased need for underground infrastructure
in urban areas. The world is asking for quick
answers. At NGI research is the key to development
of innovative and cost-effective solutions to
these challenges.
TOP OF ITS FIELD NATIONALLY AND
INTERNATIONALLY
Although NGI has been internationally recognized
and acclaimed from its beginning, the organization
has come far from primarily being considered
a national research centre. “When the international
offshore industry needed expert advice on
sea bottom stability in the Gulf of Mexico, they
came to us,” says Dr. Lars Andresen, the new
Managing Director of NGI from January 2012. He
is succeeding Dr. Suzanne Lacasse, who has held
that position since 1991. She wanted to concentrate
on scientific tasks, and will continue her
work at NGI.
Each year, NGI carries out project assignments
in more than 25 countries – for example tunnel
excavation in the Himalayas, and biochars project
in Indonesia to sequester CO 2 . In addition to
research and advisory work in Norway and abroad,
NGI serves as Norway’s national centre for geoexpertise,
cooperates with many international
research organisations, and participates in
numerous expert panels.
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NGI continuously strive at recruiting the best
researchers and dedicated engineers, both new
Converting research into practice motivates NGI employees”, says Lars Andresen, the new Managing
Director of NGI from January 2012, in front of their famous laboratory.
graduates and specialists with experience.
Annually NGI receives numerous enquiries for
post-doctoral assignments and guest researcher
positions within the geosciences. In many cases,
a temporary research assignment turns into a
permanent relocation.
COMPETENCE – THE REASON FOR
NGI’S SUCCESS
“New graduates quickly tend to find valuable
advice from generous NGI-colleagues and become
key contributors to NGI’s reputation”, Andresen
says. ”And our employees are clearly NGI’s most
significant competitive advantage”, he adds.
To maintain this advantage, the organisation puts
an emphasis on further developing their expertise.
Through its research stipend fund, NGI can offer
sabbatical leaves to its employees. One NGI
employee spent a year as a guest researcher at
BRGM in France and another one seven months
at the UC Berkeley, to mention just two examples.
“Working with world leading experts and seeing
the results achieved in each project is what makes
NGI so exciting”, Andresen concludes.
NGI, the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute,
was founded in 1953. NGI employs 210
people, of which over 25 % are of non-
Norwegian origin, with over 30 countries
represented among its employees.
The private foundation provides research
and advisory services to both private and
public clients, in Norway and abroad. Each
year, NGI carries out project assignments in
more than 25 countries. NGI also welcomes
about 40 research visitors every year.
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