NORWAY: Largest donation for medicine

A NOK800 million (US$136 million) donation to the Bergen Medical Foundation, probably the largest given in Norway, for science and other social benefits has been made by the heirs of Norwegian ship-owner Kristian Gerhard Jebsen who died in 2004.

The donation will be channelled into medical and maritime research, said foundation manager Kåre Rommetveit. It will be distributed for research and eventually other purposes over the next 30-40 years.

With 110 ships, Jebsen is the largest shipping company in Norway and one of the largest transporters of cement in the world.

Such private donations are rare in Norway where research and higher education is financed by the government and regarded as a public good.

The government will match the donation with a 25% allocation. With interest, the total fund will exceed NOK1 billion (US$170 milllion). Some years ago, the parliament decided to allocate matching funds of 25% from private donations for research.

Universities are now seeking donors but it takes time to establish a new culture. The Jebsen donation might enhance this process.