{"id":8273,"date":"2022-07-12T20:26:27","date_gmt":"2022-07-12T18:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mohnfoundation.webforslag.com\/competence\/toppforskprogrammet\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T13:22:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T11:22:13","slug":"the-toppforsk-programme","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/competence\/the-toppforsk-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"The Toppforsk programme"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1652740766878{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;background-image: url(https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bergensbilde1100x450.jpg?id=5084) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221;][vc_column]<div class=\"spacer-5830a5ea62c1f2880975a2ceab4a96be2\" style=\"\"><\/div><style>@media (min-width: 320px) { .spacer-5830a5ea62c1f2880975a2ceab4a96be2{ height: 200px;}}@media (min-width: 767px) { .spacer-5830a5ea62c1f2880975a2ceab4a96be2{ height: 200px;}}@media (min-width: 979px) { .spacer-5830a5ea62c1f2880975a2ceab4a96be2{ height: 400px;}}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .spacer-5830a5ea62c1f2880975a2ceab4a96be2{ height: 400px;}}<\/style>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=&#8221;article-white&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1649538946065{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1650537879673{margin-bottom: -30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner]<div class=\"header left  \"><h1 class=\"font-size-sm\" title=\"The Toppforsk programme\">The Toppforsk programme<\/h1><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The Trond Mohn Research Foundation (TMF) supported the University of Bergen\u00b4s Toppforsk program with 68.5 MNOK in order to recruit five outstanding international researchers to the University of Bergen (UiB). The program\u00b4s total budget was 137 MNOK.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]By being able to offer top researchers particularly favourable conditions and administrative support, this collaboration put UiB in a stronger position in the international competition for outstanding researchers.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>The five Toppforsk researchers are:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www4.uib.no\/en\/find-employees\/Stefan.Koelsch.%28K%C3%B6lsch%29\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stefan K\u00f6lsch<\/a>, Department of Biological and Medical Psychology<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www4.uib.no\/en\/find-employees\/Michael.Ralph.Fellows\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Michael Fellows<\/a>, Department of Informatics (Fellows is now professor emeritus)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www4.uib.no\/en\/find-employees\/Valeriya.Lyssenko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Valeriya Lyssenko<\/a>, Department of Clinical Science<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www4.uib.no\/en\/find-employees\/Don.Kalb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Don Kalb<\/a>, Department of Social Anthropology<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www4.uib.no\/en\/find-employees\/Michael.C.Baumgartner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Michael Baumgartner<\/a>, Department of Philosophy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Toppforsk initiative also builds on the Foundation\u00b4s and UiB&#8217;s long-standing collaboration through the TMF Starting Grants: The Starting Grant program funds excellent young researchers who are in the process of establishing and leading their own research groups, while the Toppforsk initiative brought internationally known researchers to Bergen.<\/p>\n<p>Cultivating more world-leading research in Norway was one of the top priorities in the Norwegian government\u2019s long-term plan for research and higher education. A larger proportion of the public funding of institutions involved in research and higher education was dedicated to achieving top quality.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ekstern.filer.uib.no\/formidling\/bfs-toppforsk-uib.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download the mini magazine that presents the programme and the Toppforsk researchers<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;]<div class=\"infobox light-brown\">\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h4>The programme in brief:<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separator normal \"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Project period: 2015-2022<\/p>\n<p>UiB\u2019s Toppforsk programme built on the Norwegian government\u2019s wish to establish more world-leading research communities at Norwegian universities.<\/p>\n<p>The Trond Mohn Research Foundation (TMF)\u00a0 contributed NOK 68.5 million in order to ensure that the best researchers choose UiB.<\/p>\n<p>An initial five-year agreement has been entered into with each of the researchers, enabling them to establish a top research team at UiB.<\/p>\n<p>The total budget for the Toppforsk programme, supported by the Norwegian government and TMF, is NOK 137 million.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uib.no\/en\/research\/103156\/toppforsk-programme\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Creating New Treatment for Diabetes<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www4.uib.no\/forskning\/forskergrupper\/lyssenko-gruppen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Diabetes researcher Valeriya Lyssenko\u2019s goal is to create new ways of treating diabetes. (only available in Norwegian)<\/a><br \/>\nPhoto: Eivind Senneset. Source: UiB<\/p>\n<p>Professor Valeriya Lyssenko participates in two other programs supported by the foundation:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uib.no\/en\/ai\/175475\/projects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trustworthy AI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Center for precise diabetes medicine[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;]\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"standard-image left no-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1260\" height=\"840\" src=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lyssenko12.jpg\" class=\"attachment- size-\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lyssenko12.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lyssenko12-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lyssenko12-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lyssenko12-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lyssenko12-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lyssenko12-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lyssenko12-576x384.jpg 576w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lyssenko12-992x661.jpg 992w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lyssenko12-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1260px) 100vw, 1260px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/figure>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Putting Algorithms Into Practice<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>P<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uib.no\/en\/practicalpc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rofessor emeritus Michael Fellows is passionate about mathematics, algorithms and informatics<\/a>.\u00a0This passion not only led to ground-breaking research, but also to playwriting and love.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: Jens Helleland \u00c5dnanes. Source: UiB<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;]\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"standard-image left no-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1260\" height=\"840\" src=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_8821_0.jpg\" class=\"attachment- size-\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_8821_0.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_8821_0-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_8821_0-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_8821_0-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_8821_0-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_8821_0-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_8821_0-576x384.jpg 576w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_8821_0-992x661.jpg 992w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_8821_0-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1260px) 100vw, 1260px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/figure>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Identifying New Class Differences<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uib.no\/en\/frontlines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Professor Don Kalb established a research group to study the increasing differences that the new capitalism brings in China, Europe and the Global South.<\/a><br \/>\nPhoto: Don Kalb. Source: UiB<\/p>\n<p>Publications from the project\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uib.no\/en\/frontlines\/124766\/publications-frontlines-project\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Frontlines of Value<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;]\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"standard-image left no-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1260\" height=\"840\" src=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/donkalb11.jpg\" class=\"attachment- size-\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/donkalb11.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/donkalb11-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/donkalb11-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/donkalb11-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/donkalb11-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/donkalb11-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/donkalb11-576x384.jpg 576w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/donkalb11-992x661.jpg 992w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/donkalb11-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1260px) 100vw, 1260px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/figure>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>How The Brain Processes The Unpredictable<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www4.uib.no\/en\/research\/research-groups\/brain-and-music-group\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Professor Stefan K\u00f6lsch researches brain and music.<\/a><br \/>\nPhoto: Eivind Senneset; Source: UiB<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;]\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"standard-image left no-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1732\" height=\"1154\" src=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stefan_kolsch_by_E_Senneset_UiB.jpg\" class=\"attachment- size-\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stefan_kolsch_by_E_Senneset_UiB.jpg 1732w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stefan_kolsch_by_E_Senneset_UiB-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stefan_kolsch_by_E_Senneset_UiB-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stefan_kolsch_by_E_Senneset_UiB-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stefan_kolsch_by_E_Senneset_UiB-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stefan_kolsch_by_E_Senneset_UiB-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stefan_kolsch_by_E_Senneset_UiB-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stefan_kolsch_by_E_Senneset_UiB-576x384.jpg 576w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stefan_kolsch_by_E_Senneset_UiB-992x661.jpg 992w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stefan_kolsch_by_E_Senneset_UiB-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1732px) 100vw, 1732px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/figure>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Philosophy of Science and Logic<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www4.uib.no\/en\/find-employees\/Michael.C.Baumgartner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Michael Baumgartner is the founder of the Coincidence Analysis method that can be used widely across scientific disciplines.\u00a0<\/a><br \/>\nPhoto: Jan Von Holleben. Source: UiB[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;]\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"standard-image left no-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1260\" height=\"841\" src=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_9690.jpg\" class=\"attachment- size-\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_9690.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_9690-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_9690-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_9690-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_9690-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_9690-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_9690-576x384.jpg 576w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_9690-992x662.jpg 992w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_9690-1200x801.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1260px) 100vw, 1260px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/figure>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]<div class=\"spacer-3ed3c4f3188960fecee6faed144db8791289\" style=\"\"><\/div><style>@media (min-width: 320px) { .spacer-3ed3c4f3188960fecee6faed144db8791289{ height: 30px;}}@media (min-width: 767px) { .spacer-3ed3c4f3188960fecee6faed144db8791289{ height: 30px;}}@media (min-width: 979px) { .spacer-3ed3c4f3188960fecee6faed144db8791289{ height: 60px;}}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .spacer-3ed3c4f3188960fecee6faed144db8791289{ height: 60px;}}<\/style>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1652740766878{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;background-image: url(https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bergensbilde1100x450.jpg?id=5084) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=&#8221;article-white&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1649538946065{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1650537879673{margin-bottom: -30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The Trond Mohn Research Foundation (TMF) supported the University of Bergen\u00b4s [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary vidiflex-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/competence\/the-toppforsk-programme\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":8228,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8273","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-11 13:58:02","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"translation_priority","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8273"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12922,"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8273\/revisions\/12922"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}