At the University of Oslo several research groups are engaged in energy research, including work on new renewable energy sources and petroleum-related issues. Other important institutions in this field are the Norwegian Geotechnical Research Institute, Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research, the Norwegian Building Research Institute (energy efficiency, ventilation technology and indoor air quality) and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.  The Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research(SINTEF), with its 1800 employees, is the largest independent research organisation in Scandinavia.  SINTEF’s headquarters are based in Trondheim but it conducts extensive research activities, primarily within oil and gas exploration and production, in the Gaustadbekk Valley.

Located in the heart of the Gaustadbekk Valley, the Oslo Innovation Centre is the leading business incubator in the region. The park is strongly committed to the commercialisation of ideas and results from research environments through creating favourable conditions for business start-ups. The center has recently constructed an environmental technology wing to accomodate the ever-growing need for research into renweable energy and climate-freindly technologies.

One half-hour's drive south of Oslo is the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, offering a broad range of study programmes that closely correspond with major research issues related to food, environmental sciences, biology, land use and natural resource management. 

The National Institute of Technology Norway (TI), located in central Oslo focuses on in areas such as environmental technology, safety and waste control and is dedicated to international research and development projects. Other research institutions such as the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (research on environment related issues), the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (research on environmentally friendly technology) are also located within close range of Oslo.

Within the social sciences, the Norwegian School of Management (BI) conducts a broad range of research in politics, economics and management relating to energy and environmental issues. Several other research institutions situated in the region, such as the Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM) at the University of Oslo, explore social science aspects of energy and environmental issues.