Husbanken, The Norwegian Research Council / IT Funk and The Delta Centre are the conference sponsors.

The Norwegian State housing bank is the main implementing agency for the Norwegian housing policy. The primary vision for this policy is adequate and secure housing for all.

This will be achieved through the following overall goals and strategies:

• Stimulation to achieve a well functioning housing market.
• Provision of housing for groups that are disadvantaged on the housing market.
• Increase the number of environmentally friendly and universally designed dwellings and residential areas

To strengthen and further develop the role as a knowledge sentre for housing policy is an important challenge. Particular weight is given to promotion of universal design and environmentally friendly solutions in the housing and building sectors.

Read more about The Housing Bank

IT Funk: Research, development and innovation to promote information and communication technology for the disabled – and for all.

The Research Council of Norway is the Government’s executive and advisory body for strategic research planning and research-related activities.

IT Funk is the Council's program for research, development and innovation in information and communication technology for people with a disability. Its goal is accessibility for all – to ICT and to society at large through the use of ICT. IT Funk is funded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion and Ministry of Trade and Industry.

IT Funk provides financial support to projects based on universal design principles and to projects on assistive technologies. International cooperation and measures to increase awareness and knowledge in the ICT-community of user needs and accessibility challenges are also funded.

IT Funk targets businesses and institutions that research, develop, produce and distribute ICT-based products and services of importance for accessibility in society. Without their active involvement from the early stages of development, the vision of a barrier-free society will not materialize.

Read more about the Research Council of Norway

Read more about IT Funk

The Delta Centre is the National Resource Centre for participation and accessibility for persons with disabilities. The objective is the equal rights for all people, including the disabled persons, to participate actively in the society.

The work is focusing on removing disabling barriers based on the strategy of universal design. The centre gathers and disseminates best practise on universal design and accessibility, give counselling, produce information and participate in research and development projects. The target groups are the decision-makers at all levels, scientists, professionals and end-users. The Delta Centre publishes free reports and guidelines and run a website.

Visit the Delta Centre website