The Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (NERSC) was formally established on November 28th 1986 as a non-profit research foundation affiliated with the University of Bergen. The Founders were The Scientific Foundation at the University of Bergen (UNIFOB), GC Rieber & Co A/S, Bergen and Tenneco Oil Inc, Stavanger. The Nansen Center conducts basic research and environmental research projects funded by the research councils, space agencies, EU, national and international government agencies, industry and private donations.