We have studied six technological university-industry research centres that operated from 2009 to 2017 under the Norwegian public program ‘Centers for Environment-friendly Energy Research’, which has become one of the most prestigious schemes in Norway. The research centres were established in 2009 and focus on CO2 storage, bioenergy, zero-emission buildings, offshore wind energy (two centers) and solar cell technology. The centers were evaluated according to their potential to develop innovations and ability to produce basic research of a high international calibre. In total, we conducted 80 semi-structured interviews in 2013 and 2015 with representatives from both firms and universities.