Gro Sandkjær Hanssen

Gro Sandkjær Hanssen serves as a Research Professor at Oslo Metropolitan University, affiliated with the Centre for Welfare and Labour Research within the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research. Her work centers on the Welfare, Democracy and Governance Research group, where she leads critical investigations into sustainable urban development and governance structures.

Her research spans multiple interconnected domains including urban planning, sustainable development, circular economy transitions, climate governance, and housing policy. Through projects like CIRCULAR (Collaborative innovation of circular economy), EcoGaps (Bridging knowledge gaps in ecosystem management), and SMACREG (Small city regions development), she examines how governance frameworks can drive sustainable transformations while addressing social equity concerns. Her work particularly emphasizes collaborative approaches across sectoral silos and different governance levels.

Hanssen's scholarly output demonstrates consistent productivity with 98 scientific publications, 2 textbooks, 44 research reports, and 518 dissemination activities. Her recent work shows a clear trajectory toward practical applications of theoretical frameworks, particularly in translating research findings into actionable policy recommendations for municipalities and regional authorities. The publications reveal increasing focus on collaborative governance models and innovative approaches to urban sustainability challenges.

She actively contributes to national policy discussions through participation in events like Arendalsuka, the National Political Science Conference, and various municipal leadership meetings. Her research portfolio includes both ongoing projects addressing current challenges like circular economy transitions and completed projects that have shaped understanding of democratic climate governance (DEMOCLIM) and social sustainable cities.

Hanssen works within the research infrastructure of OsloMet's Centre for Welfare and Labour Research, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams across multiple projects. Her office at Holbergs gate 1 in Oslo serves as a hub for coordinating research activities that bridge academic inquiry with practical urban planning applications, particularly through partnerships with municipalities and regional authorities across Norway.