In particular, its task is to keep track of advances in the fields of science and military technology which might affect the assumptions on which Norwegian security policy and/or defence planning is based.

Many Norwegian scientists and technologists took part during the period when Germany occupied Norway between 1940 and 1945.

The main location of the institute is at Kjeller near Lillestrøm, 20 km east of the country's capital Oslo.

Part of the institute's Maritime Systems Division is situated in the coastal city of Horten, southwest of Oslo on the western side of the Oslofjord.

Horten is known as the country's MEMS capital, and is also a centre of electronics and naval research and industry.