Research facilities have been slowly built up at Debesartrøð in Tórshavn. This has enabled the Faroese University and Institution to co-operate with scholars in other countries and to take on joint research projects. Areas of research include the following:

The University of the Faroe Islands

The Department of Faroese: Research in Nordic studies, particularly Faroese language and literature, and poetry in oral tradition.
The Department of History and Social Science: Research in history, cultural history and social science, with particular emphasis on Faroese history, Faroese cultural history and Faroese society.

The Department of Natural Sciences: Research in radioactive pollution, weather and climatic changes, mathematical models of ocean currents, modern telecommunication and the inherited characteristics of fish.
The Museum of Natural History

Geology: The main activities of the Geological Department have recently involved data handling, geological and geophysical interpretation and advisory work for the petroleum authorities in relation to the initial exploratory activities. The Department co-operates on a broad geological scale with the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS).

Zoology: Research is mainly directed towards all marine life. The main topics in the last 10 years have been whales and seabed habitats round the Faroes. The Department led both the international study of whales in 1986-88 and Biofar, the Nordic study of marine benthic fauna in Faroese waters in 1988-90. The ringing of birds and advice regarding pest control are examples of other work undertaken at the Zoology department.

Botany: The scope of activities comprises research in terrestrial plant communities, studies of seashore lichens and higher plant communities, environmental monitoring of terrestrial environment (Nordic project), editing a new flora of higher plants for the Faroe Islands, status report for Faroese biodiversity, Nordic biodiversity year 2000, ecosystem's vulnerability to climatic changes in the Faroes and Greenland.

The Faroese National Library

The National Library has three main functions: To make a collection of all Faroese literature and as much literature as possible written about the Faroe Islands, to be the central library for all the Faroe Islands, and to be a library for scholars.

The Fisheries Laboratory

Fishery biology: The investigations which are carried out provide a basis for the most responsible exploitation of the fish stocks around the Faroes. Assessments are made of the most important fish stocks. These assessments are based on investigations, independent of the industry, which are carried out by the fishery research vessel, Magnus Heinason; e.g. 0-group surveys, bottom trawls surveys and echo soundings, and on the catch and effort statistics for the commercial fleet. The biology of the various species of fish are studied, including fluctuations in the stocks, growth, spawning and feeding.

Oceanography: The oceanography and the living organisms in the waters around the Faroes are studied; for example temperatures, currents, and the conditions for living organisms to grow and reproduce are examined. This is done with a view to finding out more about the conditions in the sea that affect the reproductive success of various species of fish in Faroese waters, and the conditions affecting the growth of living organisms there.

Aquaculture: The Fishery laboratory has taken part in aquaculture experiments since 1966. It has, since 1973, been responsible for the running of P/F Fiskaaling, which is a publicly owned company. Emphasis has been laid on the improvement of the salmon stock and on counseling. In addition to this, experiments are carried out with other species of fish, particularly cod and halibut.

Food and Environmental Agency

The agency operates two laboratories, one chemical laboratory which is accredited according EN45000 and one microbiological laboratory. The agency manage external financed projects within the food and environment area.