Ottersen has for many years been engaged in international institutional evaluations and was panel leader (Advanced Grants) in the European research Council (ERC) from the start to 2012. He is Chair of a newly established European university network (the Guild of Research Intensive Universities) which aims to provide its members with a strong voice in the further development of the EU's Framework Programme. Ottersen led the Lancet Commission that studied the political determinants of global health inequalities (The Lancet-University of Oslo Commission on Global Governance for Health). Ottersen has served at a number of boards at home and abroad and is currently member of the Board of the Oslo University Hospital. He is Chairman of Samarbeidsorganet (Joint Council) of the regional health authority (Helse Sør-Øst) and University of Oslo, alternating with the Director of Helse Sør-Øst. He has led several prize award committees and is now Chair of the Kavli Prize Committee in Neuroscience.