The UN Decade of Ocean Science – Communication and Dissemination
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Last updates
The maximum funding amount for projects has been changed from NOK 500,000 to NOK 400,000. This applies to grant applications created from 6 January.
Purpose
The objective of the call is to support dissemination and communication projects that increase ocean literacy among the general public and makes it easier to use research-based knowledge.
About the call for proposals
The objective of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) is to increase ocean knowledge globally and ensure that society can use this knowledge, enabling us to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. One of the goals is that all citizens shall increase their understanding of how important the ocean is.
You can apply for a broad range of communication and dissemination initiatives that contributes to increase this understanding.. The initiatives are to disseminate research-based knowledge and to contribute to ocean literacy.
The projects need to have well defined target groups, a good plan for reaching the group(s) and make effects visible. The projects are to reach target groups with different backgrounds and interests, including groups that are not already interested in the topic.
Read more about the Ocean Decade at The UN Decade of Ocean Science. See also the report ‘Proposed Priority Areas’, particularly Chapter 10 ‘Everyone understands the ocean!’.
The Norwegian-language call for proposals is the legally binding version.
Who is eligible to apply?
Approved research organisations, businesses, public sector bodies, the voluntary sector and groups of such entities can apply. See the list of approved Norwegian research organisations and the definition of public sector body.
Projects do not need to be affiliated to projects or organisations that already receive Research Council funding.
Who can participate in the project?
Requirements relating to the Project Owner
The Project Owner must have approved submission of the grant application.
Requirements relating to employment
The project manager must be employed by the Project Owner or one of the partners.
Requirements relating to the project group
The project group must have expertise in both research and communication work within the topic of the application.
Requirements relating to sub-contractors
The Project Owner and any partners may hire enterprises to perform activities in the project.
What can you seek funding for?
You can apply for funding to cover the actual costs necessary to carry out the project. You can apply for between NOK 50,000 and 400,000.
You will find detailed and important information about what to enter in the project budget on our website.
Project costs are the actual costs for the Project Owner and any partners that are necessary to carry out the project. Funding can be awarded to partner enterprises in the form of de minimis aid as defined in the state aid rules. Both the Project Owner and partners (funding recipients) may purchase services from providers, and the funding can be used to cover the costs of such procurements without being restricted by the rules for de minimis aid. It is therefore important to clearly distinguish between service providers that are necessary to carry out the project and partners, when these are enterprises.
You may not apply for funding for:
- scientific publication
- conferences – we do not support activities that are solely conferences/seminars/meetings etc.
- the continuation of existing and/or already funded communication and dissemination initiatives
- communication and dissemination activities that form part of the researchers’ and institutions’ existing commitments under agreements with the Research Council, or
- communication and dissemination deemed a natural part of existing research projects
- initiatives that fall under the researchers’ general dissemination duties
Conditions for funding
Funding awarded to research organisations and other enterprises that engage in both economic and non-economic activities must go to the organisation’s non-economic activities. It does not therefore constitute state aid. The Research Council requires a clear separation of accounts for the organisation’s economic and non-economic activities.
Support will be awarded to undertakings as de minimis aid. This means that an undertaking may receive maximum EUR 200,000 in de minimis aid over a period of three years.
Before the disbursement of de minimis aid, the Research Council will request written confirmation and an overview of all other de minimis aid the undertaking has received during the three last fiscal years. For undertakings that are part of a group of companies, the maximum limit generally applies to the group as a whole. For more information about de minimis aid, see the Commission Regulation (EU) No 1407/2013.
The Research Council’s requirements relating to the allocation and disbursement of funding for the first year and any pledges and payments for subsequent years are set out in the General Terms and Conditions for R&D Projects.
Relevant thematic areas for this call
The funding must contribute to ocean literacy, disseminate research-based knowledge and be related or affiliated to the UN Decade of Ocean Science.
Oceans
Practical information
Requirements for this application type
- The application must lie within the scope/satisfy the objectives of this call.
- The project group must have expertise in both research and communication work in the topic.
- The funding amount sought, expenses to be covered and any own financing to be provided must be in keeping with the framework of the call.
- The budget must be formulated correctly so that it clearly indicates what the funding will cover.
- The application form must be completed in full.
- The required attachments must be included using the dedicated templates.
- The application and all attachments must be written in Norwegian or in English.
- All attachments must be uploaded in PDF format.
Mandatory attachments
- a project description using the template available for download at the bottom of the page
- CV of the project manager (maximum four pages, including a list of publications if relevant)
- CV with documentation of research qualifications (within the topic) in the group or that of partners if such expertise is not covered by the project manager – see previous point (maximum four pages including a list of publications if relevant)
- CV with documentation of communication qualifications in the group or that of partners if such expertise is not covered by the project manager – see previous point (maximum four pages including a list of publications if relevant)
- confirmation from any partners involved in the project
- confirmation for any end users involved in the projects
We will not assess documents and websites linked to in the application, or other attachments than those specified above. There is no technical validation of the content of uploaded attachments, so please ensure that you upload the correct file for the selected type of attachment.
Applications that do not meet the requirements listed above will be rejected.
Assessment criteria
Grant applications will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
Excellence
• The extent to which the concept is sound, credible and novel.
Solidity
• The extent to which the project objectives are clear and relevant.
• The quality of the proposed deliverables from the project.
Impact
• The extent to which the expected effects are specified.
• The extent to which expected impacts on the system and societal levels are specified.
Knowledge sharing and exploitation
• The quality of the proposed communication and dissemination activities.
• The extent to which it is credible that the proposed outputs will contribute to the specified effects and impact.
Implementation
• The extent to which the Project Manager and project group are qualified and have the necessary expertise and are positioned to implement the project.
• The extent to which management structures and procedures are appropriate.
Plans and management
• The extent to which the work plan is clear and understandable, and the time table realistic
• The extent to which objectives and measures are coherent.
• The extent to which the project has the support of the leadership of the Project Owner and any partners, and the allocation of roles in the project is clear.
• The extent to which the budget is realistic and appropriate, and resources are allocated so that each of the partners can fulfil their role.
• The extent to which potential risks have been discussed.
Administrative procedures
Applications will be administratively processed. The expected processing time is six weeks (it may take a bit longer during the summer).
When we assess applications for funding, we will prioritise
- projects with clear target groups and concrete plans for reaching the target groups(s)
- projects that can highlight the project’s impact for the target group(s)
- projects that contribute to reaching the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science
- projects with confirmation letters form project partners and end users
We would like the overall portfolio of projects to reach different target groups, to comprise different activities and forms of dissemination, and to cover all of the thematic areas in the call. We therefore assess the projects in relation to each other and the overall portfolio of projects awarded funding under the call.