Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal

Funding is available to promote independent, bold and innovative research and scientific quality at the forefront of international research. Through FRIPRO, we will fund both basic and applied research with the goal of generating scientific renewal, where project ideas are initiated by the researchers themselves.

We do not require FRIPRO projects to have the potential for societal impact. We will only assess applications in relation to this point if such potential impacts are described in the application.

Ranking of applications

The competition for FRIPRO funding is tough. The number of worthy applications we receive each year far exceeds the amount of funding available, and only a small percentage of even the best applications are granted funding.

For applications to be considered for FRIPRO funding, they must therefore meet a mark requirement. Only applications awarded a mark of 6 or 7 by the panels for all of the assessment criteria are eligible for funding. In 2022, we estimate that around one out of six of these applications will be granted funding.

Among the eligible applications, we will place most emphasis on the criteria quality of R&D activities and potential for advancing the state-of-the-art when selecting which projects to grant funding to.

Applications with a project manager that does not have an ongoing project with FRIPRO funding will be prioritised above applications with a project manager that does, if the two applications are otherwise considered to be of similar quality. By ongoing project we mean all projects with an end date of 1 January 2023 or later in the original contract.

Funds subject to special guidelines

NOK 24 million for renewable energy and CO₂capture and storage (from here on called ‘energy funding’) forms part of this thematic area. These funds are from the Storting’s climate settlement. The funding is awarded to relevant applications submitted to FRIPRO under the three calls Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal, Researcher Project for Young Talents and Three-year Researcher Project with International Mobility.

If you would like your application to be considered for the energy funding, you must write the word ‘Energy’ in the field ‘Other relevant calls’ in the application form.

Administrative procedures

The energy funding will be awarded after the ordinary funding under FRIPRO has been allocated. Ranking of these applications takes place in the same way as for the ordinary FRIPRO funds, as described above.

Funding is available for projects that generate knowledge about opportunities and challenges relating to the economic transition as part of achieving Norway’s climate, nature and environmental goals and obligations. This will from here on be referred to as ‘the green transition’. The green transition must take place in a way that generates jobs, value creation, an energy transition, equitable distribution of the load and benefits, and good living conditions and quality of life for everyone, within planetary limits.

Projects must fall within one or both of the following priority areas:

Economic effects of measures promoting the green transition

The objective is to improve our understanding of the different economic effects of measures targeting the green transition, e.g. in relation to economic distribution, jobs, resource scarcity, international trade, nature, health and other welfare. Both adopted and proposed measures are relevant, as are measures at different administrative levels, i.e. municipal, regional and national.

Measures presented in public debate as contributions to the green transition, such as carbon taxes, network tariffs or changes in policy for the Norwegian continental shelf, as well as other measures where you can substantiate similar effects, such as working from home or accounting standards, are relevant.

A sustainable economy to accelerate the green transition

Several contributions have been made in recent years in the field of economics that have looked more closely at what a sustainable economic system entails. Economics as a discipline has also developed over time in many directions, both methodologically and theoretically, and in combination with other disciplines. The purpose of the funding is to develop and obtain knowledge about how different economic perspectives, methods and theories – both established and new – can help to realise the green transition.

Within both priority areas, we will accept:

• empirical projects, e.g. based on ‘natural experiments’ in relation to behaviour, consumption and work;
• method development, e.g. valuation methods;
• theory development, e.g. comparison of different forms of capital and the return they are expected to generate.

We encourage multi-, inter- and transdisciplinarity where this will strengthen the quality of the project.

When we assess the application’s relevance, we will also emphasise whether the project involves:

• research expertise in the economics discipline;
• expertise and plans for communication targeting areas other than academia.

The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

Other relevant calls related to climate and the green transition:

• Projects concerning transition and adaptation to climate change can apply for the topic Up to NOK 83 million for projects on Norway's transition to a zero-emission society adapted to global climate changein this call.
• Projects concerning perspectives on the circular economy can apply for the topic Up to NOK 70 million for a circular economy in the production and consumption of finished goods in the call Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges.
• Projects dealing with perspectives on the consequences, use and/or conservation of marine/coastal areas can apply for the topic Up to NOK 105 million for research on marine and coastal areas under pressurein the call Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges.

Funding will be awarded to research targeting Asia in a Time of Change, as described in the Portfolio plan for Global development and international relations, in the appendices Asia in a Time of Change – Scientific and Thematic Priorities, and International Relations, Foreign and Security Policy and Norwegian Interests (UTENRIKS). Projects must be within the areas ‘Order and the International System’ and/or ‘Security’. However, projects that explore linkages between either of these two thematic areas and other areas described in the Asia in a Time of Change appendix, will also be relevant.

The funding has been allocated to the Research Council over the development cooperation budget, and grant applications must therefore satisfy the requirements regarding use of Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding. To comply with this, the grant application must seek to advance economic development or welfare in countries on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) List of ODA Recipients. For more information please see the OECD website.

When we assess the application’s relevance, we will also emphasise whether the project involves:

• at least one international partner;
• communication and dissemination activities targeting relevant user groups.

The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory if you select this topic. The template can be found at the end of the call.

Funding is available for research on health improvements for disadvantaged populations in low- and lower-middle income countries (LLMICs). The research must be relevant to Sustainable Development Goal 3 ‘Good health for all’ and its targets. Applications for this topic under the calls Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal and Collaborative and Knowledge-building Project relating to Global Health will compete for total funding of NOK 80 million.

Applications for projects on antimicrobial resistance from a One Health perspective and implementation research on non-communicable diseases will not be prioritised. These should target other relevant calls with different deadlines in 2022; see links under ‘Other relevant calls with the same topic’ below.

The previously announced call for funding on climate, the environment and health through the Belmont Forum has been postponed until 2023. Therefore, applications for such projects are considered relevant for this call.

Proposals must demonstrate their potential to:

• contribute, directly or indirectly, to substantial reductions in disease burden in LLMICs;
• promote health equity in LLMICs; 
• produce higher-level insights of relevance to policy and practice beyond the specific setting and context where studies are carried out.

These points are outlined in more detail in Section 2.1 of the appendix ‘New Priorities on Global Health’; see ‘Relevant plans’ below.

The project must involve partners from LLMICs, defined in the OECD DAC list as ‘least developed countries, low income countries, and lower middle income countries and territories which are not LDCs’.

Research organisations in high-income and upper middle-income countries may also serve as partners in the project, but may receive a maximum of 30 per cent of our total funding for the project.

The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ must provide a concrete and clear answer to how the project will fulfil the following requirements for equitable partnerships:

• equitable sharing of funds and institutional costs with partner institutions in LLMICs;
• plans for equitable sharing of credits, e.g. scientific analyses, authorship, intellectual property rights and dissemination;
• include concrete plans for how the project will contribute to strengthening both individual and institutional capacity in the collaborating institutions in LLMICs;
• demonstrate co-leadership of the proposed scientific agenda with project managers from LLMIC institutions.

In the attachment, you must also describe the degree of user involvement as outlined in Section 4.1 of the appendix ‘New Priorities on Global Health’.

If the application is relevant to the above, priority will be given to projects that include a doctoral and/or post-doctoral research fellowship position at a Norwegian research organisation and/or at an institution in an LLMIC. 

Applications for a Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal may not include partners from outside academia/that are not research organisations, but user groups e.g. reference groups, can be included in the project. Projects where it is expedient and beneficial to establish collaboration outside academia must apply for the call Collaborative Project in Global Health.

The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory if you select this topic. The template can be found at the end of the call.

Funding is available for research on food security and climate-smart agriculture in developing countries. Projects eligible for funding must target small-scale food producers.

The funding has been allocated to the Research Council over the development cooperation budget, and grant applications must therefore satisfy the requirements regarding use of Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding. To comply with this, the grant application must seek to advance economic development or welfare in countries on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) List of ODA Recipients.

Projects eligible for funding must:

• contribute to food production in a well-functioning ecosystem;
• include small-scale food producers in the food systems;
• contribute to improving nutrition in developing countries, particularly among women and children;
• have active collaboration with at least one research organisation from a developing country;
• clearly include climate and biodiversity in the food systems;
• contribute to achieving the SDGs locally in the target developing countries.

You can read more about these areas in the Portfolio plan for Global development and international relations and in the document Norway – Global partner (NORGLOBAL2); see ‘Relevant plans’ below.

If we consider the application relevant to the points above, we will also emphasise whether the project:

• has a good communication plan;
• engages in research that involves one or more of the priority countries in Norway’s development policy.

When awarding marks for the relevance criterion, we will consider how well the application addresses the points above. The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory if you select this topic. The template can be found at the end of the call.

Funding is available for social science research on issues of significance to policy-making and Norwegian interests in the Arctic region. This can be within topics such as international relations, institutions and management of the Arctic and non-Arctic states and institutions’ activities and interests in the Arctic.

Projects eligible for funding within this topic must fall within at least one of the following areas:

• international relations;
• institutions and management in the Arctic;
• non-Arctic states and institutions’ activities and interests in the Arctic.

When awarding marks for the relevance criterion, we will consider how well the application addresses the points above. The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory if you select this topic. The template can be found at the end of the call.

Funding is available for research on the occurrence and effects of pollution and other anthropogenic stressors on biodiversity, ecosystems, populations and species in the marine environment.

The objective of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which started in 2021, is to increase knowledge about the ocean and ensure that society can use this knowledge to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In our portfolio plans (see ‘Relevant plans’ below), you can read more about the knowledge needs behind this funding that your research can help to solve.

The projects must address research in the open ocean or the Norwegian coastal zone and the research must be relevant to Norway.

The geographical areas for this topic are:

• the polar marine areas, as described in the Portfolio plan for Climate and polar research;
• Norway’s ocean, fjord and coastal areas.

Stressors and  effects on marine species, populations or ecosystems

The projects must address stressors and their effects on marine species, populations or ecosystems in at least one of the following areas:

• transport of environmental toxins and other types of pollution from land or via ocean and/or air currents, and how they are distributed, dispersed and concentrated in marine ecosystems;
• inputs, transport and dispersion of other stressors than those mentioned above between coastal, fjord and ocean areas;
• effects of local discharges as a result of human activity in e.g. offshore petroleum activities, other industrial activities, aquaculture, agriculture and municipal waste water;
• combined effects of external stressors from e.g. climate change, environmental toxins, plastics, ocean acidification, freshwater inflow and/or various industrial activities;
• effects of changes in physical, hydrochemical and/or biogeochemical conditions as a result of e.g. temperature increase and freshwater inflow.

Stressors include pollutants, heat, cold, invasive species, freshwater inflow, climate change etc. that can have an impact on the marine environment.

Relevant applications must encompass one or more of the points above, address the geographical area defined in the call and be relevant to Norway. Applications that address more than one of the points above will not receive a higher mark for relevance.

The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory if you select this topic. The template can be found at the end of the call.

Our goal is to fund at least one project within each of the following areas:

• coastal conditions
• polar conditions
• combined effects of external stressors

The projects that receive funding should preferably become involved in the UN Decade of Ocean Science. This should in such case be included in the communication plan and it will also be discussed in more detail with the projects that receive funding.

Funding is available under the call Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal in the areas Production biology, nutrition, breeding and genetics and Fish health and welfare, as described below.

Funding is also available for aquaculture research on the following topics with a deadline in February 2022:

• Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges: Production and processing technology (the page opens in a new window) 
• Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges: Marine and coastal areas under pressure (the page opens in a new window)

To be eligible for funding, the application must fall within at least one of the two areas/thematic priorities described below.

Production biology, nutrition, breeding and genetics – thematic open call

Funding is available for research that contributes to increased knowledge about and understanding of aquaculture organisms’ production biology, nutrition, breeding and genetics. The research area is described in more detail in the Portfolio plan for Oceans and in the work programme for Aquaculture research, which you can find under ‘Relevant plans’ below.

Projects within this research area can encompass all aquaculture species. Funding is available for both a Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal (this call) and Researcher Project for Young Talents, and applications will compete for funding across these two calls. We expect to grant funding to five projects divided between the two calls. 

Fish health and welfare – bacterial diseases

Funding is available for projects that contribute to increased knowledge and understanding of important bacterial diseases in the Norwegian aquaculture sector. In general, the situation is relatively good when it comes to bacterial diseases in Norwegian aquaculture and the use of antibiotics remains low.

Bacterial diseases are nonetheless a challenge, with winter wounds in particular contributing to welfare challenges and mortality in salmon. The number of facilities with outbreaks of pasteurellosis has increased in recent years, with the disease now ranked as the third most pressing problem in the marine grow-out phase in the Fish Health Report 2020. Francisellosis has previously been a serious problem in the cod aquaculture sector, and current expectations of increased production could cause the disease to re-emerge as a challenge. This call is restricted to bacterial diseases but encompasses all aquaculture species in all stages.

We expect to grant funding to two projects under the area Fish health and welfare.

Assessment of relevance

When awarding marks for the relevance criterion, we will also pay special consideration to:

• the thematic match in the research area (this is given most weight);
• whether you have concrete plans for international collaboration, for example participation in project work, co-publication or mobility;
• whether you have people in recruitment positions who will actively participate in the project work.

Applications for a Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal/Researcher Project for Young Talents may not include partners from outside academia/that are not research organisations, but stakeholders e.g. reference groups, can be included in the project

The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

Funding is available for research that aims to secure good healthcare services for everyone and reduce inequity in health. Projects can suggest research ranging from early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, to how healthcare and welfare services can best adapt to the needs of vulnerable groups.

In this call, vulnerable groups are:

• children and adolescents (0–25 years);
• minorities;
• people with reduced mental health;
• people with reduced functional ability and/or several chronic diseases;
• drug addicts;
• people with dementia.

There is a need for research that aims to generate knowledge about treatment and service pathways based on and adapted to vulnerable users/patients’ needs. Vulnerable patient groups are less represented and included in clinical studies evaluating the effect of treatment, diagnostics and rehabilitation.

We therefore need more research to ensure that these patient groups receive good and accurate diagnoses, treatment and rehabilitation. More clinical research is necessary, both in the primary care and specialised care services. Studies of home treatment, clinical studies and studies of integrated healthcare services at several levels are examples of how treatment and service systems can be adapted to vulnerable groups.

We will prioritise projects that target children and adolescents, but this does not exclude strong applications targeting other groups in the list above.

Requirements relating to user involvement

End users must be represented in all phases of the project. In the application, you must describe how partners, and if relevant, other users such as citizens, next of kin, patients and voluntary organisations, are involved in the planning and implementation of the project and utilisation of the results. Proper user involvement is important to achieve useful research results that can be translated into practice. The projects must relate to the users’ needs.

When performing research involving vulnerable groups, ethical aspects such as the capacity to give consent and data collection/processing must be taken into account. Projects concerning children and adolescents are to preserve and safeguard their perspectives, needs and rights.

Projects must fall within at least one of the following areas:

• quality, competence and efficiency in the healthcare and welfare services;
• diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation of illnesses.

The areas are described in more detail in the Portfolio plan for Health.

If the application is relevant to the points above, we will also consider whether the project:

• addresses the coordination of services across sectors and service levels;
• is interdisciplinary and includes the humanities and social sciences, where relevant;
• includes Nordic and/or other international research collaboration;
• makes use of existing health data and/or personal data.

Funding is available for research on the occurrence and effects of pollution and other anthropogenic stressors on biodiversity, ecosystems, populations and species in the marine environment.

See the comlete text on the topic under the thematic area Oceans.

Funding is available for projects that build knowledge about how adaptation solutions can reduce Norwegian society’s vulnerability to global and local climate change, and how Norway can make the transition to a sustainable zero-emission society. The research must build on knowledge of the climate system and consequences of climate change, and target the societal goals set out in the Portfolio plan for Climate and polar research.

Projects must fall within at least one of the following areas:

• sustainable solutions for adaptation to climate change, emissions reduction and/or increased greenhouse gas uptake/storage, including nature-based solutions;
• climate policy instruments, and their environmental, societal and cultural impacts, including how the burden is distributed;
• attitudes and cultural dimensions relating to climate change, climate adaptation and transition, such as understanding, acceptance and action among the population;
• knowledge-based measures that the public administration, industry and civil society can implement for transformation and/or adapting to climate change and its impacts, both within and beyond Norway;
• climate risk and how it is managed (physical risk, perceived risk, transitional risk and liability risk)
• prevention and preparedness to achieve good civil protection and public security in relation to climate change.

When awarding marks for the relevance criterion, we will consider whether and how well you:

• have explained how the objectives of the project will see the UN SDGs in context, and how the research results will help us as a society to achieve the SDGs;
• have included a reference group comprising the users of the results, e.g. municipal and county councils, directorates, non-profit organisations and industry;
• address problems with a background in policy-making processes, e.g. the work of the Climate Commission 2050;
• where you choose to include collaboration with international partners, you must demonstrate concrete ambitions for how this collaboration can be conducted with the smallest possible climate and environmental footprint.

The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory if you select this topic. The template can be found at the end of the call.

The call is open to applications within all fields and disciplines and methodological approaches, including multi- and interdisciplinarity. We will not give priority to pure technology projects or projects intended to culminate in commercial products and services for the market during the project period, i.e. projects with a high TRL level.

We will strive to achieve a balanced overall portfolio of projects that covers the breadth of the areas presented above, diverse fields and disciplines and different users groups’ need for the knowledge developed.

Other relevant topics also related to climate:

• Projects concerning perspectives on the circular economy can apply for the topic NOK 80 million for a circular economy in the production and consumption of finished goods in the call Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges.
• Projects concerning perspectives specifically related to consequences, use and/or conservation of marine/coastal areas can apply for the topic NOK 105 million for research on marine and coastal areas under pressure in the call Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges.
• Projects concerning the energy transition can apply for the topic NOK 50 million for the energy transition and impacts on society, climate and nature in the call Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges.
• Projects focusing on economic issues related to the green transition can apply for the topic NOK 60 million for research on economic issues related to the green transitionin this call.

Funding is available for projects that build knowledge to accelerate implementation of low-emission technology in the Norwegian petroleum industry, or to improve safety and the working environment in the petroleum industry on the Norwegian continental shelf.

The project must fall within at least one of the following two areas:

• social sciences or interdisciplinary knowledge about the implementation of technology that can lead to substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in upstream petroleum activities;
• major accidents and the working environment in the petroleum industry.

If the application is relevant to the points above, we will prioritise projects that can document that the research falls within at least one of the following two areas:

• areas where there are conflicts of interest, and where independent research without participation from the industry will benefit the research;
• areas where the research is of little interest to the industry itself, but where there are significant societal outcomes that are more important than the value creation effects and direct benefits to the industry.

Projects where it is expedient and beneficial to establish collaboration with the industry must apply under the call for Knowledge-building Projects for Industry. Research targeting a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions or energy efficiency in the petroleum industry can also apply for a Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges.

When awarding marks for the relevance criterion, we will consider how well the application addresses the points above. The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory if you select this topic. The template can be found at the end of the call.

Funding is available for projects that contribute to generating new research-based knowledge that will enable the Sámi people to strengthen and further develop their own language, and their own culture and community life.

Applications concerning all areas of the work programme are relevant, but we would particularly like to strengthen research that falls under the area Language, as described in section 3.4 of the work programme. It will also count as positive if the project includes research on cultural resilience.

The areas are described in more detail in the Work programme for SAMISK III; see ‘Relevant plans’ below.

When we award a mark for the application’s relevance, we will also emphasise whether the project:

• includes collaboration between institutions and/or local or regional Sámi research groups;
• includes recruitment positions;
• looks at international comparative issues based on or in relation to the Sámi situation.

The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory if you select this topic. The template can be found at the end of the call.

Funding is available for research on and for the  education sector and all levels of the educational system, from early childhood education and care institutions and primary schools, to higher education and learning in and outside working life. Projects that examine transitions between the levels of the educational system and the transition from education to working life are also relevant. 

The goal is to generate knowledge of relevance to policy development, administration and the field of practice, and contribute to knowledge-based development. We encourage multi- and interdisciplinary projects. 

Projects must fall within one or more of the following areas:

1. learning processes, assessment forms and learning outcomes; 
2. praxis, professional practice and competence development;
3. governance, management, organisation and achievement of results; 
4. education, society and working life. 

If the application is relevant to the points above, we will also consider whether the project includes:

• active collaboration with at least one other national research organisation;
• active international collaboration;
• recruitment positions.

The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory if you select this topic. The template can be found at the end of the call.

Funding is available for research that generates knowledge about and contributes to managing and resolving societal challenges relating to outsiderness, inequality and inclusion in working life, and for legal research on welfare issues. The goal is to generate knowledge of relevance to policy development, public administration and the field of practice.

Projects must fall within one or more of the following areas:

• inclusion of vulnerable groups in working life. This also concerns coordination across the health and welfare services aimed at inclusion in working life;
• preventing sickness absence, withdrawal and "outsiderness" from working life among people with health challenges. Of particular importance here are young people outside working life;
• pension, older people and working life, including measures that contribute to longer working lives;
• legal research in the areas working life, integration, children and families, and the significance of EEA law for Norwegian social security legislation.

The areas are elaborated in the Portfolio plan for Welfare, culture and society, and in the appendices ‘Welfare, working life and migration’ and ‘Good and efficient health, care and welfare services’.

We would like you to use different methodological approaches to assess the outcomes of measures and instruments aimed at increasing inclusion in working life and reducing inequality and exclusion. This does not apply to the point about legal research on welfare issues in the list above.

If the application is relevant to the points above, we will also consider it positive if the project involves:

• concrete plans for international collaboration;
• recruitment.

The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory if you select this topic. The template can be found at the end of the call.

Funding is available for research that challenges and expands current knowledge on societal and cultural dimensions of technological development. The objective of the research is to develop new knowledge that can help to increase understanding and management of key societal challenges related to technology use and development; cf. the appendix to the Portfolio plan for Welfare, culture and society (see ‘Relevant plans’ below).

To be relevant, the project must:

• explore issues related to how technological development has in many areas led to great progress and improvements, but also to new societal challenges, and frameworks and limitations in relation to human behaviour;
• be based on the challenges technological development poses for individuals and society.

The relevant research topics are described in more detail in the appendix to the portfolio plan ‘Cultural conditions underlying social change (SAMKUL)’, section 4.2.2. The applications must also reflect the SAMKUL perspective in general; see section 4.1 in the same appendix. Please note that issues related to material surroundings will not be given priority under this call.

To be considered highly relevant, the applications must, in addition to addressing the thematic priorities above, clearlyrelate to disciplines and perspectives within the humanities.

When finally awarding marks for the relevance criterion, we will also emphasise whether:

• the project is interdisciplinary;
• you include plans for concrete collaboration with at least one other national and one international research organisation or researcher.

The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory if you select this topic. The template can be found at the end of the call.

We will not prioritise applications:

• where the project manager of the application deadline 2 February 2022 is already the manager of an ongoing project funded by SAMKUL;
• that thematically overlap with ongoing or recently concluded projects funded by SAMKUL.