Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal (Thematic Priority Call)

Funding is available for projects that generate knowledge about barriers to, prerequisites for and consequences of reduced consumption in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the negative impact on biodiversity.

In this context, reduced consumption can mean both preventing consumption before it happens – i.e. before an item is produced and purchased for the first time – and preserving resources that are already in circulation through measures for the circular economy, such as reuse and repair.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–10 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 10 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

Projects must fall under at least one of the following three areas:

• systemic (e.g. regulatory, structural, cultural and/or social) barriers and prerequisites for reduced consumption
• socio-economic consequences of reduced consumption measures
• new business models based on reduced consumption

The areas are described in more detail in the Portfolio plan for Land-based food, the environment and bioresources.

If the application is relevant to the areas above, we will prioritise projects that

• involve research questions that are relevant to Norway, so that the projects contribute to knowledge development of material importance to Norwegian public and societal actors and Norwegian industry
• have a plan for dialogue and communication with users and communities on issues and findings throughout the project period. The plan should specify the time, place, meeting places, etc. and be as concrete as possible.

When a mark is awarded for the application’s relevance to the topic you have chosen, we will consider how well the application addresses the points in both lists above. The attachment “Relevance to the topic” is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

The project portfolio assessment will take the following factors into account

• that the projects we fund contribute to a balanced overall portfolio of projects that covers the breadth of the areas in the call
• that you have active collaboration with at least one other national or international research organisation

Why are we announcing this funding?

The consumption of resources is a major driver of the climate and natural crisis. There are different approaches to addressing the climate and environmental problems that result from consumption. Some claim that more efficient use of resources is sufficient, while others argue that an absolute reduction in consumption is needed. The OECD report OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Norway 2022 highlights that a key challenge for Norway is to promote sustainable consumption patterns and that measures must include a reduction in the absolute levels of resource consumption. Resource scarcity is becoming increasingly relevant and there is great potential for reducing consumption that leads to loss of biodiversity, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Reduced consumption” in the application form.

Funding is available for research on health improvements for vulnerable 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.  

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–12 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 12 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

Proposals must demonstrate the project's potential to:

• contribute, directly or indirectly, to substantial reductions in the 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.

You can also read more under “Global health” in the Portfolio plan for Global development and international relations.

You must involve partners from LLMICs

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" The collaboration must be based on the principles of equitable partnerships.

Research organisations in high-income and upper middle-income countries outside Norway 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;
• equitable sharing of credits, e.g. scientific analysis, authorship, intellectual property rights and dissemination;
• strengthening of both individual competence and institutional capacity in the collaborating institutions in LLMICs;
• co-leadership of the proposed scientific agenda with investigators from LLMIC institutions.

End users must be represented in the project

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 patients, community members, NGOs, policy makers, health care workers and health care administration personnel, 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. Projects must be based on the users’ needs. If user participation is not relevant to the project, you must clearly explain this in the application and the attachment "Relevance to the topic".

Ethical aspects must be taken into account

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

When a mark is awarded for the application’s relevance to the topic you have chosen, we will consider how well the application addresses the points listed above. The attachment “Relevance to the topic” is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Global health” in the application form.

Funding is available for research in one or more of the following areas:

• Different states’ strategic thinking and behaviour in the High North /Arctic. Implications for governance, sustainable development and security in the region.
• The Arctic Council and other collaboration forums in the region, their role, scope of action and potential influence.
• The High North as a hub for expertise, green development and sustainable resource management. Challenges and opportunities related to economic investment and sustainable living conditions for people in the North, including indigenous peoples.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–7 million in funding per project. We want three-year projects to get results as quickly as possible.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 7 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

When a mark is awarded for the application’s relevance to the topic you have chosen, we will consider how well the application addresses the points listed above. The attachment “Relevance to the topic” is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Foreign policy, the High North” in the application form.

Why are we announcing this funding?

The High North is a core interest for Norway and of strategic interest to actors in and outside the Arctic region. Climate change is happening faster in the Arctic than anywhere else in the world, and we must tackle its consequences together. Russia’s warfare in Ukraine is slowing down international collaboration in the Arctic and leading to increased international attention to the region. The development has implications for all the Arctic states.

There is a need to understand how Arctic and non-Arctic states respond to developments in their approach to the region, how international cooperation in the Arctic can be continued to ensure continued responsible management and control of transboundary challenges in the region, and how developments can affect economic investment, sustainable development and activity in the region.

You can read more under “Security and governance” in the Portfolio plan for Global development and international relations.

Funding is available for research in one or more of the following areas:

• Russia and changes in the world order – Russia’s strategic cooperation with China, India and other non-Western states and the challenge to international security
• Russian domestic policy – development and tensions between society and state
• Russian domestic policy, and how it plays a role in foreign and security policy
• Russia in the Global South

If the application is relevant to the areas above, we will prioritise projects that involve good dissemination activities targeting relevant user groups and the media.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–7 million in funding per project. We want three-year projects to get results as quickly as possible.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 7 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

To ensure a high level of Norwegian research-based knowledge and expertise about Russia, we want to fund innovative research on Russian society, economy and politics, including foreign, security and defence policy.

When a mark is awarded for the application’s relevance to the topic you have chosen, we will consider how well the application addresses the points listed above. The attachment “Relevance to the topic” is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Foreign policy, Russia” in the application form.

Why are we announcing this funding?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought war back to Europe with major consequences for the European economy, politics and security, including within NATO and for transatlantic relations. Europe and the United States are united in supplying arms and other forms of assistance to Ukraine and in implementing tough sanctions against Russia.

Moscow is working to strengthen economic ties and political and security relations with non-Western states such as China and India. Multilateral organisations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are also prioritised by the Russian authorities. At the same time, Russia continues to play a significant role in the development and conflicts in the Middle East and Africa using both legitimate and illegal means.

You can read more under “Security and governance” in the Portfolio plan for Global development and international relations.

Funding is available for aquaculture research under the call Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal in the areas Production and processing technology, Societal and market perspectives and Fish health and welfare, as these are important areas for aquaculture in the future.

In addition to this call, we announce the following calls with a deadline of 8 February 2023:

• Researcher Project for Young Research Talents in the area Production and processing technology (link opens in new window)
• Large-scale Interdisciplinary Researcher Project in the area of salmon lice and wild salmon (link opens in new window)

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

Production and processing technology – without thematic delimitations

Funding of up to NOK 36 million is available for research on production and/or processing technologies of relevance to the aquaculture sector. This part of the call is open, and projects can include production and/or processing technologies in all parts of the aquaculture sector, regardless of the type of aquaculture organism.

Research on biotechnology in itself is not considered to be part of production and processing technology. We refer in this context to the call Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges where up to NOK 90 million is awarded to industrial biotechnology (link opens in new window), application deadline 15 February 2023.

Funding is available for both Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal (this call) and Researcher Project for Young Talents (opens i new window), and applications will compete for funding across these two calls. We expect to fund three to four projects in total.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–12 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 12 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

Production conditions that can improve fish welfare

Up to NOK 24 million is available for research on production disorders of salmon and/or rainbow trout in the seawater phase that there is reason to believe are due to production conditions in earlier life stages.

There is a high mortality rate in the sea phase in Norwegian salmon and trout farming. Production conditions in freshwater may be among the causes of this mortality, and of reduced growth and poor welfare in the sea. The industry reports fish that stop growing before slaughter size and various types of deformities with unknown cause. It is also known that some salmon struggle with deformed hearts. Production conditions in earlier life phases can also contribute to complex diseases. These are all serious health challenges which we do not fully know the reasons for, but which may be due to production conditions (water temperature and quality/ chemistry, intensive operation, feeding, vaccine damage, etc.) in fresh water/ brackish water that affect the performance, well-being and health of the fish in the sea.

Funding scale: We expect to fund two projects. You can apply for NOK 4–12 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 12 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

Societal and market perspectives in the field of aquaculture

Up to NOK 8 million is available for research that can increase knowledge of how key societal interests best can be united with the aquaculture industry’s need for efficiency and predictability.

The aquaculture industry needs predictable and stable framework conditions that contribute to international competitiveness and allow for further development. These are needs that must be balanced with key societal interests such as biodiversity, the distribution of scarce resources, other value creation, local ripple effects or the aquaculture industry’s contributions to society. We need more knowledge of how the aquaculture industry can both enjoy the support of society and secure the opportunity for further development.

The projects must take a social science approach. We expect to fund one project.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–8 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 8 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

Common guidelines that apply to all applications for aquaculture research

The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

This topic is in cooperation with IOC-UNESCO as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science. The objective of the UN Decade of Ocean Science is to increase ocean knowledge and ensure that society can use this knowledge, enabling us to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The projects funded under this call will be assessed by the IOC-UNESCO secretariat and may become part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science activities (attachment opens in new window).

Assessment of relevance

When awarding marks for the relevance criterion, we will place emphasis on:

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

Applications for Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal/Researcher Project for Young Talents 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.

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

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Aquaculture” in the application form.

Funding is available for projects that promote long-term, sustainable utilisation and management of wild living marine resources. Research activities must address the research needs as defined in the areas “Sustainable harvesting and value creation (VERDISKAPING)” and “Management and societal perspectives (SAMFUNN)”. More information about these areas can be found in the attachment “Research needs – marine research” (link below).

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–10 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 10 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

Projects must fall within at least one of these areas

Applicants can choose whether the application is aimed at VERDISKAPING and/or SAMFUNN. The bullet lists below summarise the research needs for VERDISKAPING and SAMFUNN, respectively, and each of these has detailed sub-points, which you can read about in Research needs marine research (PDF, attachment opens in new window). Your application must target at least one of these sub-points.

Sustainable harvesting and value creation (VERDISKAPING)

• harvesting levels
• environmental impact of harvesting, exploitation patterns and capture technology
• monitoring methodologies and resource control
• ethical capture and killing methods
• processing and production
• consumers and markets

Management and societal perspectives (SAMFUNN)

• marine ecosystem services
• management of marine and coastal waters
• management challenges in light of climate and environmental change
• ecosystem-based management
• food safety and nutrition

Funding earmarked for geopolitics and the Law of the Sea in the polar regions

NOK 13.5 million is earmarked for research on geopolitics and the Law of the Sea in the polar regions – both the Arctic and the Antarctic – as defined in the Portfolio plan for Climate and polar research (see Relevant Plans below). Emerging international actors, increasing business and resource extraction activities and increasing international interest in the polar regions challenge the geopolitical situation.

Funding is available for research on geopolitics and the Law of the Sea in one or more of the following topics:

• international law and institutional conditions relating to international cooperation
• development trends and continuity of international legal frameworks
• geopolitical developments

The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

This topic is in cooperation with IOC-UNESCO as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science. The objective of the UN Decade of Ocean Science is to increase ocean knowledge and ensure that society can use this knowledge, enabling us to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The projects funded under this call will be assessed by the IOC-UNESCO secretariat and may become part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science activities (PDF, opens in new window).

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

We aim to fund at least one project in each of the areas of VERDISKAPING and SAMFUNN.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Marine” in the application form.

Funding is available for research that can promote good health for women or reduce gender-based inequity in health. Projects can concern research ranging from aetiology to prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and habilitation, implementation and effect research to how health and care services can best be adapted to women’s needs.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–12 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 12 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

Priority groups:

• elderly (> 60 years) and younger (< 30 years) women
• minority women
• women with mental health issues
• women with chronic disorders of which there is little knowledge and high prevalence in the population
• women with dementia or osteoporosis

We will give priority to projects that target these groups, but will not exclude applications that address other groups.

You must demonstrate that the project addresses knowledge gaps

Mapping of research in the field of women’s health has identified knowledge gaps in several areas. This applies in particular to research on endometriosis, cardiovascular disease, hormonal disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, immune system diseases, mental health issues, medicine use and effects among women, in particular women with chronic diseases.

We require that projects contribute to cover these knowledge gaps and provide knowledge about diseases that only or mainly affect women. We also need more knowledge about gender differences related to cause, prevention (preventive measures), incidence, risk factors, symptoms and drug use for disorders that affect both genders.

Clinical studies are also needed that lead to more knowledge about and inclusion of older and younger age groups, pregnant women and minority women.

End users must be represented in the project

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

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

• conditions and diseases that only or mainly affect women
• conditions and diseases with known gender differences

Women`s Health is described in the Portfolio plan for Health (see “Relevant plans” below).

If the application is relevant to the areas above, we will prioritise projects that

• have concrete plans for international collaboration, for example co-publication or mobility
• makes use of existing health data and/or personal data
• adopt an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approach and include the humanities or social sciences, where relevant

When a mark is awarded for the application’s relevance to the topic you have chosen, we will consider how well the application addresses the priorities and points listed above. The attachment ‘Relevance to the topic’ is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

The Portfolio Board for Health strives to achieve a broad range of topics and disciplines in the portfolio of projects granted under this call and in the overall health project portfolio.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Women’s health” in the application form.

Funding is available for research aimed at increasing our understanding of the effects of climate change on nature and how climate change affects the physical environment, biodiversity and ecosystems at sea and on land. This includes interactions between, and the overall impact of, climate change and other drivers. Research on the effects of climate change will provide important knowledge about the rapid and pervasive consequences of climate change, which is a necessary knowledge base for climate adaptation.

NOK 10 million is earmarked for marine research.

NOK 25 million is earmarked for collaboration with Indian partners. The purpose of this is to strengthen Norwegian-Indian collaboration. For these earmarked funds, marine issues will be given priority.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–10 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 10 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

In order for the application to be relevant, the project’s main research question must address one or more of these areas:

• Effects of climate change on the physical and chemical environment: We welcome projects that look at the effects on the physical and chemical environment, including hydrology, geology, biogeochemistry and ocean acidification. Improved modelling and knowledge of natural hazards, including changes in frequency and size, and uncertainty management, are important areas.
• Effects of climate change on ecosystems: We welcome projects that look at how ecosystems’ response to climate change varies geographically and over time. This includes thresholds, tipping points and the likelihood, and consequences, of extensive changes in the ecosystem. More knowledge is needed of underlying processes and functions that govern and influence how ecosystems respond to climate change, and knowledge that can contribute to an overall understanding and development of scenarios. We welcome projects that take advantage of relevant existing data, but also projects that develop new observation methodology to study ecosystem responses to climate change itself, as well as responses to various measures.
• Interaction between drivers and the overall impact of different drivers: We welcome projects that aim to develop a better understanding of how climate change and other drivers, such as land use change, pollution, harvesting, and invasive species, act together and affect ecosystems.

This topic is not open to research on societal effects or adaptation research. If you plan for such research, it may be relevant to apply for a Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenge under the topic Areas under pressure (application deadline 15 February 2023).

Nor do we accept applications concerning issues relating to individual species under this topic. However, species-specific issues may be included as part of a larger project if they are central to the structure or functioning of an ecosystem.

We encourage you to reuse existing data and research infrastructures where relevant.

If the application is relevant to the areas above, it will be deemed positive if

• the project targets specific knowledge gaps in research, public administration and/or society at large
• the results could be applied in the short and long term
• dissemination activities target and involve relevant user groups

When a mark is awarded for the application’s relevance to the topic you have chosen, we will consider how well the application addresses the points listed above. The attachment “Relevance to the topic” is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

In cases where projects are otherwise considered to be of equal quality, the Portfolio Board will prioritise projects that include young researchers other than PhD fellows, who lead one or more work packages.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Effects of climate change” in the application form.

The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

This topic is in cooperation with IOC-UNESCO as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science. The objective of the UN Decade of Ocean Science is to increase ocean knowledge and ensure that society can use this knowledge, enabling us to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The projects funded under this call will be assessed by the IOC-UNESCO secretariat and may become part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science activities (attachment opens in new window).

Funding is available for projects that strengthen knowledge about the environment in Svalbard seen in a pan-Arctic context.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–10 million in funding per project.

If your application is granted and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 10 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

Why are we announcing this funding?

The biggest challenge for nature in Svalbard is the rapid climate change that is making nature there increasingly vulnerable. Tourism and other human travel and activity have increased sharply in recent decades. In addition, Svalbard has problems with long-distance pollution from environmental toxins through air and sea currents, as well as emissions from local sources such as the settlements, mining, research and tourism. Rapid climate change in combination with other environmental impacts, including changes in activity, is a significant and growing challenge.

Projects must concern impacts on Svalbard’s natural environment

Projects must concern the effects of one or more of the following impacts on Svalbard’s natural environment:

• climate change
• tourism and other human travel and activity
• long-distance pollution through air and sea currents
• pollution load from local sources

Projects should contribute to increased natural science research on Svalbard.

To be eligible for funding, projects must be relevant to at least one of the bullet points above, seen in a pan-Arctic context. A project that covers several of the bullet points is not awarded a higher relevance mark.

Geographical delimitation and international collaboration

The topic covers the archipelago as defined in the Svalbard Treaty and the marine areas within its territorial boundaries. Research in Svalbard and/or using Svalbard’s research infrastructure is a prerequisite for being awarded funding.

Comparative studies based on research elsewhere in the Arctic are also relevant, but with the aim of placing the Svalbard research in a wider context. For all projects, the main emphasis of the research must be in/about Svalbard.

An important objective of the call is to stimulate increased international collaboration in Svalbard research. Projects eligible for funding must have at least one international partner.

If the application is relevant to the areas above, we will prioritise projects that

• contribute to the international coordination of regional and global observation systems, for example through the use of the SIOS (Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System)
• use existing research infrastructure, for example in Ny-Ålesund, on Bjørnøya and Hopen, around Longyearbyen or in the form of available research ships or autonomous vessels. If the research is carried out in Ny-Ålesund, it must be in line with at least one of the four flagship programmes.

Ranking of applications

When the portfolio board prioritises between applications that are considered to be of equal quality, they take account of the following:

• They will prioritise projects where at least one work package is led by a young researcher other than PhD fellows.
• They will prioritise projects that include international partners that contribute with own funding or that receive funding from sources other than the Research Council.
• It is a goal that at least one of the projects granted funding studies interdisciplinary issues and interactions between systems.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Svalbard” in the application form.

Funding is available for projects developing basic knowledge and new methods and building research capacity in the fields of nanotechnology, microtechnology and/or advanced materials.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–10 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 10 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

You must refer to Responsible Research and Innovation

You can apply for project funding for research in any area and topic in which new technology may be applied. You must demonstrate that the project research will have a positive impact on social and sustainability challenges in a short or long-term perspective.

However, there is often uncertainty surrounding the actual effects of technology development. For example, in addition to solving societal challenges, new technology can also play a part in creating or reinforcing such effects. In the grant application, you should therefore as a minimum describe intended and potentially unintended applications and effects of the technology you are developing. The projects can include relevant research groups and other public and societal actors to shed light on such issues. Read more about how you can incorporate responsible research and innovation into your application in the appendix on RRI under “Relevant plans” below.

Challenges relating to health, safety and the environment must be clearly described where relevant.

Show us how you intend to use research infrastructure

Both quality and capacity in the areas of technology will be strengthened if you make good use of research infrastructure of national and international importance (see definitions in the National Strategy for Research Infrastructure (2018-2025). Infrastructures may be funded through the Research Council or others. In the grant application, you must therefore describe how the project plans to use relevant research infrastructure.

Projects must fall under at least one of the following three areas:

• nanotechnology
• microtechnology
• advanced materials

If the application is relevant to the areas above, we will prioritise projects that

• have accounted well for intended and potentially unintended applications and effects of the technology you are developing
• planned the use of infrastructure of national and international importance funded via the Research Council or others.

When a mark is awarded for the application’s relevance to the topic you have chosen, we will consider how well the application addresses the areas described above, and, if relevant, the points listed above. The attachment “Relevance to the topic” is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Nanotechnology/Advanced materials” in the application form.

Funding is available for projects that aim to help to fulfil Norway’s special responsibility for generating new research-based knowledge that will enable the Sámi people to strengthen and further develop the Sámi languages, culture, community life and livelihoods.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–10 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 10 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

Applications concerning all thematic areas in the portfolio plan are relevant, but we would particularly like to strengthen research that falls under the area “Climate, environment and industrial activity”, as described in section 4.2 point 6 of the portfolio plan. It will also count as positive if the project includes research on cultural resilience.

The areas are described in more detail in the portfolio plan for SAMISK; see “Relevant plans” below.

In addition, we will also prioritise projects that include

• national and/or international institutional collaboration
• recruitment positions
• international comparative perspectives based on the Sámi context.

When a mark is awarded for the application’s relevance to the topic you have chosen, we will consider how well the application addresses the points listed above. The attachment “Relevance to the topic” is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Sámi” in the application form.

Funding is available for research on and for the education sector. Funding is available for up to six projects.

We will provide funding to projects that concern teaching and learning, content and forms of assessment in education, professional education, educational technology, management and organisation of the education sector, and the role the education system plays for individuals, society and working life.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–10 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 10 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

See Section 4 of the Portfolio plan for Education and competence for more detailed descriptions of priorities.

The goal is to generate high-quality knowledge of special interest to actors and stakeholders in terms of policy development, administration and the field of practice in relation to education, learning and competence development.

Projects should contribute to knowledge-based development. We encourage multi- and interdisciplinary projects if this serves the purpose.

If the application is relevant to the areas above, we will prioritise projects that include

• active collaboration with at least one other Norwegian research organisation
• active collaboration with at least one other research organisation abroad
• recruitment positions

When a mark is awarded for the application’s relevance to the topic you have chosen, we will consider how well the application addresses the areas described above, and, if relevant, the points listed above. The attachment “Relevance to the topic” is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Education” in the application form.

Funding is available for research that generates knowledge about an inclusive and adaptable labour market and working life. It should be possible to use the research in developing working life and labour market policy and it should benefit the sector as a whole.

Funding scale: You can apply for NOK 4–12 million in funding per project.

If your application is awarded funding and you have applied for more than the upper limit of NOK 12 million, the excess amount must be covered through own funding. In such case, the project must still be carried out as described in the application.

Funding is available for at least four projects that apply for NOK 6 million or less, provided that the quality of the applications is satisfactory and there is a certain distribution between topics.

The projects must fall under the portfolio plan’s priority areas “An adaptive and inclusive working life” and “Inequality, outsiderness and inclusion”, and they must be relevant to one or both of the priorities described below.

When selecting projects, we will emphasise achieving a somewhat equal distribution between the call’s two priority areas.

Highlight the impact of the green transition on working life and the labour market

We will support research on the opportunities and challenges of working life and the labour market as society is transformed to achieve Norway’s climate, nature and environmental goals and obligations. We call this “the green transition”. The green transition must take place in a way that generates jobs, value creation, an energy transition, equitable distribution of the burden and benefits, and good living conditions and quality of life for everyone, within planetary limits. The funding is intended to generate research on the impact of the green transition on working life and the labour market, and you must describe this in the application.

We welcome research on changes in the labour market and young outsiderness

Up-to-date research is needed on labour market developments. The funding of welfare schemes is dependent on more people being included in working life, and particularly young people between the ages of 15 and 29. Therefore, we welcome research on how changes in the labour market contribute to the inclusion or exclusion of young people. This research will be important to develop labour market policy and to achieve the goal of an adaptable labour market with a high level of employment.

If the application is relevant to the areas above, it will be deemed positive if the project

• is interdisciplinary, cf. the Norwegian Classification of Scientific Disciplines (in Norwegian only) (opens in new window)
• has concrete plans for collaboration with at least one research organisation or researcher abroad. The partner’s role in the project must be clearly described in the application.

When a mark is awarded for the application’s relevance, we will consider how well the application addresses the areas described above, and, if relevant, the points listed above. The attachment “Relevance to the topic” is mandatory. The template can be found at the end of the call.

If you are going to apply for these funds, you must select the topic “Working life and labour market” in the application form.