Funding to Prepare a Knowledge Summary on Research on Sustainable Feed for Farm Animals in Norway
Important dates
24 Apr 2024
Open for applications
05 Jun 2024
Application deadline
01 Oct 2024
Earliest permitted project start
01 Dec 2024
Latest permitted project start
30 Nov 2025
Latest permitted project completion date
Important dates
Purpose
Up to NOK 2.5 million is now available for a one-year project that is to result in a summary of research conducted on feed for farm animals in Norway over the past seven years. The call is limited to land-based livestock. We aim to fund one project.
In the knowledge summary, you will identify research done on the various links in the value chain for livestock feed production, as well as point out research areas you believe are important to prioritise in the years ahead for the development of a more sustainable value chain for livestock feed.
We encourage relevant research groups to collaborate on the project.
About the call for proposals
In 2023, the Government launched a new social mission on Sustainable Feed, which states that "all feed for livestock should come from sustainable sources and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in power systems". See more in the report Et samfunnsløft for bærekraftig fôr (in Norwegian only) and Portfolio plan for Land-based food, environment and bioresources. The project that receives funding will result in a knowledge summary on the research on sustainable feed for farm animals in Norway over the last seven years (2017-2023). We ask that you identify important knowledge gaps that provide a basis for further priorities in research and innovation to achieve a more sustainable feed system in Norway. The work will build on knowledge summaries, knowledge reports and knowledge status from recent years. The work will have a broad approach, and will include feed research done on both single and multi-stomached production animals.
The knowledge summary will reveal:
- what topics are being researched, the scope of the research, and the development of the specified period
- which research design/methodological approaches have been used in the research and which disciplines/subject areas does the research fall within
- which research groups/institutions in Norway conduct research on feed for farm animals
- the extent to which the publications are co-publications where two or more institutions/research groups are represented as co-authors
- which publication channels and publication types are used, and how the development has been during the period
- the extent to which there is international co-authorship
- how the degree of citation of the research nationally and internationally is
- important knowledge gaps
The knowledge summary must be written in Norwegian and must contain a separate summary for public administration.
We also want the results to be published in peer-reviewed journals and/or as book chapters.
Method, access and protocol requirements
The report must be prepared as a knowledge summary, for which we require:
- good methodology for conducting systematic searches in databases for research literature
- inclusion of other relevant research literature, such as reports and other knowledge notes
- predetermined criteria for opt-in and opt-out
- good methodology for analysing the material in line with the requirements for systematic knowledge summaries
You must demonstrate that you have access to relevant capacity and expertise and to relevant databases. We emphasise that you have experience from similar projects. You can supplement your own capacity and expertise with purchases from one or more external subcontractors.
We assume that you prepare a protocol that is published before the implementation of the project. The draft protocol must be included in the project description.
The Research Council's follow-up
We are planning three meetings with the Research Council: a start-up meeting, a progress meeting halfway through the project and a meeting at the end of the project. In addition, some of the project funding will be used to arrange a seminar during the project period, where relevant actors from research, industry and public administration are invited to provide input to the knowledge summary.
The call is available in both Norwegian and English. The Norwegian call text is legally binding.
Who is eligible to apply?
Approved Norwegian research organisations may apply. See here for the list of approved Norwegian research organisations.
Who can participate in the project?
Requirements relating to the Project Owner
The research organisation listed as the Project Owner in the application form must have approved submission of the grant application.
If the application involves collaboration between several organisations, the Project Owner submits the application on behalf of all partners.
Requirements relating to the project manager
The project manager's professional competence and suitability to carry out the project will be assessed. There are no formal requirements for the project manager's qualifications.
The project manager must be employed by the Project Owner or one of the partners at the time the grant application is submitted.
Requirements relating to partners
Approved Norwegian research organisations and corresponding international organisations may participate as partners in the project and receive funding. Other actors, for example from the business sector, the public sector and special interest organisations, are welcome to participate, but must cover their own costs.
Requirements relating to the project group
We are seeking a broad-based project group across different disciplines, preferably with participation from several research institutions. The Project Owner applicant institution signs a contract with the Research Council, while the other contributors formally serve as subcontractors and will receive funding to cover costs by invoice the Project Owner.
The actors' roles in and contributions to the project must be described in the project description under Implementation.
What can you seek funding for?
You can apply for funding to cover actual costs that are necessary to carry out the project. The Project Owner is to obtain information about costs from the project partners. These costs are to be entered in the cost plan under the relevant cost category.
The grant application requires you to break down the project budget into the following cost categories:
- Payroll and indirect expenses: costs incurred by the Project Owner and partners.
- Other operating expences: costs for other activities that are necessary to carry out the project's activities. Any purchases from subcontractors must be entered here. All costs entered as "other operating expenses" must be specified in the application.
- Equipment: this includes operating and depreciation costs for scientific equipment necessary to implement the project.
The cost category Procurement of R&D services is not to be used.
You will find detailed and important information about What to enter in the project budget on our website.
Scope of funding
The Research Council may provide up to NOK 2.5 million in funding per project under this call.
Conditions for funding
The project must start between 1 October 2024 and 1 December 2024, and you must apply for funding from the Research Council for 2024-2025. The latest permitted project completion date is 30 November 2025. The maximum duration of the project is 12 months.
In addition, you must be aware of the following if you should receive a grant from us:
- The Research Council's requirements relating to awards can also be found in our General Terms and Conditions for R&D Projects on the information page What the contract involves.
- The Research Council requires full and immediate open access for scientific articles; see Plan S - open access to publications.
- For all projects that handle data, the Project Owner must prepare a data management plan in connection with the revised grant application. Here you will find more information about requirements for data management plans in projects that receive funding from the Research Council.
Relevant thematic areas for this call
Food and bioresources
Practical information
Requirements for this application type
You can amend and submit the application several times up to the application deadline. We recommend that you submit your application as soon as you have completed the application form and uploaded the mandatory attachments. When the application deadline expires, it is the version of the application that was submitted most recently that we will process.
- The grant application and all attachments must be submitted in Norwegian.
- All attachments must be in PDF format.
Mandatory attachments
- Project description of maximum 5 pages. Use the default template that you can download at the bottom of the page.
- CV for the project manager. Use the default template that you can download at the bottom of the page.
- CVs of all key participants who are important for the implementation of the project. Use the default template that you can download at the bottom of the page.
Applications that do not satisfy the above requirements will be rejected.
All attachments to the application must be submitted with the application. We will not accept attachments submitted after the application deadline unless we have requested additional documentation.
We will not consider documents and websites linked to in the application, or attachments other than those specified above. Be careful to upload the correct attachment type, as there are no technical restrictions on what kind of templates it is possible to upload in the application form.
Assessment criteria
Grant applications will be assessed in the light of the objective of the call and 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.
Relevance to the call for proposals
Priority will be given to projects led by women project managers when the grant applications are otherwise considered to be on a par.
Administrative procedures
Grant applications will be processed administratively by the Research Council.