Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges – Guide for Applicants
This is a guide for those who are applying for a Collaborative Projects to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges (KSP-S). Here we describe key characteristics, and we elaborate on some of the requirements you meet in the call.
Only approved Norwegian research organisations are eligible to apply. Please note which topics are included in the call, listed under the heading "Relevant thematic areas for this call". You must direct your application to one of these topics.
Characteristics of a KSP-S
The research is mainly carried out by the research organisations, while the partners contribute with experience and knowledge, and ensure that the need for the research is real and that the research results are used.
Characteristics of the projects:
- The projects develop new knowledge and build research expertise that society and/or the business community needs to meet important societal challenges.
- The projects stimulate and encourage collaboration between research groups and actors outside the research sector.
- The projects contribute to new knowledge and competence building in Norwegian research communities in priority areas.
- The research is of a fundamental and/or applied nature and is useful for broad groups in society.
- The projects are either at or close to the research frontier and often include collaboration with leading international academic communities that provide a high level of benefit for the Norwegian research communities.
- Projects may include recruitment positions (PhD and/or postdoctoral fellow), but this is not a general requirement in the call. Topics that have priorities that indicate recruitment positions will include this.
The most important roles in the application
- Project Owner (the research organisation that is applying)
- Partners that are other research organisations
- Partners that are social and business actors
Below you will find more detailed information about who can be a partner and what we expect them to contribute.
Projects must have a minimum of two Norwegian partners that are not research organisations. These are societal or business actors who contribute with experience and knowledge and ensure that the project and its objectives meet real challenges. The partners may come from the public sector, voluntary organisations, the business sector and/or other private organisations.
These partners must actively participate in the project, i.e. have costs, and a minimum of 10 percent of the project's total costs must be consumed by them. These requirements are summarised in the participation requirement, which we explain in more detail below.
What requirements do we have for partners who are involved as social and business actors?
- They must be registered in the Brønnøysund Register Centre.
- In addition to their research activities, some research organisations, such as health trusts, have tasks of a more administrative or commercial nature that enable them to be included in a project as a representative of the societal or business challenge. It is important to note that it is not possible to act both as a research organisation and as a partner outside the research sector in the same project. If they act as a research organisation, they will not be included in the calculation of the participation requirement. The roles must therefore be clearly stated in the project description so that misunderstandings are avoided when the application is to be assessed.
- Public agencies or entities can be considered different partners in the project even if the legal owner is the same (same organisation number). It is then assumed that they contribute with different user perspectives. This must be clearly stated in the project description.
- Sole proprietorships can be partners, but the owner of the sole proprietorship cannot have their own personal and indirect costs covered. Sole proprietorships can be reimbursed for personnel and indirect costs for employees they may have, and other costs that they incur in connection with participation in a project, provided that these can be found in the sole proprietorship's accounts.
- The following actors are not approved as one of the two required partners in the project:
- industry actors that have close relations or are part of the research organisation that is applying
- TTOs
- NUFs (Norwegian-registered foreign enterprises)
- Enterprises that are dependent on each other, for example in a group relationship, are considered to be a single actor under the state aid rules.
Letter of intent from the partners
When you apply, you must attach a letter of intent from each of the partners registered in the application form.
Here you can see what should be included in the letter of intent and a concrete example (opens in a separate window).
Use of subcontractors
The project may use subcontractors who deliver goods and/or perform services on assignment in the project. Subcontractors cannot obtain rights from the work they deliver. Subcontractors cannot be in a relationship of dependency with any of the parties in the consortium for the project.
Requirement for effective collaboration
The call requires the Project Owner to carry out the project in effective collaboration with its partners. Effective cooperation is characterised by the parties exchanging knowledge or technology in order to achieve a common goal on the basis of a division of labour. The Project Owner and partners jointly define the scope of the project, contribute to its implementation and share risks and results.
Note that with requirements for participation and division of labour, the project owner must organise the project so that the project's legitimacy and independence cannot be questioned. This may mean that there are phases in the project where the partners will not participate.
If the project is awarded funding from the Research Council, the Project Owner and partners must agree on the allocation of rights and obligations related to the implementation of the project and the results generated by the project. This agreement is part of the contract that the Project Owner has with the Research Council, which means that the partners cannot be replaced without prior clearance with the Research Council.
"Effective collaboration means collaboration between at least two independent parties to exchange knowledge or technology, or to achieve a common objective based on the division of labour where the parties jointly define the scope of the collaborative project, contribute to its implementation and share its risks, as well as its results. One or several parties may bear the full costs of the project and thus relieve other parties of its financial risks. Contract research and provision of research services are not considered forms of collaboration."
"Where collaboration projects are carried out jointly by undertakings and research organisations or research infrastructures, the Authority considers that no indirect State aid is awarded to the participating undertakings through those entities due to favorable conditions of the collaboration if one of the following conditions is fulfilled:
(….…)
- the results of the collaboration which do not give rise to IPR may be widely disseminated and any IPR resulting from the activities of research organisations or research infrastructures are fully allocated to those entities; or
- any IPR resulting from the project, as well as related access rights are allocated to the different collaboration partners in a manner which adequately reflects their work packages, contributions and respective interests; or
- the research organisations or research infrastructures receive compensation equivalent to the market price for the IPR which result from their activities and are assigned to the participating undertakings, or to which participating undertakings are allocated access rights. The absolute amount of the value of any contribution, both financial and non-financial, of the participating undertakings to the costs of the research organisations or research infrastructures' activities that resulted in the IPR concerned, may be deducted from that compensation."
What can you seek funding for?
You can apply for funding to finance costs from the research organisations (both Norwegian and foreign) and the other Norwegian partners in the project.
You can apply for funding to cover the actual costs necessary to carry out the project. These costs must be entered in the cost plan under the cost type to which they belong.
The partners' costs will mainly be related to hours spent and will then be entered as payroll and indirect costs. On the Research Council's website, you will find information on how such costs should be entered, depending on whether the partners are from the institute sector, the university and university college sector, or whether they are societal or business actors. When a research organisation acts in the role of "social and business actor", the hours must be recorded in the same way as companies, the public sector and other enterprises that are not research organisations.
It is possible for the partners to fully finance their own costs in the project without applying for support from us. This will not affect the participation requirement.
The state aid rules impose restrictions on the financing of partners that are undertakings. By undertakings, we mean any actor that engages in economic activity by offering goods and/or services in a market. Financing will depend on the size of the enterprise. If the application is recommended for funding, we will ask for more information to ensure that the project operates in accordance with the state aid rules.
Costs incurred by foreign partners that are not research organisations are not funded through the allocation to the project.
We only support costs that can be found in the project participants' official accounts. Equipment, data sets or similar that are made available for the project without having to pay for it may not be entered as a cost in the project.
You can only apply for funding for research activities that can be characterised as basic or industrial research. The state aid rules divide research into three categories: basic research, industrial research and experimental development. This call does not support experimental development or activities of a more operational nature. Measures to exploit the R&D results, such as the protection of intellectual property rights, market research or marketing, are also not supported. In the application form, you must specify whether the activities in the project are basic research or industrial research. For projects in sectors that do not involve industry or industry, industrial research can be translated into applied research.
You can find more detailed and important information on the website about what to enter in the project budget.
If the project involves international partners
Projects under the KSP-S call are intended to contribute to long-term competence building in Norwegian research communities on academic topics of great importance to Norwegian societal actors. This means that the majority of the project funds will be used in Norway. Often, however, cooperation with foreign partners will add great value to the projects.
Foreign partners are in addition to the minimum requirement of two Norwegian partners that are not research organisations and that represent the societal challenge that the project will work with.
Foreign partners are treated differently with regard to whether the costs can be entered in the project budget, and whether or not they can have these costs covered through funding from the Research Council.
|
International research organisations |
Yes, the costs can be entered in the budget tables and financed through funding from the Research Council. See Calculating payroll and indirect expenses for the university and university college sector. |
|
Foreign companies, public actors and NGOs (Non- Governmental Organizations) |
No, the costs should not be entered in the budget tables. They are not covered by the funds for the project. However, it is important that the activities of these actors are described in the project description. |
|
Foreign subcontractors |
Yes, the project may have subcontractors from other countries. Subcontractors' costs are submitted on invoice to the Project Owner in the same way as Norwegian subcontractor services. Purchases from subcontractors in excess of NOK 100,000 must be specified in the application. |
The participation requirement and how to calculate it
It is important that partners who represent the societal or business challenge actively contribute to the project. Participation confirms the need for the research and that the requirement for effective collaboration is met. We therefore ask that costs related to the partners' participation, or work effort in the project, be entered in the budget tables.
Overall, the efforts of partners that represent the societal or business challenge must account for a minimum of 10 per cent of the project's costs. This can be in the form of labour costs or other project costs. These are efforts that they must perform, but which they can (in whole or in part) be reimbursed through the project budget.
To check whether the participation requirement of 10 per cent is met, use the figures from the application's budget tables and set them up according to the following example:
|
Costs |
NOK |
|
The costs of the Project Owner and other research organisations participating as partners |
8,000,000 |
|
The costs of Norwegian partners from the industry sector or other parts of society |
1,000,000 |
|
Total |
9,000,000 |
|
Participation |
11.1% |
This table is included in the project description template and is mandatory to complete.
We recommend that you check whether the participation requirement is met before you submit the grant application form.
The example is based on an approved research organisation that is applying for funding under an announced topic. The Project Owner has composed a consortium comprising several different actors that are all vital to the project’s implementation. Please note that partners that do not normally carry out research may take part in defining the project, discussing issues that arise, providing input as the project progresses or helping to adjust the direction of the project.
The following participate in the project:
- the Project Owner
- research organisation participating as a partner
- one international research organisation
- partners from the business sector or other parts of society
- one municipality
- one big company
- one member organisation
The project runs over three years, and the Project Owner has obtained cost calculations from all partners.
Costs per project partner per year (amounts in whole 1,000s)
|
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Total |
|
Project Owner |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
9,000 |
|
International research organisation |
200 |
200 |
200 |
600 |
|
Municipality |
50 |
50 |
50 |
150 |
|
Norwegian Big Company AS |
100 |
300 |
300 |
700 |
|
Member organisation |
|
150 |
150 |
300 |
|
Total |
|
|
|
10,750 |
To ensure that the participation requirement is met, we have also summarised the costs in accordance with the control table (amounts in whole 1,000s)
|
Costs |
NOK |
|
The costs of the Project Owner and other research organisations participating as partners |
9,600 |
|
The costs of Norwegian partners from the business sector or other parts of society |
1,150 |
|
Total |
10,750 |
|
Participation |
10.7% |
We must also demonstrate how the costs will be financed. The Research Council’s funding can be used to finance the costs of the research organisations and the Norwegian partners, but the state aid rules impose certain restrictions. The project entails activities that can be defined as industrial research.
Funding per project partner (amounts in whole 1,000s)
|
|
The Research Council |
Own |
Other |
Total |
|
Project Owner |
8,500 |
500 |
|
9,000 |
|
International research organisation |
600 |
|
|
600 |
|
Municipality* |
150 |
|
|
150 |
|
Norwegian Big Company AS** |
420 |
280 |
|
700 |
|
Member organisation* |
300 |
|
|
300 |
|
Total |
9,970 |
780 |
|
10,750 |
|
* |
In this example, the municipality and the member organisation are not defined as undertakings on the basis of the activities they are going to perform (non-economic activities), and their costs will be funded. |
|
** |
This is a big company. A big company participating in industrial research is eligible for funding of 50%, plus a 15% bonus for effective collaboration. In other words, funding of up to 65% may be awarded. Funding of 60% is used in this example, i.e. it is within the rules. |
The example is based on an approved research organisation that is applying for funding under an announced topic. The Project Owner has established a consortium comprising seven key partners who are very familiar with the challenge and who need the knowledge and results generated by the project.
The following participate in the project:
- the Project Owner
- research organisation participating as a partner
- one Norwegian research organisation
- one international research organisation
- partners from the business sector or other parts of society
- two Norwegian municipalities
- one small company
- one environmental organisation
- one directorate
Several consumers will also participate in the project. These are considered the Project Owner’s subcontractors. They are not included in the budget tables, but are described in the project description in order to give the referees who will assess the application a clear picture of the total scope of activities and stakeholders in the project. The project runs over four years, and the Project Owner has obtained cost calculations from all partners.
Costs per project partner per year (amounts in whole 1,000s)
|
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Total |
|
Project Owner |
500 |
2,500 |
2,500 |
2,500 |
8,000 |
|
Norwegian research organisation |
50 |
200 |
200 |
200 |
650 |
|
International research organisation |
50 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
350 |
|
Norwegian Municipality A |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
200 |
|
Norwegian Municipality B |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
200 |
|
Norwegian Small Company AS |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
400 |
|
Environmental organisation |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
200 |
|
Directorate |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
200 |
|
Total amount |
|
|
|
|
10,200 |
To ensure that the participation requirement is met, we have also summarised the costs in accordance with the control table (amounts in whole 1,000s)
|
Costs |
NOK |
|
The costs of the Project Owner and other research organisations participating as partners |
9,000 |
|
The costs of Norwegian partners from the business sector or other parts of society |
1,200 |
|
Total |
10,200 |
|
Participation |
11.8% |
We must also demonstrate how the costs will be financed. The Research Council’s funding can be used to finance the costs of the research organisations and the Norwegian partners. The state aid rules impose certain restrictions on funding for undertakings. In this example, the project entails activities that can be defined as industrial research.
Funding per project partner (amounts in whole 1,000s)
|
|
The Research Council |
Own |
Other |
Total |
|
Project Owner |
7,000 |
1,000 |
|
8,000 |
|
Norwegian research organisation |
650 |
|
|
650 |
|
International research organisation |
350 |
|
|
350 |
|
Norwegian Municipality A* |
200 |
|
|
200 |
|
Norwegian Municipality B* |
200 |
|
|
200 |
|
Norwegian Small Company AS** |
200 |
200 |
|
400 |
|
Environmental organisation*** |
200 |
|
|
200 |
|
Directorate*** |
|
200 |
|
200 |
|
|
8,800 |
1,400 |
|
10,200 |
* In this example, the municipalities and the environmental organisation are not defined as undertakings on the basis of the activities they are going to perform (non-economic activities).
** This is a small company, and 50% of its costs in connection with industrial research activities may be covered, in addition to a 20% bonus for small companies and a 15% bonus for effective collaboration. However, the maximum limit is 80%. Funding of 50% is used in this example, i.e. well within the rules
*** The directorate will cover its own project costs.
The example is based on an approved research organisation that is applying for funding under an announced topic. The Project Owner has established a consortium comprising five key partners who are very familiar with the challenge and who need the knowledge and results generated by the project.
The following participate in the project:
- the Project Owner
- research organisation participating as a partner
- one Norwegian research organisation
- one international research organisation
- partners from the business sector or other parts of society
- two Norwegian companies, one big and one small
- one directorate
- one international company
The project runs over four years, and the Project Owner has obtained cost calculations from all partners. The international company’s costs are not included in the budget tables. They are nevertheless described in the project description in order to give the referees who will assess the application a clear picture of the total scope of activities in the project.
Costs per project partner per year (amounts in whole 1,000s)
|
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Total |
|
Project Owner |
1,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
10,000 |
|
Norwegian research organisation |
200 |
200 |
200 |
200 |
800 |
|
International research organisation |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
400 |
|
Norwegian Big Company AS |
200 |
200 |
200 |
200 |
800 |
|
Norwegian Small Company AS |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
400 |
|
Directorate |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
200 |
|
Total amount |
|
|
|
|
12,600 |
To ensure that the participation requirement is met, we have also summarised the costs in accordance with the control table (amounts in whole 1,000s)
|
Costs |
NOK |
|
The costs of the Project Owner and other research organisations participating as partners |
11,200 |
|
The costs of Norwegian partners from the business sector or other parts of society |
1,400 |
|
Total |
12,600 |
|
Participation |
11.1% |
We must also demonstrate how the costs will be financed. The Research Council’s funding can be used to finance the costs of the research organisations and the Norwegian partners. However, the state aid rules impose certain restrictions on funding for undertakings. In this example, the project entails activities that can be defined as industrial research.
Funding per project partner (amounts in whole 1,000s)
|
|
The Research Council |
Own |
Other |
Total |
|
Project Owner |
9,000 |
1,000 |
|
10,000 |
|
Norwegian research organisation |
800 |
|
|
800 |
|
International research organisation |
400 |
|
|
400 |
|
Norwegian Big Company AS* |
520 |
280 |
|
800 |
|
Norwegian Small Company AS** |
320 |
80 |
|
400 |
|
Directorate*** |
|
200 |
|
200 |
|
|
11,040 |
1560 |
|
12,600 |
* This is a big company, and 50% of its costs in connection with industrial research activities may be covered, in addition to a 15% bonus for effective collaboration, i.e. 65% in total. In this example, the company is within the rules.
** This is a small company, and 50% of its costs in connection with industrial research activities may be covered, in addition to a 20% bonus for small companies and a 15% bonus for effective collaboration. However, the maximum limit is 80%. In this example, the company is within the rules.
*** The directorate will cover its own project costs.
Messages at time of print 23 February 2025, 15:29 CET