NOK 211 million for ground-breaking research

"The knowledge we gain through curiosity-driven research is absolutely crucial for our ability to transform and further develop society. The researchers who receive support for their projects today are helping to ensure future welfare and development," says Mari Sundli Tveit, CEO of the Research Council of Norway. 

The projects are funded through the Research Council's open, national competition arena for all subjects and topics. 74 applications were assessed in this allocation round. This gives an aggregate percentage of 27 percent. 

Today's allocation is the second allocation since the introduction of ongoing application processing and reception in FRIPRO. Fourteen Researcher Projects for Experienced Scientists and six Researcher Projects for Early Career Scientists are awarded in this round. 

The first and second allocations are distributed as follows by the different subject areas: 

• 26 per cent to the humanities and social sciences 
• 30 per cent to medicine, biology and health 
• 44 per cent to mathematics, science and technology 

FRIPRO finances a wide range of projects. Here are some samples of the issues that will be researched in the years to come as a result of this allocation. A complete list of the projects that are awarded can be found at the bottom of the article. 

Psychotic disorders and cardiometabolic diseases 

People with psychotic disorders often also have cardiometabolic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Researchers from the University of Oslo will receive NOK 8 million to explore this connection using blood samples, images and other health data that already exist in national health registries. Do genes play a role, and is it possible to predict the best course of treatment for each individual? 

Climate impact of deep-sea mining 

Can deep-sea mining change global ocean circulation, our understanding of carbon sequestration and the ecology of the ocean depths? Knowledge in this field is insufficient, and no one knows how the deep-sea mining Norway started in 2023 will change life in the sea and on the earth's surface. Researchers at Akvaplan-Niva will receive NOK 8 million to combine turbulence observations, numerical modelling and social science so that we can understand the mixing processes in the ocean depths. 

Language and cultural barriers in police investigations 

Understanding each other, both linguistically and culturally, is particularly important in police investigative interviews. Nevertheless, there is little in the Norwegian police's routines that says anything about how to deal with language and cultural differences when conducting interviews. What methods are used? How do the methods affect the effectiveness of the interviews and the fulfillment of the human rights of those interviewed? Researchers at the University of Agder will receive NOK 12 million to find the answer to this. 

Better cancer treatment 

How to kill cancer cells without affecting the surrounding tissue? Researchers at the University of Oslo will receive NOK 8 million to study how to magnify and then focus magnetic plasma beams, so that it is possible to control and vary the doses cancer patients receive in their treatment, in precise beams. The goal is better treatments and reduced side effects. 

Brain activity and behavior 

Cerebrospinal fluid is found in the brain and spinal cord of humans and other vertebrates. It was previously thought that it only passively transports nutrients and removes waste to and from the brain, but is this true? Researchers at NTNU will receive NOK 12 million to find out whether this fluid helps modulating brain activity and behaviour in humans and animals. 

Digital media in sex life 

How do young people bring digital media into their sex lives? How do the opportunities and risks of this new arena shape and define sex and abuse? Researchers at OsloMet will receive NOK 8 million to study the interaction between digital and physical sex, and whether sexual risk has increased. 

Children's socio-emotional learning 

Can kindergarten children develop socio-emotional learning better through controlled learning of friendship techniques and dealing with strong emotions than through play? And does it affect the children's empathy? Researchers at Østfold University College will receive NOK 12 million to follow 900 children in 60 kindergartens so that they can learn about methodical and early intervention for future education policy and practice. 

Finances and health for generations 

Economic inequality i increasing in high-income countries such as Norway, while large-scale immigration is also changing the structure of such societies. How and to what extent are such differences passed on from generation to generation? And is it related to the transfer of health status from parents to children? Researchers at the Institute for Social Research will receive NOK 12 million so that they can use Norwegian data and large-scale surveys to answer these questions. 

The following projects have been awarded: