Massive interest in infrastructure funding:
435 project outlines - NOK 10 billion
The need for investment in research infrastructure is enormous. This is confirmed by the response to the Research Council's invitation to submit project outlines for first qualification for the distribution of NOK 400 million. An unprecedented 435 project outlines, representing an overall estimate of NOK 10 billion, were received by the 20 February deadline.
Asbjørn Mo
"When NOK 400 million in funding is announced and the amount being sought can run as high as NOK 10 billion, it goes without saying that competition for available funding will be tough," says Department Director Asbjørn Mo of the Research Council. "The project outlines we received extend across a wide range and encompass a broad variety of exciting and worthwhile proposals. But," he adds, "quite a few of them do not describe clearly enough how the project is nationally oriented, which is a requirement set out in the call for proposals." (See fact box below.)
Another important requirement is that infrastructure measures must lie within one or more of the strategic priority areas stipulated in the national strategy for research infrastructure, "Tools for research".
The Research Council supports nationally-oriented research infrastructure. (Photo: Ingvil Bjørnæs)
Main deadline 22 April
Only applicants who submitted a project outline in February are eligible to submit a final grant application under the 22 April deadline.
The Research Council encourages the administration of the applicant institutions to limit the number of applications submitted. Among other things, institutions should consider postponing submission of grant proposals that would benefit from being further developed and made more concrete. There are plans to issue annual calls for proposals for research infrastructure funding.
The funding scheme comprises large-scale facilities and four other categories.
The interest confirms the need
The results of several surveys conducted in recent years prepared the Research Council well for the deluge of applications. A survey from 2004 indicated that investment needs for advanced scientific equipment in the university and university college sector already totalled an estimated NOK 2.6 billion. This year's call for proposals also encompasses other types of institutions and players that have a significant need for new and/or upgraded research infrastructure.
The funding scheme for national research infrastructure comprises all types of research infrastructure and is divided into five categories:
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advanced scientific equipment
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large-scale research facilities
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scientific databases and collections
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electronic infrastructure (eInfrastructure)
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support for Norwegian participation in establishing ESFRI projects
The purpose of the project outlines
"There were two reasons why we required mandatory project outlines," explains Mo. "First of all, it gives us an overview of the number of grant applications that may be submitted, enabling us to plan the application review process after 22 April. Secondly, it gives us the potential to facilitate dialogue with applicants early in the process, for example with regard to ensuring national coordination, when this is relevant."
The Research Council does not have the capacity to provide feedback on all outlines, but feedback will be provided if a project outline is obviously not good enough to compete in the final round. Nevertheless, the applicant institutions behind such projects are free to submit a complete application.
Long-term investment in Norwegian research infrastructure
The national strategy for research infrastructure drawn up in 2008 proposes that a separate fund of NOK 20 billion be established to ensure stable, adequate funding of infrastructure-related measures and that the annual yield of the fund be used to finance new, priority infrastructure and upgrades. NOK 4 billion will be set aside for such a fund this year, so that the annual yield can be used in 2010.
"Research infrastructure requires costly, long-term investments, and more expansive budgetary frameworks will be needed in the years to come," says Director General of the Research Council Arvid Hallén. "It is imperative that we further augment the infrastructure fund."
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The Research Council term nationally-oriented research infrastructure refers to infrastructure components that:
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- Published:
- 05.03.2009
- Last updated:
- 05.03.2009
