New opportunities for leading innovation clusters:
More Centres for Research-based Innovation to be selected in 2010
Innovation, value creation and scientific merit are the main criteria in the selection process for six to eight new centres that is now about to start.
By next year, the number of SFI centres under the auspices of the Research Council of Norway will reach 20 or more throughout the country, encompassing a wide range of research fields. The new funding round is a clear indication that the first group of centres has been a success.
Two-phase application process
Under the new funding announcement, the Research Council will accept applications in all thematic areas, but it is especially seeking applications focusing on:
- Private service sector
- Public sector / health services sector
- Transport
- Food
- Environmental technology
The Research Council is seeking SFI applications focusing on for instance food and environmental technology. (Photo: Shutterstock)
The application process will be conducted in two phases. First, mandatory outlines must be submitted no later than 21 December 2009, and qualified applicants must then submit their complete application by 21 April 2010.
Cooperation and knowledge exchange
The primary objective of the SFI scheme is to foster cooperation between the research community and business sector. Consequently, companies and research players alike are required to take part in drawing up the application. The host institution may be a company, research institute, public service provider, university college or university. If the host institution is not authorised to confer doctoral degrees itself, it must have a collaboration agreement with a university or university college that can.
Research at the SFI centres must be conducted in close cooperation between Norwegian and international players. The expertise developed must be of high international calibre.
Five-year grant with the possibility of extension
The Centres for Research-based Innovation receive funding for an initial five-year period, which may be extended for an additional three years following a positive evaluation of the first five years.
- Published:
- 03.11.2009
- Last updated:
- 05.11.2009
See also
Contact
- Liv Jorunn Jenssen Special Adviser 22 03 71 13 ljj@forskningsradet.no
