New knowledge is often generated in unforeseen ways and in unexpected areas. Broad-based, independent basic research is therefore a prerequisite for all other research, for future industrial development and for policymaking. Thus the FRIPRO funding scheme has an important role to play in strengthening Norway’s national knowledge base.

FRIPRO – Promoting scientific quality

• The FRIPRO scheme fosters research of high scientific quality. The aim of the scheme is to fund the research projects that are best in scientific terms.
• The FRIPRO scheme comprises a competitive arena open to all research areas and disciplines. There are no thematic guidelines and no requirements relating to the applicability or immediate utility of the research.
• The FRIPRO scheme provides funding for Researcher projects, Young Research Talents, Postdoctoral fellowships and events.  
• The FRIPRO scheme promotes the development of basic theory and methods as well as scientific renewal within disciplines.
• The FRIPRO scheme is open to grant applications from universities and university colleges, independent research institutes, and other publicly funded research groups. 

Apply for funding under the FRIPRO scheme 
 

Calls for proposals for independent project are issued in April each year, with application deadline in June. Funds are allocated in November/December, with project start at the earliest in January of the following year. Grant applications will normally be dealt with under the Expert Committee/thematic call to which they have been submitted.

In cases where the Research Council administration sees that an application has clearly been submitted to the wrong activity, the applicant will be contacted for possible re-direction of the grant application. Applicants may contact the Research Council if they are unsure as to the correct activity to which to submit their application. In general, it is recommended that applicants read the call for proposals very carefully before writing their grant proposals.

Assessment of grant applications

Expert Committees

The grant applications are dealt with by one of the three Expert Committees:

• Medicine, Health and Biology (FRIMEDBIO)
• Mathematics, Physical Science (FRINATEK) 
• Humanities and Social Sciences (FRIHUMSAM)