Five calls for groundbreaking research

1. Researchers at the start of their research careers may apply for a Researcher Project with International Mobility. When the application is submitted, you as the project manager must have submitted your doctoral thesis. If you have already defended your thesis, it must be less than seven years since the public defence. The projects have a duration of 3-4 years, apply for NOK 4,7-7,4 mill. for yourself and operating costs. You as project manager will spend 1-2 years abroad and 1-2 years in Norway.
2. Scientists early in their career can also apply for Radical Research Ideas for Early Career Scientists. The project manager must have 2–7 years of' experience after completing a doctoral degree or approved associate professor qualifications. The projects have a duration of 4-12 months, and you can apply for NOK 0.5-2 mill. to find out if your most radical research idea is worth pursuing further.
3. Researchers with 2–7 years of experience after completing a doctoral degree are eligible to apply for Researcher Project for Early Career Scientists. The projects have a duration of 3–4 years, and you can apply for NOK 4-10 mill. for yourself, other researchers and operating costs.
4. Researchers with at least six years of experience after a doctoral degree or approved associate professor qualifications are eligible to apply for a Researcher Project for Experienced Scientists. The projects have a duration of 3–8 years, and you can apply for NOK 4-12 mill. for yourself, other researchers and operating costs. 
5. Experienced researchers can also apply for Top Researchers, where the goal is for the research community to become world leading within its field. The projects have a duration of 4-8 years, and the NOK 15-40 mill. that you can apply for, are allocated for projects where cooperation between two or more scientists is a prerequisite for reaching the projects research goals. The project manager must have a least six years’ experience after a doctoral degree, while at least one other project participant must have two years’ experience or more.

The calls are described here based on the experience of the project manager. There are no experience requirements for other project participants unless specified in the call.

If you are interested in investment plans and other information about our initiatives in groundbreaking research: see the portfolio page for groundbreaking research (opens in a new window).

Research stay abroad

In addition to these five calls, all project managers for ongoing projects may apply for funding for research stays of 3–12 months for the Research Council-funded doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships in their projects, under the call Funding for Research Grants for Doctoral and Post-doctoral Research Fellows. Project managers for Researcher Projects for Early Careers Scientist and projects of the older application type, Researcher Project for Young Talents, may also apply for funding for such stays abroad under the same call.

Detailed information about the requirements that apply to your application can be found in the calls for proposals.