Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector
Applicants are not required to have submitted a project outline (for the 17 June deadline) to be able to seek funding.
Purpose
Innovation Projects for the Industrial Sector are company-driven projects that incorporate extensive research and development (R&D) activities. The Innovation Project is to contribute significantly to renewal and increased value creation for the participating companies, and it should yield socioeconomic benefits by making new knowledge and solutions available.
The project funding from the Research Council is intended to encourage companies to invest more in R&D activities that can promote innovation and thereby expand the opportunities for sustainable growth and enhance the competitiveness of the companies.
Important dates
17 Jun 2019
Deadline for submission of project outlines
14 Aug 2019
Date call is made active
25 Sep 2019
Application submission deadline
12 Dec 2019
The decision regarding funding is expected to be announced
01 Jan 2020
Earliest permitted project start
01 May 2020
Latest permitted project start
16 Sep 2020
Application submission deadline for Innovation Projects for 2020
30 Apr 2024
Latest permitted project completion
Important dates
17 Jun 2019
Deadline for submission of project outlines
14 Aug 2019
Date call is made active
25 Sep 2019
Application submission deadline
12 Dec 2019
The decision regarding funding is expected to be announced
01 Jan 2020
Earliest permitted project start
01 May 2020
Latest permitted project start
16 Sep 2020
Application submission deadline for Innovation Projects for 2020
30 Apr 2024
Latest permitted project completion
About the call for proposals
The Research Council of Norway is announcing NOK 1.25 billion in R&D support for Innovation Projects for the Industrial Sector. This funding is intended to encourage companies to invest in R&D that can enhance competitiveness, increase growth opportunities and promote sustainable value creation.
The call for proposals extends across the entire range of the Norwegian business sector and applies to both new and established business activities. The call is targeted towards large and small companies across all industries and sectors. Innovation Projects for the Industrial Sector are also expected to generate socioeconomic benefits through e.g. the sharing of research-based knowledge and helping to find solutions to societal challenges.
The Norwegian-language call for proposals is the legally binding version.
State aid
This call for proposals constitutes a funding scheme that is notified to the EFTA Surveillance Authority. Funding awarded under this scheme is granted in accordance with Article 25 of the General Block Exemption Regulation for state aid (Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014).
This funding scheme is to be practised in compliance with the EEA state aid rules. This means that conditions and concepts are to be interpreted in keeping with corresponding conditions and concepts in the state aid rules. In the event of conflict between the text of the call and the state aid rules, the latter will have precedence. The text of the call may be adjusted for this same reason.
The call for proposals has been approved as an aid scheme by The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) with the reference: GBER 32/2019/R&D&I.
Who is eligible to apply?
The formal applicant must be a company that has been issued an enterprise number under the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises and that carries out economic activity in Norway. Public enterprises that carry out activities of an industrial or business nature may also serve as the formal applicant. The formal applicant will be the Project Owner in the contract with the Research Council.
Sole proprietorships and research organisations are not eligible to serve as the formal applicant.
Who can participate in the project?
Requirements relating to the Project Owner
The Project Owner’s (company’s) objective must be to carry out an R&D-based Innovation Project designed to lead to sustainable growth and enhanced competitiveness for the company. The Project Owner must be able to secure project funding (in addition to any Research Council funding) and to implement other measures needed to utilise the project results in connection with its own activities.
Collaboration and roles in the project
- The Project Owner (company) may carry out the project in binding cooperation with other companies (company partners). These companies will then also have a portion of their project costs covered via Research Council support for the project and will thus become recipients of state aid. As a general rule, such partners must fulfil the criteria to serve as the formal applicant.
- Norwegian and international research groups and expert communities may take part in the project if they have responsibility for carrying out specific R&D activities. These partners (suppliers of R&D services) may only have a task-performing role, and the company partners collaborating in the project will be responsible for financing the costs of their participation. It is presumed that R&D suppliers are not in a dependent relationship with any of the company partners, i.e. they operate according to the arm’s length principle. A company partner in the project may not serve as a supplier of R&D service, and vice versa.
Other international partners and public actors may participate in the project, but their costs will not be eligible for support from the Research Council.
- Company partners that are in a mutually dependent relationship with one another will be considered to be one and the same recipient in accordance with the state aid rules.
- The constellations of partners in the project are expected to contribute towards network-building and mutual knowledge development.
About Innovation Projects
- Innovation Projects build on a specific idea by one or more companies participating in the project. The anticipated results may create value in the form of a new product, service or production process, or a new means of delivering products and services. The innovation may also entail significant improvements in or new characteristics of existing products, services or processes at the companies.
- The companies participating in the project must have a need for new knowledge or new technology in order to succeed in achieving their innovation. The knowledge or technology must be developed through R&D activities using recognised methodology for research and development. The project’s R&D activities must be characterised as pre-commercial and must satisfy the definition of either “industrial research” or “experimental development” as set out in the state aid rules.
- The project must have access to the expertise needed to carry out the R&D activities according to accepted practice. The Project Owner (company) or collaborating company partners in the project may contract research organisations (universities, university colleges, research institutes) or other independent suppliers of R&D services to perform R&D tasks and assist with quality assurance. The project may use organisations outside Norway as R&D suppliers when this is seen as necessary and efficient. Doctoral candidates may be affiliated with the project through separate agreements with the appropriate degree-conferring institutions.
- The scope and risk profile of the project must be such that the companies would not be able to carry out the project without public funding. This means that support from the Research Council must be essential for the participants to implement the R&D activities. Project funding should also be crucial to obtaining private investment in the company for the development and realisation of the innovation.
- The project must incorporate clear targets and a concrete plan for carrying out the R&D activities under the project and for utilising the results. Project results and knowledge that do not need protection on account of planned commercial utilisation by the company partners in the project are to be disseminated via publication and other relevant communication channels.
What can you seek funding for?
Support is only available for project costs relating to R&D activities. The Research Council can not provide support for other types of activities and measures to exploit R&D results, such as: filing for patents, market surveys, marketing, testing and completion of new products or services. Such costs are therefore not to be included in the project budget submitted in the grant application to the Research Council.
It is possible to seek funding to cover part of the costs of company partners for R&D activities performed under the project. This encompasses both a company’s own expenses for performing R&D activities itself and costs for procurement of R&D services from qualified suppliers.
The level of support (aid intensity) is subject to limitations and will depend on the project’s R&D content. Activities classified as “industrial research” are eligible for a higher aid intensity than “experimental development” activities. Read more about the definitions and about Article 25 of the Block Exemption on our information page Conditions for awarding state aid.
Project costs are actual costs that are necessary for the execution of the project, and are categorised as follows:
- Direct project expenses: costs related to resources set aside specifically for project implementation, for example, payroll costs for project staff.
- Indirect project expenses: costs related to the use of general resources that the project benefits from. Indirect project costs include the project’s share of the cost of rental of office space, IT/telephone and other joint administrative services for personnel, accounting and financial management.
In the grant application form, the Research Council requires you to break down the project budget into the following cost categories:
- Payroll and indirect expenses: costs of R&D activities performed by the company’s R&D staff for the project. Please refer to the Research Council’s guidelines for budgeting of Payroll and indirect expenses.
- Procurement of R&D services: costs of contracting R&D suppliers to perform R&D activities for the project.
- Equipment: costs related to the operation and depreciation of scientific equipment necessary for the execution of the project.
- Other operating expenses: costs related to other activities that are necessary in order to perform R&D activities under the project.
Scope of funding
Companies may seek funding to cover up to 50 per cent of their budgeted project costs. Projects may have a duration of two to four years, and a minimum NOK 2 million must be sought. Applicants may seek a maximum of NOK 16 million.
Special restrictions may apply for certain thematic areas under this call.
Conditions for funding
- According to the state aid rules, support to an undertaking constitutes state aid. An “undertaking” in this context is defined as any actor that carries out an economic activity consisting of offering products or services on a given market.
- If the project is awarded funding, the participating companies must submit a declaration confirming that they are qualified to receive state aid.
- Other public funding to the project, or to activities under the project, will affect the amount of funding that the Research Council can provide.
- Allocated state aid of EUR 500 000 or more will be announced in a public register.
- If the project is awarded funding, the Project Owner must submit a revised grant application in accordance with the conditions of the allocation decision. The revised grant application will incorporate updated and supplementary information about the project and participating partners.
- The latest permitted project start date for projects is 1 May 2020. Projects approved for funding that have not started by this date may lose their allocation.
- The Research Council’s conditions for allocation are set out in the General Terms and Conditions for R&D Projects. For projects awarded funding under this call, this entails, among other things, a requirement to submit an annual project account report documenting incurred project costs and their financing.
Relevant thematic areas for this call
The call for proposals extends across the entire range of the Norwegian business sector, and grant applications will not be limited to any specified fields of research, technologies, problem areas or markets.
The funding is allocated by relevant programmes or budget items at the Research Council. This is explained in the sections detailing the five thematic areas below.
A more detailed description is provided for each of the thematic areas (click the pull-down arrows) to provide applicants with insight into which of these areas will be relevant for their planned project. While there may be specific requirements and guidelines within the various thematic areas, funding is available for projects across the entire range of the topics mentioned.
Industry and services
This thematic area is targeted towards large segments of the Norwegian business sector, and funding is available for projects within a wide range of disciplines, technology sectors and business sectors.
Environmental technology, Low-emission technology, Circular economy, Sustainable production and consumption, Digitalisation, Business models, Organisation and management, Travel and tourism, Health, Advanced production processes, ICT, Biotechnology, Materials technology, Nanotechnology, Micro- and nanoelectronics, Ocean technology
Please remember to select the topics most relevant to your project proposal in the grant application form.
Under the thematic area “Industry and services” funding has been earmarked for three areas:
NOK 625 million for “Sustainable value creation in Norwegian trade and industry”
This funding is to support the best research-based Innovation Projects across the full range of Norwegian trade and industry, in keeping with the objectives and thematic priority areas set out in the work programme of the Programme for User-driven Research-based Innovation (BIA).
This open focus ensures that funding is distributed in an open competitive arena and promotes innovation across different branches of industry and thematic areas, while also enhancing value creation through the development of new, knowledge-based trade and industry and the renewal and restructuring of established trade and industry. Funding is available for projects in all sectors, disciplines and technology areas not encompassed under other thematic areas in this call:
- Building, construction and real estate sector
- Financial sector
- Health care industry
- ICT sector
- Processing industry
- Travel, hospitality and cultural tourism industry
- Retail/wholesale sector
- Manufacturing industry
- Other industries and services not encompassed under other thematic areas in this call
Prioritisation of grant applications
There is no earmarked funding for special areas. In general, priority will be given to projects with a major potential for sustainable value creation in Norway. When assessing relevance to this call, consideration will be given to the individual features of the project, such as the size, market position and R&D experience of the company partners, and whether the innovation activity aims to further develop products/processes/services within the established area of business or to establish a new area of business.
When prioritising projects for funding, importance will be attached both to the assessment of scientific merit for each individual grant application and to achieving a balanced project portfolio that accommodates the full range of the thematic area “Industry and services”, and includes projects across different sectors and fields of research, e.g. along value chains. Importance will also be attached to incorporating companies or constellations of companies that have not previously received support for Innovation Projects.
NOK 20 million for “Travel, hospitality and cultural tourism”
This funding is for projects designed to generate sustainable value creation for the participating companies and help to enhance the level of knowledge, innovation and collaboration within the travel and tourism industry, and between the industry and other stakeholders.
In addition to the funding set aside for “Sustainable value creation in Norwegian trade and industry”, an additional NOK 20 million is earmarked for projects under the following topics:
- Travel and tourism
- Culture, travel/hospitality and cultural tourism
Prioritisation of grant applications
The Research Council will prioritise the earmarked funding for projects in which:
- multiple companies are collaborating and will work together to implement the results;
- there is collaboration between travel and tourism companies and cultural institutions and/or companies in the cultural sector.
NOK 60 million for “Nanotechnology, microtechnology and advanced materials”
This funding is to promote the development of knowledge and technology to address societal challenges, primarily in the areas of renewable energy, reduced negative impacts on the environment and climate, and improved health and medical technology.
Priority will also be given to projects designed to increase value creation and innovation based on Norwegian natural resources, and to expand insight into the impacts of nanomaterials on human health and ecosystems.
Projects must incorporate Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as an integral part of research practice in order to achieve sustainable innovation and value creation in the business sector.
Funding is available for projects within all the thematic priority areas set out in the work programme of the Large-scale Research Programme on Nanotechnology, Microtechnology and Advanced Materials (NANO2021).
Prioritisation of grant applications
When prioritising projects for funding, importance will be attached both to the assessment of scientific merit for each individual grant application and to achieving a thematically and scientifically balanced, broad-based project portfolio within the thematic priority areas of the NANO2021 work programme.
The NANO2021 work programme gives priority to projects where the use of nanotechnology, microtechnology or advanced materials will be critical to achieving the objective of the project.
Oceans
This thematic area is targeted towards maritime industries, aquaculture, fisheries, the seafood industry and ocean technology across ocean-based industries.
Aquaculture, Fisheries, Food - Blue sector, Marine sector, Maritime sector, Ocean technology
Please remember to select the topics most relevant to your project proposal in the grant application form.
Under the thematic area “Oceans”, funding is earmarked for four areas:
NOK 140 million for “Maritime industries”
This funding is to support research and development activities that help to increase value creation in the maritime industry. The objective is to work within a sustainable framework to enhance competitiveness, strengthen the capacity for restructuring and improve interactivity and knowledge transfer between the R&D community and the industry.
Funding is available for projects within all the thematic priority areas set out in the work programme for the Innovation Programme for Maritime Activities and Offshore Operations (MAROFF):
- opportunities in the ocean industries;
- autonomous and remote-controlled vessels;
- digital transformation of the maritime industry;
- promoting greener maritime activities;
- safety and security at sea;
- the Arctic and northern areas.
Ocean technology for the maritime industry may be an integral part of all relevant thematic priority areas in the work programme, and NOK 30 million has been set aside for projects involving this. If too few grant proposals of adequate quality are submitted within ocean technology for the maritime industry, this funding will be awarded to grant proposals addressing other topics.
For carrying out full-scale testing of experimental technology on vessels/at facilities in commercial operation, funding is available for demonstration projects in which several industry actors collaborate on equipping commercial vessels with new technology concepts for testing and further development. The aid intensity for such demonstration projects will generally be limited to 25 per cent of project costs, since this is R&D activity classified as “experimental development” under the state aid rules.
Prioritisation of grant applications
The MAROFF work programme gives priority to projects involving research tasks that require integrated efforts from a variety of stakeholders in order to achieve project objectives, and in which research findings will be of benefit to a wider range of companies in the industry. Public funding is intended to support projects that will result in an overall benefit that is greater than the individual benefit to the participating companies.
To be considered for funding, projects with a small number of participating companies will need to achieve high marks for the assessment criterion “Excellence” or must lead to significant positive societal impacts.
When prioritising projects for funding, importance will be attached both to the assessment of scientific merit for each individual grant application and to achieving a balanced project portfolio. Consideration will therefore also be given to the distribution of proposed and ongoing projects within the thematic priority areas and actors under the MAROFF programme.
NOK 40 million for aquaculture including processing of aquaculture products
This funding is for projects within all relevant areas of the aquaculture industry. Project funding may be sought by producers as well as industry suppliers within all the thematic priority areas set out in the work programme of the Large-scale Programme on Aquaculture Research (HAVBRUK).
This funding will be distributed over a project period of maximum 36 months. A maximum NOK 6 million may be sought.
Priority will be given to projects that will help to achieve the HAVBRUK programme’s objective for sustainable growth and development of the Norwegian aquaculture industry.
Prioritisation of grant applications
When prioritising projects for funding, importance will be attached both to the assessment of scientific merit for each individual grant application and to achieving a balanced project portfolio. Consideration will therefore also be given to the distribution of proposed and ongoing projects within the thematic priority areas and actors under the HAVBRUK programme.
NOK 15 million for fisheries and other marine industries including processing of harvested seafood
This funding will be allocated from the Research Programme on Marine Resources and the Environment (MARINFORSK), which provides funding for research on the marine environment and seeks to generate knowledge about the ocean and coastal areas and the impact of pressures from human activity. Research activities are to strengthen the basis for sustainable management and value creation based on marine resources and other ecosystem services. The MARINFORSK programme encompasses the entire value chain for wild organisms, from harvesting to processing to markets.
Projects are expected to help to develop solutions and technology, including digital solutions, for advances in the fisheries industry, the marine processing industry and among companies using marine resources to produce energy or new marine products. Cooperation between actors across the ocean industries will be viewed in a positive light when assessing grant proposals.
This funding will be distributed over a project period of maximum 36 months. Projects may seek maximum NOK 2 million per year for a total amount of NOK 6 million.
Prioritisation of grant applications
When prioritising projects for funding, importance will be attached both to the assessment of scientific merit for each individual grant application and to achieving a balanced project portfolio.
Consideration will therefore also be given to the distribution of proposed and ongoing projects within the thematic priority areas and actors under the MARINFORSK programme.
The MARINFORSK programme seeks to incorporate more projects that can contribute to sustainable value creation based on marine resources into its project portfolio.
NOK 17 million earmarked for ocean technology across ocean-based industries
This funding is for projects encompassing the development and exchange of expertise and technology across the ocean-based industries, i.e. maritime industries, aquaculture, fisheries, offshore oil, gas and renewable energy, as well as new ocean-based industries.
Grant applications must explain the type of development and/or exchange of expertise and/or technology between the ocean industries that the project will advance. Projects are expected to incorporate collaboration between actors across the ocean industries, and the involvement of end-users in the cooperation is particularly encouraged.
Projects applying for this earmarked funding must explain the ocean industries that the expertise or technology development will be relevant for under “Outcomes and impacts” in the application form and in the project description.
Prioritisation of grant applications
When prioritising projects for funding, importance will be attached both to the assessment of scientific merit for each individual grant application and to the priorities of the relevant programmes for ocean industries.
Petroleum
This thematic area is targeted towards upstream petroleum activities.
Reducing greenhouse gases, energy efficiency and the environment, Subsurface knowledge, Drilling, completion and intervention, Production, processing and transport, Major accidents and the working environment, Ocean technology
Please remember to select the topics most relevant to your project proposal in the grant application form.
Under the thematic area “Petroleum”, the following guidelines for allocation will apply:
NOK 80–100 million for projects within petroleum
This funding is for projects that lie within the scope of the work programme for the PETROMAKS 2. In addition to the six thematic priority areas listed above, there are four cross-cutting priority areas:
- The Arctic areas
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency
- Digitalisation
- Challenges related to the introduction and use of new technology
Funding is not available for generic projects focusing solely on these cross-cutting priorities. Applicants seeking to address the cross-cutting priorities must link these specifically to one or more of the thematic priority areas. For more information about the above thematic priority areas, see the PETROMAKS 2 work programme.
Improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Allocation of funding for projects whose main objective is improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the Norwegian continental shelf will be viewed in conjunction with allocations under the call for Knowledge-building Projects for Industry with an application deadline of 4 September 2019. A total of at least NOK 25 million will be allocated to projects under these two calls.
Research cooperation with Canada
Funding is available for projects based on projects that incorporate binding collaboration between Norwegian and Canadian research organisations and/or companies that will be of benefit to both countries. Canadian partners are required to cover their own project costs. No funding has been earmarked for this cooperation. The number and quality of the proposals received will determine how many projects can be awarded funding within the overall budgetary framework for this thematic area.
Ocean technology
Up to NOK 10 million has been set aside for projects within “Ocean technology for the petroleum industry”. The purpose is to promote technology development and knowledge transfer between ocean industries, and the involvement of end-users in the cooperation is particularly encouraged. Applicants for this funding must make sure to select “Ocean technology” and at least one of the thematic areas above. This funding comes in addition to the opportunity to apply for projects under the topic “Ocean technology across ocean-based industries” under the thematic area Oceans.
Prioritisation of grant applications
When prioritising projects for funding, importance will be attached both to the assessment of scientific merit for each individual grant application and to achieving a balanced project portfolio. Consideration will therefore also be given to the distribution of proposed and ongoing projects under all of this year’s calls for proposals across the priority areas and actors under the petroleum portfolio.
Environment-friendly energy and CO2 capture and storage
This thematic area is targeted towards all the thematic priority areas set out in the respective work programmes for the Large-scale Programme for Energy Research (ENERGIX) and the Norwegian RD&D CCS programme (CLIMIT).
Renewable energy (wind, hydropower, solar, bioenergy, geoenergy, other), The energy system (components, systems technology, markets and organisation), Energy consumption in buildings, built-up areas and industry, Energy consumption in transport, Energy policy (economics, societal issues, environmental impacts and sustainability), Digitalisation, Low-emission technology, Ocean technology, CO2 capture and storage
Please remember to select the topics most relevant to your project proposal in the grant application form.
Under the thematic area “Environment-friendly energy and CO2 capture and storage”, funding has been earmarked for two areas:
NOK 170 million to promote environment-friendly energy and low emissions
This funding is for projects to promote the long-term, sustainable development of the energy system to enhance the competitiveness of Norwegian trade and industry and facilitate the transition to a low-emission society.
Funding is available for projects within all the thematic priority areas set out in the ENERGIX work programme:
- renewable energy (solar, wind, marine, bioenergy, geothermal and hydropower);
- the energy system and markets;
- efficient use of energy in buildings and industry;
- energy for the transport sector;
- energy policy, economics and sustainability.
The attachment to the work programme provides a detailed description of the thematic priority areas. Applicants are encouraged to read the work programme documents.
The ENERGIX programme is also participating in two other calls with an application submission deadline in autumn 2019:
- The call for Knowledge-building Projects for Industry with an application deadline of 4 September 2019, which encompasses longer-term competence needs and basic research.
- The joint call for projects under the PILOT-E scheme in cooperation with Innovation Norway, Enova and Gassnova with an application deadline of 25 September 2019. The call is targeted towards integrated supplier chains for hydrogen and innovative solutions for zero-emission buildings and construction. See pilot-e.no for more information.
Prioritisation of grant applications
- When assessing relevance, special importance will be attached to how the grant application addresses priorities set out in the work programme and attachment.
- When prioritising projects for funding, importance will be attached both to the assessment of scientific merit for each individual grant application and to achieving a balanced project portfolio. Consideration will therefore also be given to the distribution of proposed and ongoing projects among the thematic priority areas of the ENERGIX programme and the Centres for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME). You may search the Project Databank to find ongoing projects and FME centres.
NOK 10–30 million for CO2 capture and storage
This funding is for projects that can contribute to technology development to accelerate commercialisation of CO2 capture and storage, based on the following focus areas described in more detail in the CLIMIT work programme:
- Early full-scale CCS value chain in Europe;
- Large-scale storage of CO2on the Norwegian continental shelf in the North Sea;
- Future solutions for CCS.
Grant applications may be targeted towards contributing to one or more of these focus areas.
The CLIMIT work programme provides a broad technological description of CO₂ capture, transport and storage but does not encompass the use of CO₂. Thus this call is only open to grant applications relating to long-term storage of CO₂. Please note that projects relating to the use of CO₂ for EOR are still eligible under this call provided they involve long-term storage of CO₂.
Prioritisation of grant applications
As a starting point, NOK 20 million has been set aside, but the budget under this call will be NOK 10–30 million. The final amount will depend on the quality and relevance of grant applications, and how grant applications submitted under other calls will promote the achievement of the CLIMIT programme objectives.
The elements listed below will be viewed in a positive light when assessing grant applications, but do not comprise an exhaustive list of application requirements:
- making use of R&D infrastructure through ECCSEL;
- helping to carry out the EU CCS and CCU Implementation Plan;
- international collaboration, particularly with European ACT member countries and with North America.
The ENERGIX and CLIMIT programmes will cooperate on reviewing project proposals within the topic of hydrogen production and utilisation. Applications involving hydrogen from renewable energy as well as from natural gas with CCS within the same project will be reviewed by both programmes in consultation.
Food and land-based bioresources
Together with the scheme for Research Funding for Agriculture and the Food Industry (Foundation for Research Levy on Agricultural Products (FFL) and the Agricultural Agreement Research Fund (JA)), the Research Council is announcing funding for this thematic area.
Production systems, Climate, Bioeconomy, New products, Food safety, Services, Green initiatives
Please remember to select the topics most relevant to your project proposal in the grant application form.
Under the thematic area “Food and land-based bioresources”, the following guidelines for allocation will apply:
NOK 100 million for profitable and sustainable production in the land-based, bio-based industries
This funding is for projects addressing priority topics under the Research Funding for Agriculture and the Food Industry (FFL/JA) scheme and thematic priority areas set out in the work programme for the Research Programme on Sustainable Innovation in Food and Bio-based Industries (BIONÆR).
The business sector has a key role to play in the development of the food system in Norway, and services associated with food and agriculture are an important part of this. There is a need to develop new and more diverse industrial activities using sustainable production based on Norwegian resources, including utilisation of biomass, reduced food waste, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and production that is adapted to new climatic conditions. At the same time these advances will help to enhance the competitiveness of these industries, e.g. relating to local food, outdoor activities, tourism, health, welfare and care services.
Within these main objectives, priority will be given to projects addressing the following areas:
- Production systems: Efficient, sustainable food and forest productivity;
- Climate: Reduced greenhouse gas emissions and agricultural and forest production that is adapted to new climatic conditions;
- Bioeconomy: Increased utilisation of biomass and reduced food waste throughout the entire food value chain;
- New products: development of new bio-based products or new processes/methods for bio-based products;
- Food safety: Production of safe food throughout the value chain;
- Services: Services in the agricultural industry, including local food, adventure activities, tourism, health, welfare and care services.
Funding has been earmarked for these two areas:
NOK 5 million for projects on forests and climate.
NOK 40 million for initiatives on fruits, vegetables and berries.
This year’s Agricultural Agreement contains provisions to strengthen research within the fruits and vegetables industry. Greater knowledge will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, raise production and extend the Norwegian growing season for production in greenhouses, tunnels and outdoors.
Prioritisation of grant applications
When prioritising projects for funding, importance will be attached both to the assessment of scientific merit for each individual grant application and to achieving a balanced project portfolio. Consideration will therefore also be given to the distribution of proposed and ongoing projects under all of this year’s calls for proposals across the common portfolio, priority areas and actors.
Requirements for this application type
The grant application form must be created and submitted via “My RCN Web”. You may revise and resubmit your grant application form multiple times up to the application submission deadline. After the deadline, it is the most recently submitted version of the grant application that will be processed.
- The grant application, including all attachments, may be submitted in Norwegian or English.
- All attachments must be in PDF format and uploaded as an attachment to the grant application form.
- The project description must be written using the designated template for Innovation Projects for the Industrial Sector. The template will be made available well before the call is made active. All items must be completed.
- If the applicant has submitted the same or similar grant proposals under another Research Council programme or scheme, this must be stated in the grant application.
- All project costs are to be budgeted in accordance with Research Council guidelines.
All the templates for attachments are at the end of the call for proposals.
Mandatory attachments
- A project description of maximum 15 pages using the designated template.
- Information about partners for the company submitting the grant application and each of the participating companies. The designated template must be used.
- A CV for the project manager, using the designated template.
Grant applications that do not satisfy the requirements relating to the application type or the Project Owner will be rejected.
Assessment criteria
Grant applications will be assessed on the basis of four criteria:
Excellence
• To what extent does the innovation represent something new?
• To what extent is the innovation targeted towards clear needs or new market opportunities for the company partners in the project?
• To what extent does the project build on relevant and updated knowledge?
• To what extent does the project employ relevant and recognised R&D methods?
• To what extent are the R&D activities essential for the success of the innovation?
Impact
• To what extent will the project entail a potential for sustainable value creation in Norway with significant economic benefits for the company partners?
• To what extent can the project have positive external impacts, such as:
– helping to disseminate knowledge through networks and publications;
– producing results that can be used by other industries, the public sector or in society at large;
– leading to an innovation that can address UN Sustainable Development Goals or solve other important societal challenges.
• To what extent are the potential impacts of the project clearly formulated and highly plausible?
Implementation
• To what extent does the R&D project work plan incorporate appropriate and effective objectives, work packages, milestones, resources and relevant risk assessments?
• To what extent will the project have access to the necessary R&D expertise and adequate capacity to carry out the R&D tasks?
• To what extent does the project reflect the strategic priorities of the company partners and have a project organisation appropriate to the task?
• To what extent does the project manager have appropriate expertise and experience to lead an R&D project targeted towards innovation and sustainable value creation for companies?
• To what extent is the plan for implementation of R&D results and realisation of benefits relevant and appropriate, for instance with regard to:
– IPR issues,
– assessment of the competitive framework and market risks,
– investment needs and plans,
– needs and plans regarding partnerships for commercialisation or industrialisation,
– need to develop business models.
Relevance to the call for proposals
• To what extent do the company partners in the project meet the requirements and expectations set out in the call for proposals with regard to the Project Owner and project partners?
• To what extent have the conditions set out in the call for proposals with regard to collaboration and specification of roles been met?
• To what extent can support from the Research Council be expected to trigger increased R&D investment among the company partners in the project and provide added value to the project beyond the financial support?
• To what extent is the project in keeping with thematic or budgetary guidelines in the call for proposals, where this is relevant in light of the project’s content?
Administrative procedures
Grant applications will be assessed based on the content in the application form and mandatory attachments. Links to websites and documents, as well as other attachments than those specified above, will not be included in the application review process.
Grant applications and mandatory attachments will be made available to external referees via a digital portal. These referees will assess Excellence, Impact and Implementation. The referees will convene in a panel meeting to reach a unified assessment of the grant application for each of these three criteria.
The criterion “Relevance to the call for proposals” will be assessed by the Research Council administration.
The assessment of these four criteria will be consolidated into a single, overall mark that indicates the quality of the project proposal. This overall mark will play a decisive role in determining which projects are to be allocated funding.
The administration will present the project proposals to the relevant Research Council portfolio boards for the final funding decision. Here the proposals will also be considered in light of the overall project portfolio in the areas under the purview of the specific portfolio board. Each portfolio board must also take into consideration any budgetary aims outside of those set out in the call for proposals. During this process, each portfolio board will also act in accordance with the Research Council’s general policy for allocation of funding, including:
- research ethics perspectives;
- prioritisation of projects led by women project managers, assuming all other quality-related factors are essentially equal.
The final decision regarding funding is expected to be announced in December 2019.
Projects recommended for funding will be required to provide additional information about the project and the project partners.