Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.