Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal

The Research Council’s activities targeting ground-breaking research are designed to strengthen Norway’s national knowledge preparedness. This is achieved by investing in the best projects within both basic and applied research. The funding awarded is to promote scientific merit on the international research front and to facilitate bold thinking and innovative research. The FRIPRO scheme for independent projects is a national competitive arena that encompasses all fields and disciplines. For more information about the scheme, click on the link on the right.

Prioritisation of grant applications
To be eligible for funding, grant applications must have received a mark of 6 or 7 in the overall assessment, as well as a mark of 6 or 7 on the assessment criterion "Excellence" from the referee panel.

The order of priority between grant applications assigned the same mark in the referee panel’s overall assessment will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark received for the criterion Excellence will be weighted more heavily than the other assessment criteria.
• The ranking of grant applications proposed by the referee panel.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

Administrative procedures
The funding with special requirements will be distributed between Researcher Projects for Scientific Renewal, Researcher Projects for Young Talents and Three-year Researcher Projects with International Mobility. Grant applications that are qualified for this funding will first be assessed on an equal footing with the other applications for funding for ground-breaking research within the budget framework of NOK 640–815 million described above. The projects that win grants in that competitive review will be granted funding there. After this process has been completed, the portfolio boards will allocate the funding with special requirements to relevant projects. 

Many trends relating to epidemics, climate change, digitalisation, increased flow of goods and services, migration, political unrest and the changing nature of crime are adding new complexity and creating new mutual dependencies in society. The ramifications of the current coronavirus pandemic clearly demonstrate the need for solid and knowledge-based work on societal security and a need for efficient and solid crisis management on all levels of society and among all actors involved. The crisis shows how laws and regulations, preparedness and access to supplies are put under pressure as a result of quarantines, the closing of borders and other restrictions regarding the use of infrastructure.

There is a need for knowledge to identify, understand and manage risk, threats and vulnerabilities in the context of societal development. In particular, there is a need for knowledge about how society can prepare for uncertainty and the unknown when faced with crises. To be eligible for funding, grant applications must be clearly related to the perspectives and thematic areas set out in the SAMRISK work programme (see link on the right-hand side of this page). This includes circumstances which have been particularly actualised by the current crisis. Projects must address issues related to digitalisation and/or ICT security within at least one of the following priority areas:

• social structures, values and trust;
• technology and societal security;
• new actors, organisational forms and responsibilities.

In addition, it will be viewed as positive if grant applications:

• incorporate an interdisciplinary approach;
• have a plan for increasing the utilisation of results and innovation in the field of practice through user involvement;
• incorporate specific plans for national and international cooperation.

If gender dimensions are of relevance to the research, this must be described in the grant application.

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark assigned in the referee panel’s overall assessment.
• The mark assigned for the assessment of relevance.
• Grant applications that overlap significantly with projects already receiving SAMRISK funding will not be given priority.
• Achieving a balanced distribution between the three priority areas in the grant applications recommended for funding.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

We also announce NOK 40 million in funding for collaborative projects within this theme, with a deadline of 2 September 2020.

Funding is available for research addressing key macroeconomic challenges to generate knowledge of relevance to the design and implementation of economic policy.

The COVID-19 pandemic is already having wide-ranging implications for the global economy. Alongside this, the sharp drop in oil prices together with significant volatility in the currency markets is having a major impact on the Norwegian economy. The way in which crises are handled is also of great importance to the economy. The current crises illustrate the need to generate new knowledge and new models. There is also a need to understand the emerging opportunities for restructuring, improving efficiency and redistribution. New knowledge is also needed to identify, understand and deal with the causes and ripple effects of the rapid economic changes taking place.

Funding is available for research on the extraordinary circumstances described above, within the following priority areas:

• business cycles, wealth and economic policy;
• sustainable welfare state in a global economy;
• growth, productivity and restructuring.

Grant applications must be of relevance for at least one of the following thematic priorities: 

• drivers of macroeconomic cycles and economic policy;
• drivers, ripple effects and challenges in a resource-rich economy;
• financing of the welfare state;
• rising economic inequality;
• productivity;
• restructuring.

For further details about the priority areas, please see the programme document Forskning om makroøkonomiske utfordringer [Research initiative on macroeconomic challenges] (Norwegian only, English summary available here).

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications found to be of equal relevance and assigned the same mark in the referee panel’s overall assessment will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark received for the criterion Excellence will be weighted more heavily than the other assessment criteria.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application incorporates international collaboration.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application incorporates cooperation between research institutions and groups in Norway.
• Achieving a balanced distribution between the priority areas in the grant applications recommended for funding.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application describes how research findings are to be communicated to key decision-makers, the government administration and the general public.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

Funding is available for research projects that generate knowledge and understanding of international development and promote poverty reduction and sustainable development. The research must be of relevance for Norwegian development policy and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Research proposals must incorporate collaboration between multiple research organisations. It is important that partners are involved throughout the process starting with the preparation of the grant application.

To be eligible for funding, the grant application must address at least one of the following priority areas. Priority will be given to research projects focusing on one or several of the 16 partner countries in Norwegian development cooperation, as defined in Meld. St. 17 (2017–2018), Report to the Storting (white paper) Partner Countries in Norway’s Development Policy.

• Education;
• Humanitarian issues;
• Business development and job creation, taxation;
• Conflict, security and vulnerability;
• Climate, the environment, oceans and renewable energy.

NOK 30 million is earmarked for grant applications addressing “taxation and illegal capital flows”.

Please see the NORGLOBAL2 work programme (link on the right-hand side of this page) for further details about the priority areas.

The grant application must in addition satisfy the following requirements:  

• The application must include partners from international research organisations, and at least one partner from a developing country.
• The research must be connected to an Official Development Assistance (ODA)-approved country and must meet the OECD Development Assistance Committee's (DAC) research requirements.
• Applications seeking more than NOK 6 million must include a doctoral research fellowship position at a Norwegian research organisation.
• Applications seeking more than NOK 9 million must include both a doctoral and a post-doctoral research fellowship position at a Norwegian research organisation.
• The application must take into account any issues relating to research ethics and social responsibility in research that may arise in the course of the project.
• The application must clearly focus on issues relating to the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Applications submitted for NORGLOBAL2 funding must include a letter of intent from the cooperating partners as an attachment.

In addition, it will be viewed as positive if the application:

• includes at least one Norwegian partner in addition to the applicant organisation;
• incorporates partners from more than one developing country;
• incorporates an interdisciplinary approach;
• incorporates a doctoral research fellowship at a partner institution in a cooperating development country ( please use local rates for doctoral students at a research organisation in a developing country).

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark assigned in the referee panel’s overall assessment.
• The mark assigned for the assessment of relevance.
• Achieving thematic balance in the NORGLOBAL2 project portfolio. Priority will therefore be given to grant applications in the priority areas “Humanitarian issues” and “Education”.
• Applications that clearly focus on issues relating to the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Applications that address more than one of the priority areas mentioned above.
• Applications that include partners from more than one of the 16 partner countries for development cooperation.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application clearly describes how research findings are to be communicated to key decision-makers, the government administration and general public in Norway and in the cooperating countries.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

Funding is available for projects that help to generate increased knowledge about foreign and security policy and international relations targeted towards Asia, Russia and Europe.

Please see the respective UTENRIKS programme documents (link on the right-hand side of this page) for further details.

NOK 25 million is available for researcher projects within the whole thematic scope of the UTENRIKS work programme.

In addition to this, there is earmarked funding as follows:

Asia in a Time of Change

• NOK 15 million for development research directed at Asia in a Time of Change;
• NOK 10 million to research in the field of foreign and security policy, within the scientific and thematic priority areas set out in the document “Asia in a Time of Change”.

This call has its foundation in the priorities set out in the UTENRIKS work programme. To be eligible for funding, grant applications must be of relevance within the scope of the thematic and scientific priority areas set out in the document “Asia in a Time of Change”.

The funding earmarked for development research directed at Asia in transition has been allocated to the Research Council over the development cooperation budget, and grant applications must therefore satisfy the requirements regarding use of Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding. To comply with this, the grant application must seek to advance economic development or welfare in countries on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) List of ODA Recipients. For more information please see here. 

Europe

• NOK 50 million for research relating to Europe.

This call has its foundation in the priorities set out in the UTENRIKS work programme. To be eligible for funding, grant applications must be of relevance within the scope of the thematic and scientific priority areas set out in the document “Europe in Transition Phase 3”. To achieve better balance in the portfolio for Europe, the Research Council is in particular seeking grant applications related to the impact of EU directives and international agreements on Norwegian law.

Russia

• NOK 15 million for research on Russian foreign and security policy, including conditions relating to Russia’s balance of payments. 

This call has its foundation in the priorities set out in both the UTENRIKS work programme and the . To be eligible for funding, grant applications must be of relevance within the scope of the priorities set out in chapter 3.2 of the document “Scientific and thematic priorities for the High North, Russia and Eastern Europe”. Grant applications that deal with Russia’s strategic interests and roles in the Middle East and North Africa, and how this influences Norwegian foreign policy and room to manoeuvre, are of particular relevance.  

Eastern Europe

• NOK 12 million for research on Eastern Europe 

This call has its foundation in the priorities set out in both the UTENRIKS work programme and chapter 3.4 of the document “Scientific and thematic priorities for the High North, Russia and Eastern Europe. Grant applications that encompass research and collaboration with Ukraine, Georgia and Belarus will be given priority.

This funding has been allocated to the Research Council over the development cooperation budget, and grant applications must therefore satisfy the requirements regarding use of Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding. To comply with this, the grant application must seek to advance economic development or welfare in countries on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) List of ODA Recipients. For more information please see here. 

Grant applications to all areas must in addition satisfy the following requirements:

• Applications seeking more than NOK 6 million must include a doctoral research fellowship position at a Norwegian research organisation.
• Applications seeking more than NOK 9 million must include both a doctoral and a post-doctoral research fellowship position at a Norwegian research organisation

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark assigned in the referee panel’s overall assessment.
• The mark assigned for the assessment of relevance.
• Applications that involve funding from the development cooperation budget must satisfy the necessary requirements relating to the Official Development Assistance (ODA) rules.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application describes how research findings are to be communicated to key decision-makers, the government administration and the general public.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application incorporates international collaboration.
• Achieving a balance between the thematic and scientific priorities in UTENRIKS work programme, both among the grant applications recommended for funding and within the overall portfolio of projects awarded UTENRIKS funding.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

We also announce NOK 30 million in funding for collaborative projects within this theme, with a deadline of 2 September 2020.

Funding is available for projects that will help to generate new knowledge on how to achieve universal health coverage and sustainable health systems in developing countries. Projects must be within the framework of global health system and health care services research. The purpose is to promote good health and quality of life for people in developing countries. NOK 20 million of the amount available for funding is earmarked research that will contribute to filling in knowledge gaps related to COVID-19.  

To be eligible for funding, projects must include extensive international collaboration and seek to strengthen competence in research environments in Norway and in developing countries by means of cooperation.

Universal health coverage entails ensuring that all members of the population have access to high quality, essential health care services that address the most significant causes of disease and death, without being subjected to financial hardship.

Health services research is defined for this purpose as the multidisciplinary field that studies how social factors, financing systems, organisational structures and processes, technologies, and personnel behaviour affect access to the services, the quality and cost of the services, and ultimately the health and well-being of the population in developing countries. “Developing countries” is understood here to mean “least developed countries, other low-income countries, and lower middle-income countries and territories.” as defined in the OECD List of DAC Recipients.

The grant application must be of relevance to one or both of the following priority areas:

• The project must generate new knowledge on the structure, organisation, delivery, economics and financing of health services, including prioritisation and distribution between available services.
• The project must generate new knowledge on the implementation and/or delivery of new and/or improved health services.

Grant applications that generate new knowledge on how health systems and health services in developing countries can be organised in order to handle outbreaks of diseases with epidemic potential, such as COVID-19, are relevant. Grant applications may include gender perspectives. The grant applications must be within the scope of one or both of the above-mentioned priority areas.

The grant application must in addition satisfy the following requirements:

• The application must give a clear account for how the project will contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, and specifically Target 3.8.
• The application must have justification in, and describe, the users' needs and participation in all parts of the project. In this context, users may be patients, clients and relatives, the general public, employees in the health and care services system, government administrators and the authorities.
• The application must include partnerships with research groups and research institutions in developing countries.

Applications submitted for funding under “Global health” must include a letter of intent from the collaborating partners as an attachment. Projects seeking funding may have a project manager from a developing country.

Research institutions in high-income and upper middle-income countries may also serve as partners in the project, but may receive a maximum of 30 per cent of the Research Council's total funding for the project.

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark assigned for the assessment of relevance.
• The mark assigned in the referee panel’s overall assessment.
• The mark received for the criterion Impact will be weighted more heavily than the other assessment criteria.

Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to:

• Applications that include collaboration and partnerships with highly qualified international research groups, including outside developing countries.
• Applications with at least one Norwegian partner in addition to the applicant institution.
• Applications that include a doctoral and/or post-doctoral research fellowship position at a Norwegian research organisation and/or at an institution in a developing country.

Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

Good insight into the ecosystems and the extent and impact of pressures from human activity is vital to facilitating long-term, sustainable management of Norway’s ocean and coastal areas. Such knowledge is also essential for efforts to safeguarding environmental quality and food safety.

Funding is available for projects that generate knowledge needed to promote sustainable management and use of marine resources. This is in keeping with the Research Council’s Strategy for Sustainability, 2017–2020, which lists Clean, safe and productive oceans and seas as one of the ten priority knowledge areas that are based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The main research question addressed in the grant application must involve at least one of the following priority areas, and the attachment describing the relevance of the project to the call must clearly state which priority area(s) the application addresses:

1. More knowledge about the extent to which the response of individuals, populations and ecosystems to one stressor depends on one or more other stressors, and the impact of multiple (at least two) stressors on marine ecosystems when they are present simultaneously. Relevant stressors include but are not limited to climate change, pollution, marine litter, fisheries and aquaculture.
2. Enhanced knowledge about the drivers and impacts of variation and changes in the marine ecosystems’ structure and functioning. It may be of relevance to view this in conjunction with different anthropogenic drivers of change (cf. point 1).
3. Development and use of new, cost-effective methods and technology that can enhance understanding of processes in marine ecosystems.

The Polar Research Programme (POLARPROG) will contribute up to NOK 12 million for research projects addressing the priority areas above, but in the context of relevance to polar regions. See the POLARPROG work programme (link on the right-hand side of this page) for the definition of polar regions.

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications found to be of equal relevance and assigned the same mark in the referee panel’s overall assessment will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark received for the criterion Excellencewill be weighted more heavily than the other assessment criteria.
• Ensuring that funding is provided for at least one project within each of the three priority areas described above.
• Ensuring that funding is provided for at least one project that addresses coastal conditions.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

We also announce NOK 60 million in funding for collaborative projects within this theme, with a deadline of 2 September 2020.

With the exception of research on health and welfare services and global health, most of the approximately NOK 260 million targeted for health research in 2020 will be made available in the call for proposals for the 16 September 2020 deadline. Funding will be available for collaborative projects. Only research organisations are eligible to apply, but the Research Council stipulates that projects must incorporate collaboration with stakeholders from outside the research sector, such as municipalities, companies, special interest organisations and others.

NOK 60 million is available for research on how to achieve universal health coverage and sustainable health systems in developing countries. For more information, see under the topic “Global development”.

Funding is available for research that promotes high quality, competency and efficiency in the health, care and welfare services. Projects must also ensure good patient and user trajectories based on user needs and help to achieve the objectives of the HELSEVEL programme. (Please see the link on the right-hand side of this page for further details about the programme.)

To be eligible for funding, projects must be of relevance to services research, as described in chapter 3.3 of the HELSEVEL work programme, within the following service areas:

• Health and care services
• Labour and welfare services
• Child and family welfare

Grant applications must in addition address at least one of the six cross-cutting themes described in chapter 3.3 of the HELSEVEL work programme. Please see the HELSEVEL work programme (link on the right-hand side of this page) for further details.

There are five priority areas, and grant applications that satisfy the following requirements will be viewed as especially relevant:

• Applications that generate new knowledge about how different models for collaboration across service areas can lead to higher quality and more sustainable services;
• Applications that will generate new knowledge about structural, organisational and economic factors of importance to promoting greater cooperation and integrated services;
• Applications that attach special importance to transitions for individuals with complex needs;
• Applications that generate new knowledge about the opportunities/consequences of digitalisation in relation to cooperation and quality in the health, care and welfare services, and the accompanying impacts on these services;
• Applications that incorporate a quantitative and/or comparative perspective and design for these priority areas.

To be eligible for funding, grant proposals must have their justification in user needs. In this context, users may be patients, clients and relatives, the general public, employees in the health and welfare services, public administrators and the authorities. Grant proposals must specify the intended users for the project in question, as well as how they will be involved in the planning and execution of the project and in the use of the results.

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications will be determined on the basis of the following considerations, in the order given below:

1. The mark assigned for the assessment of relevance.
2. At least one project within each of the service areas will be included among the proposals recommended for funding, provided that the relevant grant applications have received a mark of 5 or higher on the assessment criterion “Excellence” from the referee panel.
3. Achieving thematic and scientific balance in the HELSEVEL project portfolio as a whole.
4. The mark assigned in the referee panel’s overall assessment.
5. Applications that incorporate interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches.
6. Applications that incorporate international collaboration that will also strengthen the potential for future participation in EU-funded projects.
7. Applications that help to strengthen cooperation between research institutions and groups in Norway.
8. Applications that adequately describe gender perspectives, when this is of relevance to the research.
9. Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

Funding is available for projects designed to enhance understanding of the impacts of climate change on nature and the ensuing consequences for society, and how best to address this.

Climate change has impacts on the physical natural environment, biodiversity and ecosystems. This encroaches on society by affecting ecosystem goods and services and increasing the pressures and risks posed by natural hazards. Thus, society must deal with a wide array of ramifications, including pressures on biodiversity, physical infrastructure, food production and food security, health impacts, conflict over resources, migration and investment risk.

Research on the impacts of climate change is essential to understand and predict such ramifications. Research is necessary as part of the foundation for enabling society to adapt to climate change, and provides important motivation for policy development and action in the effort to restructure towards a low-emission society.

To be eligible for funding, grant applications must address the thematic and scientific priority areas described in chapter 4.2 of the KLIMAFORSK work programme, but limited to the context of land areas and coastal zones. For grant applications to be of relevance, the main research question must deal with one of the following priority areas:

• impacts of climate change on ecosystems and ecosystem goods and services. Any species-specific issues addressed must be associated with key ecosystems or be related to key ecosystem structures or functions.
• physical effects of climate change on nature and the consequences of this for industries, sectors of society, human health and living conditions;
• societal challenges caused by impacts of global climate change.

Grant applications may include research on the other thematic and scientific priority areas set out in the KLIMAFORSK work programme, provided that this is also of relevance to the priority areas mentioned above.

Projects must be of relevance for:

• the knowledge needs of the public administration and society at large;
• important ongoing national and international knowledge processes related to national climate and environmental targets, for example the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and relevant Sustainable Development Goals.

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications found to be of equal relevance and assigned the same mark in the referee panel’s overall assessment will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark received for the criterion Excellence will be weighted more heavily than the other assessment criteria.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application incorporates user participation in the project, for example through reference groups, when this is of relevance.
• The quality of the plan for communication of research findings to key decision-makers, the government administration and general public will be given weight.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application incorporates recruitment positions and/or young researchers.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application incorporates an interdisciplinary approach, when this is of relevance.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application incorporates international collaboration.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

Funding is available for projects designed to enhance understanding of how the ongoing and probable future Arctic changes will affect society, policy, and environmental and resource management.

Interest in the Arctic is growing in many countries. The climate is changing more rapidly in the polar regions than anywhere else in the world, and rising temperatures are causing major changes in the physical, biotic and chemical environment. This affects ecosystems and harvestable resources. The declining sea ice cover is making marine and coastal waters in the Arctic more accessible for commercial activities such as shipping routes, tourism and maritime industries.

The Arctic is undergoing major changes as a result of business development and innovation, demographics, urbanisation, migration, infrastructure development and technology and more. Viewed in an overall context, this represents both opportunities and challenges for Arctic communities and others with an interest in developing business and society in the region. Sound measures to ensure adequate sustainable development, planning and ecosystem-based management are required.

The changes are not uniform across the Arctic, and the various geographical areas, local communities and social structures will be affected and adapt in different ways. This may lead to a need for individual political and administrative measures at the local, national and international levels as well as across these levels.

To be eligible for funding, grant applications must address social science-related perspectives by focusing on one or both of the following research questions:

1. how Arctic changes affect different local communities and social structures, including how human activity exacerbates these changes;
2. whether and how national and international policy development, societal planning and environmental and resource management respond to the changes.

The priority areas are described in more detail in the work programmes for the Polar Research Programme (POLARPROG) (chapters 4.1 and 4.3) and the research programme on the High North, Russia and Eastern Europe (NORRUSS Pluss) (chapter 3.1). (See links on the right-hand side of this page.)

The geographic area encompassed under this call is the Arctic region as defined on page 7 of the POLARPROG work programme. Circumpolar studies that include a large part of Norway’s northern areas are of relevance if this will enhance the polar component of the project.

This call does not encompass research on the Antarctic.

The grant application must in addition be of relevance to at least one of the following priority areas:

• issues relating to national legislation and international law;
• geopolitics and geoeconomic factors;
• societal development, planning and economics;
• ecosystem goods and services, natural hazards and subsequent societal impacts.

Projects must be of relevance to Norwegian conditions and the knowledge needs of the public administration, trade and industry and/or society at large. The grant application must specify how the project will achieve this.

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications found to be of equal relevance and assigned the same mark in the referee panel’s overall assessment will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark received for the criterion Excellence will be weighted more heavily than the other assessment criteria.
• Achieving a balanced distribution of projects among the priority areas.
• A sound, realistic communication plan that describe specific measures and activities directed at relevant user groups.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application incorporates user participation in the project, for example through reference groups, when this is of relevance.
• It will be viewed as positive if the grant application incorporates recruitment positions and/or young researchers.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

Funding is available for projects that increase knowledge in the fields of nanotechnology, microtechnology and advanced materials, with significant relevance to future applications.

Projects are to be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 or higher and must include measures for incorporating RRI as an integral part of the research practice.

To be eligible for funding, grant applications must be of relevance to at least one of the following priority areas:

• renewable energy;
• the environment and climate;
• improved health and medical technology;
• increased value creation and innovation based on Norwegian natural resources;
• expanded insight into the impacts of nanomaterials on human health and ecosystems.

Grant applications must describe the plans to establish contact with national and/or international stakeholders/interested parties who will benefit from the results of the research. Relevant parties may be found in the business sector, public sector or other groups. Contact with stakeholders/interested parties may be organised as advisory groups, planned conferences or other measures.

Grant applications must describe how the project intends to employ nationally funded research infrastructure.

For further details about the Technology Readiness Levels, RRI and priority areas, please see the NANO2021 work programme (link on the right-hand side of this page).

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications assigned the same mark in the referee panel’s overall assessment will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

1. The assignment of high marks in general for all assessment criteria.
2. The mark received for the criterion Excellence will be given priority.
3. The mark assigned for the assessment of relevance will be given priority.
4. Achieving a balanced distribution between the priority areas in the grant applications recommended for funding.
5. Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

Funding is available for projects that generate knowledge that can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental footprint, improve energy efficiency, reduce the risk of major accidents and improve work environment in the petroleum industry on the Norwegian continental shelf.

The mark assigned for the assessment of relevance will take into consideration both structural and thematic priorities.

Structural priorities
Grant applications that address issues where collaboration with industry is particularly difficult to establish or is not appropriate are of relevance. To be eligible for funding, the application must specifically and clearly state how the project qualifies under one of the following categories:

• areas in which there is a conflict of interests and where independent research without industry participation will represent a strength for the research;
• areas in which the industry has no major interest in the research, but where the societal outcomes are substantial and more important than the impact on value creation and direct utilisation by the industry.

For projects where it is appropriate and viewed as a strength to establish collaboration with industry, grant applications should be submitted under the call for Knowledge-building Projects for Industry with an application submission deadline of 2 September 2020.

Thematic priorities
To be eligible for funding, the grant application must be of relevance to at least one of the following priority areas: 

• greenhouse gas reduction, energy efficiency and the environment;
• major accidents and the work environment.

All applicants must consult the PETROMAKS 2 work programme (link on the right-hand side of this page). The priority areas are described in detail in chapters 4.2.1 and 4.2.5.

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications found to be of equal relevance and assigned the same mark in the referee panel’s overall assessment will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• Applications for a Researcher Project for Scientific Renewal will be viewed in connection with applications within the same priority areas under the other calls that will be dealt with by the portfolio board for petroleum in 2020. This applies to the calls for Knowledge-Building Projects, Innovation Projects and Demonstration Projects for the Industrial Sector.
• The portfolio board will conduct an overall assessment of all grant applications with regard to the cross-cutting priorities set out in the work programme:
  • The Arctic areas;
  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and raising energy efficiency;
  • Digitalisation;
  • Challenges related to the introduction and use of new technology.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

Funding is available for research on and for the educational sector. The objective is to generate knowledge of high quality and relevance for policy development, the public administration and the field of practice, and to promote knowledge-based development.

The grant application must be of relevance to at least one of the four priority areas of the FINNUT work programme. Projects addressing more than one of the priority areas in an overall perspective are also eligible for funding.

The four priority areas are:

• Learning processes, assessment forms and learning outcomes;
• Praxis, professional practice and competence development;
• Governance, management, organisation and achievement of results;
• Education, society and working life.

Please see pages 15–17 of the FINNUT work programme (link on the right-hand side of this page) for further details about priority areas.

The Research Council is seeking projects on and for the entire educational sector, from early childhood education and care institutions and primary schools through higher education and learning in working life. Projects that examine transitions between the levels of the educational system and the transition from education to working life are also of interest.

In addition, it will be viewed as positive if projects:

• incorporate active collaboration with at least one other national research institution;
• include clear plans for international collaboration, such as co-publication or mobility;
• include recruitment positions;
• are inter- or multidisciplinary in nature, e.g. incorporate cooperation between two or more subject fields.

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark assigned in the referee panel’s overall assessment.
• The mark assigned for the assessment of relevance.
• Achieving a balanced distribution of projects among the four priority areas described above.
• Ensuring that the grant applications recommended for funding cover different segments and levels of the educational sector.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

We also announce NOK 125 million in funding for collaborative projects within this theme, with a deadline of 2 September 2020.

We also announce NOK 30 million in funding for Researcher Project for Young Talents within this theme, with the deadline of 20 May 2020.

NOK 85 million is available for services research in the following areas:

• Health and care services
• Labour and welfare services
• Child and family welfare

For further details, please see under the thematic area “Health”.

Funding is available for research projects within all priority areas set out in the VAM work programme. Research activities are to generate high-quality knowledge that improves society’s ability, means and capacity to address and resolve current societal challenges.

To be eligible for funding, projects are to produce knowledge for addressing societal challenges within one or more of the thematic areas set out in the VAM work programme (link on the right-hand side of this page):

• welfare, living conditions and inequality;
• achieving an adaptable, inclusive and health-promoting working life;
• active citizenship, migration and the role of institutions.

Grant applications are to be based on national and international state of the art in these areas.

Grant applications that address the following will be of particular relevance:

• research relating to chapter 4.2 of the work programme, “An adaptable, inclusive and health-promoting working life”.
• research on effects and measures; see the description in chapter 5.1 of the work programme, “Research under the VAM programme”.

In addition, it will be viewed as positive if projects:

• take a multi- and interdisciplinary approach;
• include legal perspectives;
• incorporate active national and international cooperation.

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications found to be of equal relevance and assigned the same mark in the referee panel’s overall assessment will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• Achieving a balance between project managers who are experienced researchers and researchers who are in the early stages of their career.

Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

We also announce NOK 72 million in funding for collaborative projects within this theme, with a deadline of 2 September 2020.

Funding is available for research activities designed to supplement and challenge the existing knowledge base for decision-making in society and contribute new perspectives and knowledge in areas of particular relevance to society.

Grant applications must be of relevance for these priority areas
To be eligible for funding, projects must demonstrate how new knowledge about cultural phenomena can enhance understanding about, and help to deal with, current societal challenges in the area of “Knowledge, welfare and diversity”, as described in chapter 4.2.3 of the SAMKUL work programme (link on the right-hand side of this page). Grant applications must also reflect the SAMKUL programme perspective in general (chapters 4.1 and 4.2).

Projects must address current challenges in the knowledge society and the welfare society. Research activities are to generate new insights into these challenges, as well as how to deal with them, by analysing their historical, linguistic, communicative, religious, normative and aesthetic dimensions.

To succeed in the competition for funding, grant applications must in addition incorporate at least one of the following priorities:

• humanistic perspectives;
• a multi- and interdisciplinary approach;
• international and national cooperation.

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications found to be of equal relevance and assigned the same mark in the referee panel’s overall assessment will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• Grant applications with a project manager who is already serving as project manager in an ongoing project under SAMKUL, will not be given priority.
• Grant applications that overlap with ongoing projects receiving Research Council funding will not be given priority.
• Grant applications that address legal perspectives will be given priority.
• Achieving a balanced distribution between the research areas in the grant applications recommended for funding within the context of the overall thematic priorities.
• Achieving a balance between project managers who are experienced researchers and researchers who are in the early stages of their career.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

Funding is available for research that generates knowledge about the challenges and opportunities associated with technological and economic changes in the culture and media sector, and about media and cultural policy.

To be eligible for funding, grant applications must be of relevance to at least one of the following priority areas:

• digitalisation;
• economic changes;
• cultural and media policy.

Grant applications must address challenges and priorities set out in the KULMEDIA work programme (link on the right-hand side of this page).

In addition, it will be viewed as positive if projects:

• enhance competence building;
• take a multi- and/or interdisciplinary approach;
• incorporate international and national cooperation.

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark assigned in the referee panel’s overall assessment.
• The mark assigned for the assessment of relevance.
• Grant applications that overlap thematically with projects already receiving or that have previously received KULMEDIA funding will not be given priority.
• Achieving a balance in the KULMEDIA project portfolio as a whole and between the various priority areas in the work programme.
• Achieving a balance between project managers who are experienced researchers and researchers who are in the early stages of their career.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.

Funding is available for projects designed to generate new research-based knowledge that will enable the Sámi people to strengthen and further develop their own language, and their own culture and community life.

To be eligible for funding, grant applications may be of relevance to all areas set out in the work programme, but the Research Council is in particular seeking projects that strengthen research in areas set out in chapter 3.6 of the SAMISK III work programme, “Living conditions and population development”. In addition, it is preferable that projects address at least one of the following areas:

• living conditions and health;
• demographics and settlement patterns;
• cultural resilience.

In addition, it will be viewed as positive if projects:

• incorporate collaboration between institutions and/or local or regional research groups;
• incorporate post-doctoral and/or doctoral fellowships;
• address international comparative research questions based on conditions for the Sámi people.

For further details, please see the SAMISK III work programme (link on the right-hand side of this page).

Prioritisation of grant applications
The order of priority between grant applications will be determined on the basis of the following considerations:

• The mark assigned in the referee panel’s overall assessment.
• The mark assigned for the assessment of relevance.
• Achieving a balance in the SAMISK project portfolio as a whole. New projects will therefore be assessed in relation to ongoing and concluded SAMISK projects.
• Assuming all factors relating to the points above are essentially equal, priority will be given to projects led by women project managers.