Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector 2023
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Download templates
- Mal for prosjektbeskrivelse - Innovasjonsprosjekt i næringslivet 2023.docx
- Template for Project Description - Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector 2023.docx
- Mal for partneropplysninger - Innovasjonsprosjekt i næringslivet 2023.docx
- Template Information about Applicant and Partner Companies - Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector 2023.docx
- Template for CV.docx
Important dates
07 Jun 2023
Last deadline for submitting an application (midnight)
01 Jan 2024
Earliest permitted project start
01 Apr 2024
Latest permitted project start
31 Mar 2028
Latest permitted project completion
Important dates
Last updates
The template information about applicant and partner companies has been updated. If you have downloaded this template before 27 April, you will need to download it again.
Purpose
Our call Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector is aimed at companies engaged in business-led innovation projects where research and development (R&D) is a critical part of the innovation process.
We seek to support projects with multiple partners working together to develop sustainable innovations, be it new or improved products, services or production processes.
The project partners should gain valuable new knowledge and insights from their R&D work, where the economic value to society from generating and disseminating this knowledge often exceeds the economic benefits enjoyed by the project partners.
About the call for proposals
We seek project proposals from companies engaged in research-based innovation with clear objectives of developing sustainable innovations that directly or indirectly support the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). You can read more about research-based innovation and sustainable innovations at our website Bærekraft og Innovasjonsprosjekt i næringslivet (in Norwegian, link opens in new window, the English version will be published later).
The call encompasses a wide thematic scope and is relevant for many parts of the Norwegian business sector. Below, you will find more details about the call, its thematic areas and eligibility criteria for applying.
You may submit your grant application at any time, up to and including 7 June 2023, 23:59 CEST. Read more under the section ‘Expected funding decision’ (under ‘Processing procedures’ towards the end of the call).
This call for proposals constitutes a funding scheme that is notified to the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) and must be practised in compliance with the EEA state aid rules. Read more about state aid under the section ‘Conditions for funding’.
See also frequently asked questions about Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector.
The Norwegian-language call for proposals is the legally binding version.
Are you also planning to apply for funding for your project from the SkatteFUNN R&D tax incentive scheme? Read more about this scheme and the conditions on the website: Incentive effect and combination of tools (in Norwegian only on skattefunn.no - the page opens in a new window).
Please note that you cannot apply for innovation funding for a project that has already started.
Typical characteristics of a funded project
You want to initiate the project because you have a unique innovation idea that you wish to realise. The results of the project may be in the form of a new product, service or production process, or new means of delivering products and/or services. Results in this context can also mean significantly improving or adding new features to existing products, services, or processes for the company.
The companies collaborating in the project have a need for new knowledge or new technology in order to deliver the intended innovation. The knowledge or technology is to be developed through R&D activities using recognised methodology. The project’s R&D activities must satisfy the definition of either ‘industrial research’ or ‘experimental development’ as set out in the state aid rules (see Article 25: Important definitions).
The Project Owner and partners have access to the R&D expertise necessary to carry out the project.
The project's partnership constellation forms the basis for long-term collaboration, development and dissemination of knowledge and effective mutual utilisation of the results.
The partners and R&D providers that are going to participate in the project have clarified their interests and tasks in the project, and have described their role in the activities they are to participate in. The number and size of the partners in the project will not determine whether it is successful. Rather, a good project is characterised by each partner having defined tasks and a clear role.
The scope and risk profile of the project are such that the companies would not be able to carry out the project without Research Council funding. This means that funding from the Research Council is a critical incentive for implementing the R&D activities. Project funding from the Research Council may also be instrumental in helping companies to obtain follow-up investments from private risk capital investors that can be used to further develop and utilise the results.
You can demonstrate that the project is likely to have a significant positive impact for one or more sustainable development goals. We expect the project to have a positive impact without causing harm to other areas.
You have incorporated clear objectives and a concrete plan for the project’s R&D activities and for utilising the results. Results and knowledge that are not bound by protection agreements related to the company’s planned commercial utilisation are disseminated via publications and other relevant dissemination channels.
Who is eligible to apply?
This call is open to companies that have been issued an enterprise number under the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises and that carry out economic activity in Norway. The Project Owner must either be a private company or a public enterprise that carries out activities of an industrial or business nature. We will use the collective term ‘company’ throughout the call for proposals.
Sole proprietorships and research organisations are not eligible to serve as a formal applicant.
Who can participate in the project?
Requirements relating to the Project Owner
The Project Owner must secure funding for the project (over and above the Research Council’s funding) and make provisions for utilisation of the project results.
Requirements relating to collaboration and roles in the project
- The Project Owner must carry out the project together with at least one partner or one R&D provider. You must register these in the section ‘Project partners and R&D providers’ in the application form. Read more about collaboration agreements, project partners and R&D providers.
- Partners must also fulfil the criteria listed under the section ‘Who is eligible to apply?’ to be able to participate in the project and receive funding. Partners must be involved in what is known as an effective collaboration with the Project Owner, which entails sharing both the risk associated with the project and the results it generates. Partners whose project costs are covered in part by Research Council funding are recipients of state aid.
- The Project Owner or one of the partners may not be in an interdependent relationship with any of the R&D providers in the project, e.g., where both entities are part of the same corporation. The ‘arm’s length principle’ must be observed when engaging R&D providers. The Project Owner and the partners must also be independent from each other. This means that one party cannot control the other in any way. Not only does this rule apply to the relationships between the Project Owner and the partners, but also to the relationships between the partners. Read more about partners and suppliers in innovation projects.
- Norwegian and foreign research organisations or research infrastructure may participate in the project as R&D providers with responsibility for performing R&D work on assignment for the partner companies. Where a research organisation or research infrastructure is used to perform contract research or provide a research service to an undertaking, the undertaking typically specifies the terms and conditions of the contract and owns the results of the research activities and carries the risk of failure. In that case, the research organisation or research infrastructure will typically receive payment for its services at market value. Where the ownership of, or access rights to, intellectual property rights ('IPR') remain with the research organisation or research infrastructure, their market value may be deducted from the price payable for the services in question.
- Where a PhD candidate contributes to the R&D provider’s work on the project, restrictions cannot be placed on the publication of the candidate’s doctoral work. An exception to this rule can be made if the parties agree up front on a delay of the publication.
- • Since the research organisations’ work in the innovation projects is procured through an assignment, such work, when assigned to universities and university colleges, will be classified as commissioned R&D. This means that work performed by PhD candidates may also be invoiced in accordance with market price and that the purchase of such work is not tied to the Research Council's lump sum for research fellows. It is important to note that research fellows who carry out work at market price in innovation projects for the industrial sector do not have the same rights vis-à-vis the Research Council as research fellows wholly or partly funded by us through lump sum allocations.
- Other international and public sector bodies may participate in the project, but they must not be entered as partners in the application form. This type of collaboration can be described under ‘Other collaboration’ under section 3.3. of the project description.
- The relevant partners and R&D providers at the time the application is submitted forms the basis for our assessment of the application, and their participation in the project is a stringent condition for funding. If you change the composition of the project before we enter into a contract with you, we may withdraw our funding pledge.
What can you seek funding for?
Parts of the partner companies’ costs pertaining to R&D activities under the project qualify for funding. Article 25 of the state aid rules describes which activities qualify for funding and which costs associated with these activities can be fully or partially funded. The funding can cover both direct and indirect project costs to the extent they can be categorised as costs pertaining to industrial research or experimental development. This applies to both costs associated with R&D activities performed by the project partners and for purchase of R&D services.
You can find detailed information about what types of costs qualify for funding here.
We will not provide funding for operational business activities including activities associated with the commercial exploitation of the R&D results, such as protection of intellectual property rights, market surveys and marketing, and testing and completion of new products or services. Nor do we provide funding for costs that will not be recorded in the Project Owner or partners’ official accounts, such as own unpaid work effort. Such costs are therefore not to be included in the project budget.
Scope of funding
You can apply for funding to cover up to 50 per cent of the companies’ costs in the project. The scope of funding for a company’s project costs covered within the maximum 50 per cent limit depends on the size of the company and the type of R&D activities to be carried out.
See the table below and read more about state aid on our website under Article 25: Article 25: Aid for research and development projects.
|
Type of company/type of activity |
Maximum support to industrial research in accordance with the state aid rules |
Maximum support to experimental development in accordance with the state aid rules |
Maximum support to each company under this call |
|
Small businesses |
70 % |
45 % |
50 % |
|
Medium-sized businesses |
60 % |
35 % |
50 % |
|
Large businesses |
50 % |
25 % |
50 % |
Please note that we do not support companies to the full extent of what is possible within the framework of the state aid rules. In not doing so, we are able to fund more projects. The state aid rules allow small businesses to have up to 70 per cent of their costs for industrial research covered. For medium-sized companies, the state aid rules allow for coverage of up to 60 per cent for the same costs. Under this call we do not, however, allow for more than 50 per cent of such costs to be covered for either type of company, even if all activities are defined as industrial research.
- Example 1: for a small company with all costs in the industrial research category, the state aid rules allow for coverage of up to 70 per cent of the costs, but we will only cover up to 50 per cent of the costs.
- Example 2: for a medium-sized company with all costs in the experimental development category, the state aid rules allow for coverage of up to 35 per cent of the costs, and that is what the company can get from us.
- Example 3: for a small company with half of the costs in the industrial research category and half in experimental development, the state aid rules allow for coverage of up to 57.5 per cent of the total costs, but we only cover up to 50 per cent of the costs.
- Example 4: for a medium-sized company with half of the costs in the industrial research category and half in experimental development, the state aid rules allow for coverage of up to 47.5 per cent of the costs, and that is what the company can get from us.
The fact that we only cover up to 50 per cent even if you could have received, for example, 70 per cent, means that you can also receive support for the project from other public schemes, such as Innovation Norway and SkatteFUNN.
When applications are awarded funding, we will assess the extent to which funding will trigger increased R&D efforts by the Project Owner and the project partners. The final amount of support will be determined when we enter into a contract with you.
Conditions for funding
This call for proposals constitutes a funding scheme that is notified to the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) with the reference GBER 43/2023/R&D&I.
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). The general terms and conditions in Chapter I of the Regulation must also be satisfied.
See the consolidated version of the General Block Exemption Regulation for state aid (page opens in a new window). This funding scheme must be practised in compliance with the EEA state aid rules. 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 the same reason.
State aid may not be given to an undertaking that is subject to an outstanding recovery order following a formal decision by the EFTA Surveillance Authority or the European Commission stating that state aid received is illegal and incompatible with the internal market. Nor can the Research Council award state aid to an enterprise that is defined as an ‘undertaking in difficulty’ under the state aid rules.
If your project is granted funding, you will have to revise the application. The revised application must incorporate updated and supplementary information about the project and collaborating partners, including documentation of implementation capacity and own funding. The participating companies must also submit a declaration confirming that they are qualified to receive state aid.
If your application is awarded funding, you should also note that:
- The project must commence no later than four months after the awarded grant was announced. Projects approved for funding that have not started within this date may lose their grant.
- You must submit annual accounting reports documenting incurred project costs and their financing.
- Other public funding allocated to the project, or to activities under the project, will affect the amount of funding that the Research Council can provide.
- If the Research Council allocates EUR 500,000 or more to your project, this will be listed in the State Aid Register (ROFS) (link opens in new window).
- You must inform any partners listed on the stock exchange or that have applied to be admitted to trading as soon as possible to give them an opportunity to assess whether the allocation of funding is stock market sensitive information.
- The Research Council’s requirements relating to allocations can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for R&D Projects on the page What the contract involves.
- The Research Council requires full and immediate open access to scientific publications; see Plan S – open access to publications.
- For all projects that manage research data, the Project Owner must ensure that a data management plan is drawn up and uploaded when the grant application is being revised. You will find more information about what the data management plan must contain here.
- For medical and health-related studies involving human participants, the Research Council stipulates special requirements and guidelines for registration and disclosure of medical and health-related studies involving human participants.
Reporting and disbursement of funds
We disburse the funds in arrears. You will receive more information about this if the project is allocated funding.
All reporting must be done electronically.
Relevant thematic areas for this call
The topics listed below describe the objectives, emphases, and priorities for the allocation of funds. See the respective portfolio plans and other documents referred to under ‘Relevant plans’ for more information about the priorities pertaining to each topic.
We encourage applicants to review these plans to understand the basis for how we assess and prioritise between applications. The Research Council strives to achieve a balanced project portfolio within the specified topics.
Please remember to select both thematic area and topic in the grant application form. The chosen thematic area and topic are merely for our guidance and will help us plan the application review process. You must describe the application’s relevance to the chosen thematic area(s) under section 4.2 in the project description. If we see that you have not chosen the correct thematic area/topic, we will move the application to where it is best suited to be assessed. As a rule, we do not notify you of that move.
Regarding the framework for funding, there is a minimum of NOK 2 million, while the maximum limit for funding varies between the different topics. This is stated in the text under each topic. The differences are due to the overall budget framework and specific character of the topics. The application must comply with the framework for funding of the topic for which the application is assessed. Note that the application may be rejected if the funding you apply for surpasses the specified limit and if you have not indicated a source to cover the costs exceeding the limit set by the thematic area in question in the Financing plan. Nevertheless, if we do assess the application, you must find ways to cover the excess costs in the event that the project receives funding from us.
If you have questions, feel free to contact us. For questions regarding requirements relating to innovation projects, the grant application form, attachments and other questions about general matters, please email us at ip-n@forskningsradet.no. For specific questions pertaining to the different topics, please contact the advisers affiliated with the respective topics for more information.
Cross-cutting topics
Funding is available for R&D-based innovation projects that will develop new Norwegian feed raw materials for farm animals or farmed fish that are more sustainable than current alternatives.
In the application, you must describe how the project will document that the feed raw material you are going to develop is
- nutritionally suitable and safeguards animal health and welfare;
- technically suitable for feed production;
- more sustainable than current alternatives, for example in terms of climate footprint, impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity, transition to circular economy and social conditions.
The feed raw material must be scalable and you must have a realistic approach to how production will reach industrial scale. The project must be aimed at the production of feed raw materials that mainly help to meet the animal's needs for protein or fat. Projects aimed primarily at the production of feed raw materials that are functional or meet mineral or vitamin needs will be rejected.
When we award a mark for the application's relevance, we will place emphasis on:
- the extent to which you hit the topic in the bulleted list above (we weight this most heavily);
- whether a feed producer is included as a partner, who also actively contributes to the project.
Amount, duration and funding available
We expect to allocate up to NOK 41 million to innovation projects on sustainable feed for livestock and fish. The projects may seek up to NOK 10 million in funding.
The objective is to provide support for a balanced portfolio of projects within this topic. We expect to fund both projects to develop feed raw materials for livestock and projects to develop feed raw materials for fish.
Contacts for topic-related questions
Energy, transport and low emissions
Funding is available for projects that will contribute to long-term, sustainable development of the energy system and the transition to a zero-emission society. At the same time, the results are intended to promote a competitive Norwegian business sector.
Funding is available for projects within the entire scope of environment-friendly energy as defined in the portfolio plan under the thematic priorities for energy and low emissions (see Relevant plans below). The areas we prioritise are:
- Energy transition and impacts on society, climate and nature
- Renewable electricity based on solar, wind and hydropower
- Bioenergy and other thermal energy
- Energy distribution infrastructures including an integrated and digitised power grid
- Solutions for energy use in buildings and built-up areas
- Decarbonisation of industrial processes
- Batteries and electrification of transport
- Hydrogen and other hydrogen-based energy carriers
Grant applications targeting CO2 management must apply for CLIMIT Demo in 2023, see link to call below.
We encourage you to describe the project's direct and indirect potential for cutting CO2 emissions and/or quantify the contribution to energy efficiency or a more energy-efficient value chain in your grant application. You can enter this in the project description's chapter on contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Relevance
When we award a mark for the application's relevance, we will consider how well the application addresses the points above, in addition to the call's other requirements and guidelines.
In addition, we will also emphasise whether you
- have established a consortium that is well adapted to realise the project's ambitions;
- have a concrete and credible plan for financing the project and ambitious plans for development, industrialisation and scaling.
Overall assessment of the projects and priority areas in 2023
We aim to achieve a balanced project portfolio that covers all of the areas described above. The marks awarded for the four main criteria will determine which projects succeed in the competition.
When selecting projects of approximately the same quality, priority will be given to projects on:
- new solutions for more efficient energy use;
- cost-effective, safe and sustainable production and use of clean hydrogen (see the Research Council's hydrogen initiative in Relevant plans below).
Amount, duration and funding available
We expect to allocate between NOK 180 and 220 million to innovation projects within environment-friendly energy in 2023.
The projects may receive up to NOK 20 million in funding.
The average amount sought was NOK 8.8 million in 2022. If you apply for more than NOK 10 million in funding, we will attach extra importance to your plans for financing and for industrialisation and scaling of the project.
Grant applications that fall within the scope of petroleum and environment-friendly energy's priorities and that have a cross-sectoral character may be considered for co-financing between the portfolios.
Contacts for topic-related questions
De-carbonisation of industrial processes
Batteries and electrification of transport
Bioenergy and other thermal energy
Buildings and built-up areas
Energy transitions and impacts on society, climate and the environment
Geothermal energy
Hydrogen and other hydrogen-based energy carriers
Infrastructures for energy distribution, including an integrated and digital power grid
Solar energy
Hydroelectric power
Wind power
Other relevant calls with the same topic
Oceans
Funding is available for R&D-based innovation projects within all relevant areas of aquaculture industry as described in the portfolio plan for Oceans (se Relevant plans below). Projects within all aquaculture species and from the entire value chain, from feed raw materials to processing of aquaculture products, are relevant.
Projects are to accelerate the green transition in the business sector in order to achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 on the road to a low-emission society by 2050.
Within this topic, priority will be given to projects that contribute to achieving the objectives set out in the portfolio plan for sustainable growth and development of the aquaculture industry. For applications from suppliers, priority will be given to projects involving end users as partners.
Projects relevant to "Sustainable feed for livestock and fish" are expected to apply to that topic (see above under Cross-cutting topics).
Amount, duration and funding available
Roughly NOK 20 million has been set aside for projects relating to innovation in the aquaculture industry.
The projects may receive up to NOK 10 million in funding.
Contacts for topic-related questions
Relevant plans
Within this topic, priority will be given to projects that contribute to the development of solutions and technology, including digital solutions, for the fisheries industry, the marine processing industry and companies that use marine resources for energy purposes or other new marine products. Collaboration between actors across ocean-based industries will be seen as positive when we assess grant applications.
Projects are to accelerate the green transition in the business sector in order to achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 on the road to a low-emission society by 2050.
For more information about priorities for this topic, see the portfolio plan for Oceans (see Relevant plans below).
Amount, duration and funding available
Roughly NOK 20 million has been set aside for projects relating to fisheries and other marine industries, including processing of caught seafood.
The projects may receive up to NOK 10 million in funding.
Contact for topic-related questions
Relevant plans
Funding will go to R&D-based innovation projects that contribute to faster green conversion and strengthening of value creation and exports in the Norwegian maritime industry.
Projects are to accelerate the green transition in the business sector in order to achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 on the road to a low-emission society by 2050.
Funding is available for projects within the entire scope of the maritime part of the portfolio plan for Oceans, which has the following priority areas:
- Digitalisation of the maritime industry
- Green shipping
- Safety at sea
For more information about the priorities, see the portfolio plan in Relevant plans below.
Within Green Shipping, part of the funds has been set aside for projects aimed at the Maritime Zero 2050 initiative. These are projects that contribute to new, better and feasible zero-emission solutions for ships operating across longer distances. The projects will generate new knowledge and develop new technology and solutions that are suitable for vessel segments and sailing distances that do not already have zero-emission solutions available. The solutions must be industrially scalable and create the basis for sustainable growth in exports. Approximately NOK 40 million is available through the Maritime Zero 2050 initiative in total under this call and the call Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges (with a deadline of 15 February 2023).
Grant applications for green shipping should describe and quantify potential emission and/or cost reductions resulting from the implementation of the results of the project.
Within the entire topic maritime industries, priority will be given to applications where the research tasks require a concerted effort from several different actors along the value chain to achieve the goals, and where the results will be of benefit to several companies in the industry.
When awarding marks for the relevance criterion, we will consider how well the sections above are met. Particular emphasis will be placed on the description of relevance under section 4.2 of the project description.
Amount, duration and funding available
Roughly NOK 90 million has been set aside for projects relating to the maritime industries.
The projects may receive up to NOK 16 million in funding.
Contacts for topic-related questions
Relevant plans
Industry and services
Funding is available for R&D-based innovation projects in which Norwegian trade and industry cooperate with research organisations and industry. Funding is to promote value creation through the development of new, knowledge-based trade and industry or to the renewal and sustainable restructuring of established trade and industry. We are seeking projects that have a place on the road to a low-emission society, while at the same time they have their basis in the companies' own strategies and challenges.
Within the topic Industry and services, we support projects aimed at the manufacturing industry, processing industry, health and ICT industry, construction and service industries. Applications that fall outside these areas of use will not be evaluated. The health projects we support in industry and services primarily include human health.
After the applications have been assessed in the light of the criteria and priorities set out in the call, priority will then be given to projects:
- that help companies in the consortium strengthen their national and international competitiveness;
- which will lead to increased exports.
- with plans for sharing and disseminating knowledge and expertise so that the results of the project can benefit more companies and environments in Norway. This can be done through dissemination to relevant user groups and planned academic publication and/or through broad collaboration within the project. This cooperation can be between actors along a value chain or across sectors and themes.
- with great potential for sustainable value creation in Norway. In cases where two projects are equally good, priority will be given to the project that is considered most sustainable with regard to impacts on climate, the environment and society.
In addition, we want to support projects across industries, sectors, disciplines and along value chains from all over the country. This way we aim to achieve a broad and balanced portfolio. We will therefore give priority to industry areas or regions that have a low level of representation in our current portfolio. Our goal is that 40 per cent of the funding goes to companies that have not previously received funding for innovation projects, either as applicants or partners. For more information about the priorities, see the portfolio plan below under Relevant plans. Applications to Industry and services will not be given a mark for relevance.
NOK 20 million earmarked for reduced and circular plastic use
The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund is contributing NOK 20 million earmarked for reduced and circular plastic use. This includes, among other things, extended service life, substitution, reuse and repair. Otherwise, the guidelines for the topic as described above apply. We will contact relevant projects to ask for consent for us to share the application with the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund, which has an advisory role in the allocation of these funds.
Amount available
We have set aside up to NOK 483 million for Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector in 2023. The projects may receive a maximum of NOK 16 million in funding.
Contacts for topic-related questions
Building, construction and real estate sector
Health industry
ICT industry, finance and bankin
Media and culture, Travel, hospitality and tourism Retail/wholesale sector, Other service provision
Processing industry
Manufacturing industry
Relevant plans
Other relevant calls with the same topic
Land-based food, the environment and bioresources
Up to NOK 75 million is available for projects that contribute to increased value creation, profitability and sustainability throughout the agricultural value chain from primary production through industrial processing all the way to the consumer. Sustainable food production – in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals – encompasses the economy, social conditions and environmental and climate considerations. The Research Council is seeking projects that include life cycle and sustainability analyses and methodology development where relevant.
The projects may receive up to NOK 16 million in funding.
Research is to contribute to achieving the prevailing agricultural policy goals. Grant applications should correspond to one or more of the four overriding objectives of Norway's agricultural policy, cf. Report No. 11 to the Storting (2016–2017). There are also guidelines in Prop. 120 S (2021–2022) on increased efforts in food security and emergency preparedness and on knowledge development that supports Norway's long-term need for a higher degree of self-sufficiency.
The research will result in applied solutions that are of great benefit to the industry. In your grant applications, you must refer to existing challenges, research questions and knowledge gaps. You must also show how the project will specifically respond to these and contribute to achieving the agricultural policy goals.
Food security and emergency preparedness
The main objectives of this area are to ensure safe food for consumers and to strengthen food preparedness.
The following areas are of particular relevance:
- the ability to supply Norwegian agriculture and the food industry;
- increased production and utilisation of Norwegian food and feed resources;
- anti-resistance strategies against plant pests in agriculture and horticulture and against disease-promoting organisms in animal husbandry;
- sustainable use of packaging and packaging technology for proper shelf life and reduced food waste;
- transfer of hazardous substances to food and feed crops through soil, air, water or production processes;
- monitoring plant and animal health, and preventing and combating new and existing diseases;
- product development and processing that contributes to increased utilisation of Norwegian raw materials for both food and feed;
- opportunities and threats related to new food products and production systems;
- practical and economically feasible operating solutions and production systems for increased animal welfare and good animal health.
Agriculture throughout the country
Agriculture throughout the country can be achieved by facilitating a diverse agriculture with a varied farm structure and geographical production sharing that provides opportunities for settlement throughout the country. Both measures to increase the use of soil and grazing resources and measures that ensure recruitment to the industry throughout the country can contribute to this.
The following areas are particularly relevant:
- prerequisites for maintaining or increasing grazing in the outlying areas;
- knowledge that can help strengthen educational opportunities and increase recruitment to agriculture and the food industry;
- technological solutions and tools that contribute to efficient, sustainable and less vulnerable operating and production systems;
- effective design of market schemes and agricultural policy instruments to achieve the agricultural policy objectives aimed at the agricultural value chain, including production, markets, the environment and climate;
- varietal development, plant preparation and cultivation methods adapted to regional conditions.
Increased value creation
Agricultural policy should facilitate the farmer's income opportunities and ability to invest in the farm, and contribute to an efficient, profitable and sustainable use of the farm's combined resources. Market-based production opportunities must be exploited, and the food value chain must be cost-effective and competitive. Norway as a food nation must be further developed.
The following areas are particularly relevant:
- develop knowledge and methods for increased utilisation of residual raw materials in the value chain for food and beverages for the development of new and profitable products;
- map opportunities for increased Norwegian food production and increased competitiveness for the agricultural-based food and beverage industries in a changing market;
- map the innovation potential in and across value chains;
- development, adaptation and use of new technology and new methods that contribute to streamlining in all parts of the value chain, such as automation, robotisation, information technology and sensor technology. For projects involving primary agriculture, cost-effective technology adapted to regional conditions is particularly important;
- further development of methods and collaborative solutions for the collection, analysis and use of large amounts of data;
- increased knowledge about consumer trends, diet and the role of food for health and nutrition.
Sustainable agriculture with reduced greenhouse gas emissions throughout the value chain
In the development of more sustainable agriculture and the food industry, it is important to have comprehensive assessments related to economic, social and environmental conditions. This involves striking a balance between goals related to food production, the economy, health, the environment, nature and climate. Research that can help identify and highlight contradictions and dilemmas and give insights that can provide a basis for knowledge-based and comprehensive solutions, will be important in the future.
The following areas are particularly relevant:
- new knowledge and methods that contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon sequestration in agricultural value chains;
- knowledge of the climate and environmental impact of different productions and products, climate-adapted production and adaptation strategies in addition to the effects of measures and any positive or negative additional effects;
- links between food production, climate and the environment for more targeted use of policy instruments;
- issues involving the relationship between climate and sustainability;
- new knowledge, methods and operating systems to ensure good soil health, including ecological farming methods and culture-specific soil health measures;
- map and solve environmental challenges resulting from the impacts of agriculture and the food industry on ecosystems, aquatic environments and biodiversity;
- technology and methodology development;
- energy efficiency and escape-free energy solutions.
The projects are financed by the industry itself through the payment of research fees on agricultural products and transfers over the agricultural agreement. When prioritising applications, the boards of FFL and JA will emphasise the industry's knowledge needs, the balance between the four specified target areas, ongoing research and industry distribution.
Remember to include attachments
Grant applications within this topic must include an attachment of maximum one page containing the project title and objectives and a summary in Norwegian.
Contacts
Relevant plans
Petroleum
Funding is available for projects addressing issues related to petroleum activities in open areas on the Norwegian continental shelf. For issues related to safety in the Norwegian petroleum industry, land-based facilities may also be relevant.
Projects eligible for funding within this topic must fall under at least one of the following five areas:
- Reducing greenhouse gases, improving energy efficiency and the environment
- Subsurface understanding
- Drilling, completion, intervention and permanent plug and abandonment of wells (P&A)
- Production, processing and transport
- Major accidents and the working environment
Applications that do not fall within any of these five priority areas will be rejected. For more information about thematic areas and priorities, see the Petroleum portfolio plan.
We expect clear plans for how research results will be brought to innovations (technology or services) in an open market, if the research in the project succeeds.
Energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on the Norwegian continental shelf
Particular priority will be given to projects that will contribute to energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on the Norwegian continental shelf. In the application, you must provide an account of the estimated total emission reductions for the technology/technologies the project will develop, including quantitative climate accounts. You must also describe the time perspective and framework conditions for implementing the knowledge/technology and see it in the context of the industry's new climate targets for 2030 and 2050.
Across the calls for proposals Knowledge-building Project for Industry, Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector (this call) and Demonstration Project for the Industrial Sector, we wish to allocate at least NOK 35 million in 2023 to projects aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf.
Relevance
When awarding marks for the application's relevance, we will consider how well the points above are met, in addition to the other requirements and guidelines set out in the call. We place particular emphasis on the rationale for relevance under section 4.2 of the project description.
Cross-sectoral cooperation and delimitations
We want the projects we support to lead to a good connection between the portfolios Petroleum and Energy, transport and low emissions. Grant applications that fall under the priorities of both thematic areas and that have a cross-sectoral mark may be considered for co-financing between the portfolios. Grant applications that only target the renewable energy sector or CCS are not to apply for the thematic area petroleum.
Amount, duration and funding available
Roughly NOK 77 million has been set aside for projects relating to petroleum.
The scope and quality of the projects will be considered in connection with the call for proposals for 'Demonstration Projects for the Industrial Sector'. Based on this, it may be appropriate to adjust the framework for allocation somewhat up or down.
The projects can receive up to NOK 16 million in funding.
Contacts for topic-related questions
Other relevant calls with the same topic
Practical information
Requirements for this application type
Applications must be created and submitted via My RCN Web. The application and all attachments must be written in Norwegian or English.
The deadline for this call for proposals is 7 June, at 23:59. Please note that you can only submit an application once. If you submit the application before the deadline and afterwards see that it still needs to be changed, you can create a new application – e.g., as a copy of the one you have already submitted – and thus submit a new version before the deadline expires.
- All attachments to the online grant application form must be uploaded in PDF format. The templates for attachments can be found at the end of the call for proposals.
- The project description must be written using the designated template, and all sections must be completed.
- If you have submitted grant proposals to cover the same project costs to other Research Council calls for proposals or to other funding agencies, you must declare this in the grant application.
- All project costs must be budgeted in accordance with our guidelines to what to enter in the project budget.
Mandatory attachments
- Project description of up to 10 pages in length using the designated template.
- Attachment with company information about the Project Owner and each of the participating companies (collaborating partners) using the designated template.
- CVs for the project manager and other key project participants (e.g., individuals responsible for the project’s work packages) using the designated template. A maximum of five CVs can be attached per application. Each CV cannot exceed four pages.
Note that the template for the project description is new for 2023.
All requirements set out in the call must be met. Applications that do not meet the formal requirements, or requirements relating to the Project Owner, collaboration and roles in the project, will not be considered.
All attachments to grant applications must be submitted together with the application form. We do not accept attachments submitted after the application submission deadline unless we have requested additional documentation.
We will not assess documents and websites linked to in the application, or other attachments than those specified above. There is no technical validation of the content of uploaded attachments, so please ensure that you upload the correct file for the selected type of attachment.
Assessment criteria
We assess applications in light of the objectives of the call for proposals and on the basis of the following 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 Project Owner and the companies that are 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 ambitious and essential for the success of the innovation?
• To what extent does the project give appropriate consideration to ethical issues and/or gender perspectives in the research?
Impact
• To what extent does the project contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
• To what extent can the project have positive external impacts for trade and industry, the public sector and society at large?
• To what extent will the project have significant financial benefits for the Project Owner and the companies that are partners?
• To what extent is the plan for implementation of the R&D results and realisation of benefits relevant and appropriate?
Implementation
• To what extent does the R&D project 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 manager have appropriate expertise and experience to lead the R&D project?
• To what extent does the project have an appropriate project organisation with a clearly defined and relevant distribution of the budget, roles and responsibilities?
• To what extent does the project reflect the strategic priorities of the Project Owner and the companies that are partners?
• To what extent is the budget and funding plan realistic and feasible?
Relevance to the call for proposals
• 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 Project Owner and the companies that are partners in the project and provide added value to the project beyond the financial support?
• To what extent does the project meet the topic’s guidelines and priorities?
Administrative procedures
The application, including all mandatory attachments, will be made available in a digital portal for referees who will give individual assessments of the criteria ‘Excellence’, ‘Impact’ and ‘Implementation’.
Only applications where the average score after the individual assessments is 4.5 or higher on a scale where 7 is the highest score, will be further assessed in panel meetings. Applications with an average score between 4 and 4.5 will also be assessed in these meetings, provided that at least one of the referees has given the application a mark of 6 or higher. The referee panel will then submit a consensus-based assessment for each of the three criteria.
If the mark awarded by the referee panel for each criterion is 4 or higher, the application will also be assessed by the Research Council’s case officers on the basis of the criterion ‘Relevance to the call for proposals’. The assessment and marks for all four criteria will be consolidated into a single, overall mark that indicates the merit of the application. Please note that one of the thematic areas - Industry and services – will not score its applications on relevance.
The Research Council administration will then present the applications and their respective marks to the Research Council’s portfolio boards for the final funding decision. The portfolio boards will attach importance to achieving a balanced project portfolio in the areas under their purview and in relation to ongoing projects and applications submitted under other calls for proposals. These assessments will be based on the budgetary framework, the text of the call for proposals and documents referred to in the description of the respective thematic areas. An overview of all ongoing projects is available at Prosjektbanken (link opens in new window).
Each portfolio board will also act in accordance with the Research Council’s general policy for allocation of funding, including our policies on:
- prioritisation of projects based on the impact on sustainability and the environment, assuming all other quality-related factors are essentially equal;
- prioritisation of projects led by women project managers, assuming all other quality-related factors are essentially equal;
- research ethics perspectives.
Expected notification of the application results
The various portfolio boards have allocation meetings in December. We expect to publish which applications receive funding on a continuous basis after the board meetings.
The first possible project start is 1 January 2024.
See also: How we process applications.
Download templates
- Mal for prosjektbeskrivelse - Innovasjonsprosjekt i næringslivet 2023.docx
- Template for Project Description - Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector 2023.docx
- Mal for partneropplysninger - Innovasjonsprosjekt i næringslivet 2023.docx
- Template Information about Applicant and Partner Companies - Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector 2023.docx
- Template for CV.docx
About the results of the application assessment process
- Total amount sought
- 415 544 000
- Amount awarded
- 156 022 000
- Total number of applications
- 52
- Number of approved applications
- 19
Project no. | Organization | Project title | Subject | Sought | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 346680 | ALLER AQUA NORWAY AS | Dokumentere effekter av en ny norsk råvare fra engvekster som tilsetning i laksefôr som erstatning for importert soyamel. | Temaer på tvers | 10 000 000 | 30.11.2023 |
| 346368 | GAS 2 FEED AS | Development of an optimized microbial strain for direct conversion of CO2 into biomass for feed production | Temaer på tvers | 4 000 000 | 30.11.2023 |
| 346600 | NORWEGIAN MYCELIUM AS | NoMyPro - scaling circular mycoproteins for more sustainable aquafeeds | Temaer på tvers | 8 500 000 | 30.11.2023 |
| 346608 | C-FEED AS | Etablere Rhodomonas kultur med gunstig mikrobiom tilpasset industriell produksjon | Hav | 8 077 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346461 | SANDE SETTEFISK AS | Sesonguavhengig produksjon av regnbueørret | Hav | 8 161 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346274 | SKRETTING AQUACULTURE RESEARCH CENTRE AS | Nephrocalcinosis: Unlocking the key to dietary intervention | Hav | 8 830 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346957 | Frøystad AS | Utvikling av havteine for konkurransedyktig og miljøvennlig fangst av reker | Hav | 4 405 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346989 | Ervik Havfiske AS | Et mer bærekraftig og lønnsomt snøkrabbefiske | Hav | 10 000 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346098 | Norbait AS | Norbait II | Hav | 3 450 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346376 | DNV AS | Digital Fuel Passport | Hav | 8 500 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346472 | KONGSBERG MARITIME AS | Novel Maritime Condition monitoring technology by acoustic emission and machine learning processing for Lifetime Optimisation. | Hav | 15 600 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346510 | KONGSBERG MARITIME AS | Pulse-jet propulsion for commercial ships | Hav | 6 413 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346524 | DNV AS | Assessment of ship hull Integrity based on a Digital Twin | Hav | 14 216 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346534 | ZEABUZ AS | Cost-effective, Safe and AI-based Autonomy Software for Ships | Hav | 15 000 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346544 | NJORD AQUA AS | Autonomous Underwater System for Targeted Assessment and Repair | Hav | 6 000 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346612 | STABLE AS | Bevegelseskompensert landingssystem for maritime droneoperasjoner | Hav | 5 900 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346629 | SCANDINAVIAN REACH TECHNOLOGIES AS | SteelWave High Volume Wireless Communication Platform for Steel Environments (HWC-SE) | Hav | 5 775 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346730 | TUNABLE AS | System for kontinuerlig monitorering av utslipp på skip | Hav | 10 170 000 | 1.12.2023 |
| 346816 | ULSTEIN DESIGN & SOLUTIONS AS | Nødslepsoppkopling for skip uten IMO krav til spesifikt nødslepsystem (Emergency Towing System) | Hav | 3 025 000 | 1.12.2023 |
Messages at time of print 2 December 2023, 19:39 CET