This guide is a supplement to the calls for Qualification and Verification Projects. Here you will find clarifications to what is described in the calls for proposals and in the guidance texts in the application forms where applicable.
The Qualification Announcement is in the same application system as in previous years, while the Verification Announcement is in the new application system introduced in 2026.
For Qualification Project, see the page: Get to know the application form for more information on how to create an application.
For Verification project, see the page: get to know the new application form.
1. Project partners
To the top, Project partners, Project information, Location, Progress plan, Budget
Project Owner
In the application form for a qualification project: Note that start-ups must select "Yes" to the question "Is the Project Owner in this project an undertaking (cf. the state aid rules)?" Research organizations and TTOs should choose "No".
Partners and R&D providers
Note that the role of R&D provider should not be used for this type of application.
In the application form for a qualification project, any partners must be registered as "Both executing and funding".
There is no requirement to include partners in the commercialisation project unless the Project Owner shares the rights to the results on which the project is based with others, or there are others who own these rights. These others must then meet the criteria under "Who can apply"/"Who can participate in the project" and must be partners in the project. An example of this is when a Technology Transfer Office (TTO) is the Project Owner and the research organisation that owns the rights to the results is a partner. See also the call texts for more information.
Other suppliers to the project of consultancy, development or research are considered subcontractors. A subcontractor is only obliged to the Project Owner or a partner to assist with the implementation of specific and limited tasks in the project.
Please see here for further information about partners and project participants in the application form for a qualifying project.
In the form for the verification project, you must register people who will have roles in the implementation of the project and others who will have access under "Roles and access". These confirm their roles via My page.
Note that TTOs should not tick the box that they are companies when the role is confirmed.
See also more information here about organisations and roles in the new application system:
- Organisations participating in applications and projects
- Roles in applications and projects (new application system)
2. Project information
To the top, Project partners, Project information, Location, Progress plan, Budget
The project's main goals and sub-goals
- Main objective: Here you will describe what is to be achieved during the project period in order to trigger the next phase in the commercialisation process.
- Sub-objectives: The sub-objectives shall reflect the most important milestones in the project (cf. Part 3 of the project description).
Project summary
The project summary should include a brief description of:
- The business idea
- The team
- Status
Effects and effects
Based on the discussion you have given in part 2 of the project description, provide a brief summary of the short-term and long-term effects you expect the project to provide, related to, for example:
- Commercial applications
- Market potential
- Important societal challenges that the project will be able to help solve
You must not attach CVs in the new application system (Verification project). Instead, we ask for a textual description of the competence in the project where you emphasize conditions that are relevant to the implementation of the project for which you are applying for funding. For more information, see: Competence description.
In the new application system (Verification) in part 1 under "Quality", there is a field for references. If it is not relevant to enter references, write "Not relevant", as this field is mandatory to fill in in the new system.
3. Location
To the top, Project partners, Project information, Location, Progress plan, Budget
Information from the applicant
This applies to eligibility: Please note that you must enter additional information in the text field if you select "Yes" to the question "Is the application related to other applications or ongoing projects supported by the Research Council or another public funding scheme?". You must refer to both approved and rejected projects with the name of the funding scheme, project number and project title.
4. Progress plan
To the top, Project partners, Project information, Location, Progress plan, Budget
Project period
The project period is the period during which the Research Council provides funding. This means that costs before or after the project period cannot be charged to the project.
Main activities and milestones during the project period
The purpose of Qualification and Verification Projects is to clarify uncertainties related to technology and the commercial use of research results, clarifying questions that, by remaining unresolved, prevent the projects from moving forward in the commercialisation process. The project plan must therefore include a well-founded balance between commercial and technological milestones and activities. Here you will list measurable milestones with associated activities that are necessary to complete in order to achieve the various milestones. Each milestone should be clear about why it is important and what is to be achieved/deliverables.
Activity category
In the new application system (Verification project), the activity category "Commercialisation" must be used.
Dissemination plan
It is not necessary to set up a dissemination plan for qualification and verification projects.
5. Budget
To the top, Project partners, Project information, Location, Progress plan, Budget
The budget must reflect the actual funding and costs during the project period. Remember to take into account the price increase of salary expenses, rental costs and material purchases in the budget.
Note that VAT is not considered a real project cost if the company is liable for VAT, and should therefore not be included in the budget.
Costs per project partner per year
Please note that you must only specify costs for the Project Owner and any partners distributed over the years during the project period.
Cost plan
In the cost plan, you must show how the costs are distributed over the project period. You must specify the Project Owner's and partners' total costs that are necessary for the implementation of the project. This means that for partners, the costs must be budgeted on the same items as for the Project Owner, i.e. the costs must be budgeted on the items personnel and indirect costs, equipment and other operating costs/other project costs.
Personnel costs and indirect costs
Costs related to employees who will participate in the project must be entered here for both the Project Owner and partners. Project employees must use individual hourly rates as a basis for calculating personnel and indirect costs. The costs that are sought to be covered by the Research Council must be specified in the specification field with the job title, FTE percentage and total. For TTOs and start-ups, the hourly rate cannot exceed NOK 1,100,-.
Note that smaller purchases of equipment (less than NOK 100,000), which can also be used outside the project, are included in the depreciation costs in indirect costs and must not be entered under "Equipment" in the budget.
- For project employees at TTOs and start-ups, personnel and indirect costs must be based on the hourly rate calculation that applies to the business sector. For more information, see calculating payroll and indirect expenses for companies, the public sector including health trusts and others
- For project staff at the Project Owner or a partner that is a research institute, the hourly rates reported to the Research Council must be used. For more information, see Calculating payroll and indirect expenses for research institutes
- For project employees from the higher education sector, the TDI model will be used. For more information, see Calculating payroll and indirect expenses for the university and university college sector
Buying R&D services
You do not have to list any costs here. The role of R&D provider should not be used for this type of application.
Equipment
Here you must enter costs for renting equipment, research infrastructure or laboratories, and you can also enter costs for purchasing computer equipment that will not be used for ordinary office tasks.
Equipment that is rented or purchased must be necessary to carry out the project. See What your budget should include for how to calculate equipment costs.
Note that equipment that has a lifespan beyond the project period applied for must be entered with depreciation cost over the project period and not the acquisition cost.
All costs entered as "equipment" must be specified in the specification field.
Other Operating Costs/Project Costs
Here you enter costs that are necessary to carry out the project and that are not covered by the cost types above, including costs for purchases from subcontractors. Important subcontractors must be specified in the specification field under "Cost plan", including how much of the funding from the Research Council each subcontractor must invoice the project.
The text of the announcement will provide guidance for what is approved as necessary costs. Other operating costs/project costs may be costs related to the procurement of development and consulting services, IPR costs, travel costs, etc.
All costs entered as "other operating costs/other project costs" must be specified in the application.
Cost center
Here you must enter which sectors the Project Owner and partners belong to, and thus which cost centre their respective costs belong to:
This applies to qualification projects:
- Start-ups enter costs under "Business"
- TTOs list costs under "other sectors"
- Approved research institutes costs under "Institute sector"
- Universities and university colleges enter costs under "Universities and colleges sector"
- Other public agencies enter costs under "Other sectors"
Financing plan
Please note that there is no requirement for self-financing in qualification and verification projects. In the table "funding plan", you therefore only need to enter the costs you are applying for funding from the Research Council. Any other funding can be described in the specification field and should be clarified at the time of application (e.g. in-kind contributions).
See the page: What to enter in the project budget.