Call Deadline 9.10.2025 at 13:00 (CEST)
Available Budget for the Research School: up to 12,75 million NOK.
12,75 mill includes up to 8,75 million NOK from NordForsk and requires an in-kind contribution of 4,0 million NOK.
Important: Please read the instructions in the application form as well as the call text to access all the necessary information to write your proposal. You can use the preview form function to see the instructions in the application form.
Background
Innovation and entrepreneurship are essential for maintaining competitiveness in the global knowledge economy, making these areas increasingly important for researchers, organizations, businesses, and governments alike. They play a crucial role in driving renewal and fostering sustainable development across all sectors of society. As research domains, innovation and entrepreneurship are inherently interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral, intersecting with a broad spectrum of academic disciplines.
Over the past decades, research in innovation processes and entrepreneurship has expanded rapidly, resulting in a diverse but often fragmented research community. While Nordic universities host promising research environments in these fields, they are typically small and lack the capacity to offer comprehensive doctoral programs that extend beyond specific subfields. Doctoral students specializing in innovation and entrepreneurship frequently face limited access to courses, activities, and supervision at their home institutions.
Aim of the call and thematic framework
Recognising the pivotal role of innovation and entrepreneurship in fostering competitiveness and sustainable development, this initiative aims to equip PhD candidates within innovation and entrepreneurship with the tools needed to address pressing societal challenges, including the green transition and digital transformation and themes related to security, emergency preparedness, total defence, and national defence.
By pooling resources and creating a dynamic, interdisciplinary learning environment, the initiative will offer students access to a broader range of perspectives, research methodologies, infrastructures, seminars, conferences, and networking opportunities. This enriched academic ecosystem will enhance the quality of their education and research, ultimately unlocking greater innovation potential across the Nordic region.
Through strengthened connections between academia, industry, and the public sector, the initiative will deliver interdisciplinary courses and activities that train candidates to solve complex, real-world problems. Simultaneously, it will establish a robust platform for long-term collaboration among Nordic institutions. By fostering these synergies, the initiative will contribute to a more cohesive research community and prepare a new generation of doctoral graduates to tackle global challenges and drive sustainable development.
See also: How to apply
