How to apply for funding

When you apply for a grant from NordForsk, there are specific requirements that you or your application must fulfil. We have gathered together information about them here as well as in the general funding guidelines.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for funding from NordForsk the planned research cooperation must generate Nordic added value, i.e. it must enhance the value of existing research activities in the five Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, as well as the autonomous areas of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and the Aaland Islands.

How to apply

Go to the NordForsk Application Portal to read the entire call text and any attachments (such as a programme memorandum, background documents, guidelines and the like).

  • You must log in to the portal to create a grant application. First-time applicants must register themselves as users.
  • Once registered, new users will automatically be logged in and can fill in the online application form for the relevant call for proposals.
  • The individual who creates the application will automatically be registered as the Project Leader. Normally, the party to the contract with NordForsk will be the institution with whom the Project Leader is affiliated, not with the Project Leader as an individual.
  • Applicants will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt via email upon submission of a grant application.
  • Applications may be opened and edited after they have been submitted, but please remember to resubmit your application by the submission deadline! Only fully completed, properly submitted applications will be processed.

Only online applications submitted via the NordForsk Application Portal within the expiry of the submission deadline will be accepted. Attachments will only be accepted if specifically requested in the call for proposals.

How are grant applications evaluated?

Funding from NordForsk is awarded on the basis of external evaluation of grant proposals. NordForsk strives to ensure transparency in the evaluation process. Funding decisions will be communicated to the project leader by e-mail. This will include a justification for the decision.

In cases where an applicant believes NordForsk has failed to act in accordance with our application commitments, there is a possibility of submitting an official complaint.

A complete set of evaluation criteria will be stipulated in the individual call for proposals.

Reporting

Project reports

  • Projects awarded grants from NordForsk are required to submit project reports (an annual progress report and a final report). Reports – like grant applications – must be submitted electronically via the NordForsk Application Portal. Only the Project Leader may submit reports to NordForsk and these must apply to the entire project.
  • An electronic journal will be created for each project containing a copy of the submitted application, signed contract, progress report(s), final report and any relevant correspondence. Only the Project Leader has access to the journal.
  • The online report form contains a copy of the project description, list of project participants and budget. This gives you easy access to project information when filling out the report and you can comment directly on items/activities described in the project plan. The level of detail of the report will be determined by the size of the grant, scope of the project, special terms and conditions in the contract, etc.

Please note that projects started up before spring 2009 must submit reports using these forms.

Research impact assessment

In addition, NordForsk use the online database Researchfish to gather information about the outputs, outcomes and impact of the research we fund. All projects with active or recently ended grants shall use Researchfish to submit an annual report.

Confidentiality and publication of information on projects receiving funding

A summary of all projects receiving funding will be made publicly available on the NordForsk website. Applicants may request that the project plan, in part or in its entirety, is exempted from disclosure to the public if there is reason to believe that the plan contains patentable ideas or other confidential information.