This is one of the highest number of applications NordForsk has ever received for a call.
The evaluation process now begins, with the aim of announcing at least 12 projects that will receive funding by the end of the year.
“I am very pleased with the large number of applications, but at the same time concerned that we can only fund a very small proportion of them. The large number of applications shows that there is strong demand for research-based knowledge about the societal consequences of artificial intelligence in the Nordic and Baltic region. We now have an important task ahead of us in assessing which projects should receive support, and we look forward to undertaking this work in collaboration with independent, international experts”, says Arne Flåøyen, Director of NordForsk.
“The projects are expected to support the optimal utilisation of artificial intelligence, with minimal risks and threats, and to the benefit of citizens, businesses, and societies. As stable democracies with high levels of welfare, strong social trust, and citizens with broad access to digital services and high digital competence, the Nordic and Baltic countries are uniquely positioned to take the lead in this work. We are therefore satisfied that all Nordic and Baltic countries are contributing funding to this call”, Flåøyen continues.
The background to the call is a strategic priority of the Nordic Council of Ministers for the Nordic collaboration to contribute to a green, competitive and socially sustainable region. The technological development of Artificial Intelligence is rapidly evolving, and its use and implementation is changing and developing in unpredictable patterns. Responsible and ethical use of AI will be vital in achieving the Nordic Council of Ministers priorities as well as many of the UN sustainability goals.
During their annual meeting in Helsinki on 5–6 May 2025, the Nordic ministers of education and research emphasised the need to build fair and democratic societies that make the most of AI’s potential. They also discussed the importance of more interdisciplinary research to develop solutions that ensure AI is developed responsibly. The NordForsk initiative aims to do exactly that.
Funding
The call is a collaborative effort between Innovation Fund Denmark, Independent Research Fund Denmark, the Research Council of Norway, Research Council of Finland, Swedish Research Council, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working life and Welfare, Rannís - The Icelandic Centre for Research, ETAG - Estonian Research Council, Latvian Council of Science, Research Council of Lithuania and NordForsk.
