Call for proposals: Nordic-Baltic education systems and 21st century challenges

NordForsk does not, in this call, request own contribution from the consortia partners. If the consortium contributes with own resources, this should be stated in the online Total budget, Budget per partner and in the justification of resources secion in the application form. The percentage of coverage of cost agreed in the contract with NordForsk will apply for the entire duration of the project and the partners cannot reduce the degree of co-financing/in-kind contributions at a later stage.

The Nordic consortium partners can cover the costs for overhead from the grant. NordForsk does not apply any fixed rate or model for calculating overhead/(indirect costs) for research projects. Overhead (indirect) costs should be determined by the participating institutions according to their rules and models, and applicants are advised to consult their respective institutions for further guidelines. The rate for overhead should be explained under the budget section on the justification of resources. The feasibility of the budget will be assessed. Estonian and Lithuanian partners must consult Annex 1 in the call text regarding overhead/indirect costs.

Salaries for applicants not affiliated to a research institution in a Nordic country, Estonia or Lithuania cannot be claimed as part of the project costs. Partner institutions from outside the Nordic region and Estonia and Lithuania must fund their own participation in the project; however, travel and accommodation costs may be covered from the project budget, as well as invited participants/guests from the partner countries. This does not apply to institutions based in the Russian Federation and Belarus, they may not participate in projects funded by this call.

Teaching a course is not an eligibible cost. Should your assessment be that the course in question is necessary to conduct the research, you should explain and justify this in your proposal.

Salaries of researchers corresponding to the person’s activity level in the project are eligible costs. Please consult annex 1 to the call text for overhead/indirect costs rates for Estonian and Lithuanian researchers.

Yes, the same budget Excel file should be used for the Estonian partner, converting amounts into NOK. Include these NOK amounts in the total in the application form, even though the partner will receive funding in EUR. For further instructions, see the application form.

The funding limit of 13 MNOK applies to the entire Nordic consortium, not per individual partner. This means that the total funding requested by all Nordic partners together must not exceed 13 MNOK. Funding for Estonian and Lithuanian partners comes in addition to the 13 MNOK.

Yes, in your example, you may put 120 000 NOK in the 'Stakeholder involvement/activities' budget category (100 000 NOK + 20% overhead). In the 'Justification of resources' section, indicate which overhead rate you have used. Please note that Estonian and Lithuanian applicants shall consult Annex 1 of the call text regarding overhead rates.

Yes, it is possible to include the hiring of a person who is not currently employed at your institution in the project budget, provided the position is directly linked to the project.
If, after funding approval, you find that internal resources can be used instead, the budgeted amount may be allocated accordingly, provided that the costs remain aligned with the activities described in the application.

For your reference, the call text states that funding may be used for:

- Salaries of researchers corresponding to the person’s activity level in the project.
- PhD and post-doctoral positions corresponding to the person’s activity level in the project, and not covering salary during teaching or other departmental duties.

Yes, it is possible to include costs for a student assistant in the project budget. In this case, such costs should be included under the budget line for project‑related running costs. The cost must be relevant and necessary for the implementation of the project, and applicants should explain and justify why the involvement of a student assistant is required for achieving the project’s objectives.

If your institution’s model includes cost of premises as part of the overhead rate, you may include it there.

If your institution’s model separates premises from overhead, but it is still requested as part of the model, then you may list the premises cost as a running cost, and this cost is eligible for funding as long as it is necessary to implement the project and justified and explained in the budget.

Question 1 and 2: Yes, a Canadian researcher/university may be included as a formal consortium partner or collaborator as long as the Canadian partner is entirely self-funded. Travel and accommodation costs for the Canadian researcher may be covered from the project budget.


Question 3: No. However, please read the eligibility criteria in the call text carefully regarding which countries the consortium must consist of to be considered eligible to apply to this call, and which country may lead the project.

Project Owner and/or partners in the project can engage subcontractors to provide services that contribute to the implementation of certain tasks in the project. Subcontractors are not considered as consortium partners and may not be granted rights to project results. All costs must be explained and justified. The feasibility of the budget will be assessed. Estonian and Lithuanian partners must consult Annex 1 in the call text regarding subcontracting costs.

The location of the events (country and city) is announced after the project selection.

Mobility and research stays can be included in the budget. NordForsk does not apply fixed rates or a specific model for calculating these costs. You may therefore use the rates normally applied at your institution for research stays abroad. Whether this corresponds to the Research Council of Norway’s (NFR’s) mobility rates or the State’s travel allowance rates for stays abroad over 28 days is up to your institution to determine. The important point is that the chosen rate follows your institution’s established guidelines and is clearly explained in the budget justification.

Yes, it is expected that each project participates in both a kick-off meeting and a final meeting/event organised by NordForsk, and applicants must therefore budget travel and one night of accommodation for at least three persons from the project to attend these meetings.

There is no requirement in this call that the project leader must work a specific minimum percentage on the project. Each consortium should determine an appropriate level of involvement for the project leader, and this should be explained in the budget justification if relevant.

NordForsk funding may only be used within the approved project period of three years in this call. It is therefore not possible to extend the use of NordForsk project funds into a fourth year to cover the full duration of a Swedish four‑year doctoral education. If a PhD position in Sweden extends beyond the three‑year project period, the fourth year must be financed by the Swedish host institution or through other external funding sources, outside the NordForsk project. It is also important to note that the grant only will cover:
PhD and post-doctoral positions corresponding to the person’s activity level in the project, and not covering salary during teaching or other departmental duties.

After the project has received funding, NordForsk allows a certain degree of budget flexibility. However, any reallocation of funds must be submitted to NordForsk for prior approval before such changes are implemented.

Nordic and Estonian researchers may participate in multiple applications under this call, but a researcher may serve as project leader for only one application. Lithuanian researchers or project leaders (i.e., pagrindinis projekto vykdytojas) may apply for only one proposal under this call. Please consult Annex 1 for eligibility criteria for Estonian and Lithuanian researchers, or contact the concact person from the national research council.

If you apply as a Nordic-Baltic research project, your consortium must consist of research-performing organisations from at least two Nordic countries and at least one research-performing organisation from Lithuania or Estonia. In your example, the consortium fulfils the requirement of participation from at least two Nordic countries (Norway and Finland), and it is permissible to include more than one research-performing organisation from the same country (e.g. Finland), provided that the consortium continues to meet the requirement of participation from at least two Nordic countries and at least one research-performing organisation from Lithuania or Estonia.

The eligibility criterion concerning a completed PhD refers only to the Project Leader role, and, in the case of a Nordic-Baltic project, also to the Nordic contact person from the Nordic co-host institution if the project is led by a Project Leader from Estonia or Lithuania. Please also consult Annex 1 of the call text for the specific eligibility criteria applicable to Estonian and Lithuanian researchers if the PhD candidate is from one of those countries.

Yes, you may include research institutions from both Estonia and Lithuania in the consortium, if the consortium also includes research performing institutions from at least two Nordic countries.

If the project leader does not already hold a position at the host institution (Project Owner), the required Letter of Commitment must confirm that the Project Owner will employ and support the project leader for the full duration of the project. NordForsk enters into contract with the host institution (Project Owner), not directly with the person leading the project.

Ukrainian institutions may participate in NordForsk funded projects, including under the call Nordic Baltic education systems and 21st century challenges. However, partners from outside the Nordic region, Estonia, and Lithuania cannot receive NordForsk funding in this call and must cover their own costs when participating in the project. However, travel and accommodation costs may be covered from the project budget also for Ukranian partners when necessary to implement the project. The reason for this is because the call is funded by research councils in the Nordic region, in addition to Estonia and Lithuania.

You write that your consortium will consist of a joint Ukrainian-Lithuanian-Swedish research group. Please note that, in order for your consortium to be considered eligible, it must include at least two Nordic countries in addition to Lithuania. This means you will need to add an additional Nordic country to the consortium. In addition, the project cannot be led by a Ukrainian project leader.

This call includes research on Nordic and Nordic-Baltic educational systems spanning from early childhood education and care to higher education and lifelong learning.

Research questions should draw on and integrate expertise from multiple disciplines. It is up to the applicants to explain and justify how the proposed research team is qualified to address the proposed research questions. This should be reflected in the proposal and we encourage you to read the assessment criteria carefully as an international expert panel will assess the proposals according to them. We encourage that you reflect on how you address the quality of the research team and the feasibility of the project in your proposal.

No, the call highlights thematic areas, but the themes and topics are not listed in prioritised order. They are there to guide and inspire proposals.

No, the call highlights thematic areas, but the themes and topics are not listed in prioritised order. They are there to guide and inspire proposals.

No.

No, there are no specific requirements regarding margins, but please ensure that the text is clearly readable.

The call text does not distinguish between “objectives”, “purpose”, and “aims” as separate elements. In the research plan, these terms are simply intended to help applicants describe the overall goals and rationale of the project in a clear way. You do not need to structure them as three distinct categories unless it fits your own project design.
The order in the portal template is not meant to imply a hierarchy. You may present the overarching goals of your project in the way that best communicates the project’s intent and relevance to the call.

It is up to the consortium to design and distribute responsiblities and tasks between the partners. We encourage you to carefully read the assessment criteria as your application will be assessed according to them by the international expert panel. In this case, we encourage that the partners reflect on how their application explains and justifies the quality of the research team and the feasibility of the project. According to NordForsk’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Contract, the Project Owner shall provide a consortium agreement between the cooperating partner institutions when entering contract. It is up to the consortium to agree on how the collaboration is regulated in the agreement.

It is up to the consortium to design and distribute responsiblities and tasks between the partners. We encourage you to carefully read the assessment criteria as your application will be assessed according to them by the international expert panel. In this case, we encourage that the partners reflect on how their application explains and justifies the quality of the research team and the feasibility of the project.

It is up to the project partners to plan the composition of the research team, including recruitment, and the distribution of tasks between the collaborating researchers, necessary to complete the project within the given time frame. If the legally required duration of PhD and/or postdoctoral positions presents a challenge, it is possible to make use of other categories of research positions that are not subject to fixed employment periods.

It is also important to note that the grant only will cover:

- Salaries of researchers corresponding to the person’s activity level in the project
- PhD and post-doctoral positions corresponding to the person’s activity level in the project, and not covering salary during teaching or other departmental duties
 
It is not an issue for NordForsk that the PhD or postdoc starts after the project has started. The project should be planned so their tasks in the project are finished within Q1 2030.  

Applicants should consult with the national university administration and make sure that they follow national rules and regulations. Please check NordForsk's Standard Terms and Conditions for further guidance on recruitment. You will find the link to NordForsk's Standard Terms and Conditions in the call text.

No, periods of unemployment will not be considered as a deductable when calculating the PhD age. However, in this particular call you are not excluded to participate if you are not an early-career researcher with a PhD age under 7 years. But you will not be included in the group of named researchers who indicate participation of early-career researchers in the project.

The call does not specify a recommended or maximum number of PhD students. Please note that PhD students are not considered as early-career researchers in this call. The call text states that proposals should actively involve early-career researchers, whose PhD was awarded no more than seven years prior to the application deadline, in key roles. Their roles in the project should be clearly described. In addition, the proposal should reflect on how the inclusion of the early-career researchers will support their career path.

Yes, in this call NordForsk only requires a Letter of Commitment from the Project Owner. The Letter of Commitment from the Project owner must be signed by a person authorized to take on financial and administrative commitments on behalf of the organisation for the entire duration of the project. The Letter of Commitment must confirm that the Project Owner institution formally commits to hosting and implementing the proposed project if funded by NordForsk. It should identify the project title, the relevant NordForsk call, and the Project Owner and Project Leader. The letter should state the institution’s role in coordination of partners.

NordForsk only requires a signed Letter of Commitment from the Project Owner, not from any partner institutions or stakeholders. The Letter of Commitment must be signed by a person authorised to take on financial commitments on behalf of the institution for the entire duration of the project. No additional Letters of Commitment or Letters of Intent should be included in the proposal.

No. NordForsk only requires a signed Letter of Commitment from the Project Owner, not from any partner institutions or national research councils. The Letter of Commitment must be signed by a person authorised to take on financial commitments on behalf of the institution for the entire duration of the project. No additional Letters of Commitment or Letters of Intent should be included in the proposal. Funded projects will be required to submit a consortium agreement for all project partners before any funding is released.

NordForsk only requires a signed Letter of Commitment from the Project Owner. The Letter of Commitment must confirm that the Project Owner institution formally commits to hosting and implementing the proposed project if funded by NordForsk. It should identify the project title, the relevant NordForsk call, and the Project Owner and Project Leader. The letter should state the institution’s role in coordination of partners, which also includes the collaboration with the Nordic co-host institution.

No.

Applicants from Estonia and Lithuania must ensure that their proposal meets the national eligibility criteria of the Estonian Research Council and the Research Council of Lithuania (see Annex 1 of the call text), in addition to the criteria described in this call. They are strongly advised to contact their national contact points early in the proposal preparation process. Contact information for the national contact points can be found in Annex 1.

Estonian and Lithuanian Project Owners must ensure compliance with national rules as described in Annex 1. For further questions regarding national eligibility criteria, please contact the national contact points listed in Annex 1.
The call text does not suggest any advantages or disadvantages to having a Nordic, Estonian, or Lithuanian institution as the Project Owner, provided all eligibility requirements are met.

Yes, you can watch a recording of the webinar on this webpage.

NordForsk does not share previously funded applications or project proposals due to confidentiality. However, an overview of previously funded projects within the education research area is available on the NordForsk website.