Call for proposals

Who can apply?

All researchers who have completed a PhD and who have a formal affiliation to an accredited university in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden are eligible to apply. These universities are formally recognized and granted degree‑awarding powers by the competent national education or accreditation authorities in their respective countries (e.g. ministries or national higher education authorities). All applicants must include a commitment letter confirming institutional support, signed by the Head of Faculty (or equivalent authority) at the host university.

[Other recognized research institutes and organizations in the Nordics may participate as collaboration partners in projects, but cannot act as the host institution in the 2026 call or receive funding.]

What we fund

Projects on basic research aligned with the purpose of the thematic calls
A minimum of NOK 5,000,000 and a maximum of NOK 12,000,000. Ten per cent of the awarded amount will be withheld until the final project report has been approved.
Projects with a duration of up to 36 months. Projects need to be initiated within 6 months of granting funding.
[Projects with their main scientific focus in the Nordic region, where at least 50% of the project’s activities and budget must be carried out in Nordic countries.]

All granted projects must follow the Foundation's Guidelines for transparency

What we do not fund

Reimbursement of indirect/overhead costs, such as administration, building space and utility costs.
Partial funding of larger projects where the requested amount constitutes less than one third of the total project budget. For example, if applying for NOK 5,000,000, the total project budget (including the requested amount) must not exceed NOK 15,000,000.
Overlaps in scope or costs with other funding sources. The same activities or costs cannot be funded by more than one funding source. If overlap occurs, the grant recipient must decide which funding source will support the relevant project components and ensure that budgets and scopes are clearly separated. Failure to resolve overlaps may result in withdrawal or adjustment of funding.

How to apply

The application must be completed in its entirety using the digital application form in the Research Funding Portal when open at the end of May 2026.

The application consists of a digital application form, where a preview of the application form is available here.

Any use of AI tools must be ethical and responsible, and respecting legal and research standards and requirements. The use of generative AI should be transparent. Applicants are advised to read the European Commission’s Living guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI in research.[SA1]

Evaluation of applications

Three‑stage review process

Applications are assessed through a structured three‑stage review process designed to ensure eligibility, scientific quality, and strategic alignment with the Foundation’s purpose.

1. Eligibility and administrative screening

In the first stage, the secretariat conducts an eligibility and administrative screening. This is not a scientific assessment, but a formal check to ensure that applications meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria set out in the call, and that they fall within the scope, objectives, and rules of the funding scheme.

Applications that do not meet these requirements are excluded from further consideration.

2. Scientific assessment by external experts

Applications that pass the screening are assessed by panels of independent external experts, who evaluate each application independently of each other according to the following four criteria:

Criteria 1: Excellence (Scientific quality)

• The clarity, relevance and ambition of the scientific objectives and research questions.

• The degree to which the proposed research is original and advances knowledge beyond the current state of the art.

• The soundness, credibility and robustness of the scientific approach and methodology.

• The extent to which the proposed work is well-founded in relevant theory, concepts and prior research.

Criteria 2: Impact (Effects and outcomes)

• The potential of the project’s results to generate effects within research, society or policy, as specified by the call objectives.

• The credibility and realism of the expected outcomes and their contribution to stated goals.

• The quality and appropriateness of plans for dissemination, communication and use of results.

• The added value of the project compared to existing research, initiatives or funding instruments.

Criteria 3: Implementation

• The coherence, structure and feasibility of the work plan, including tasks, milestones and deliverables.

• The appropriateness of project organization, including roles, responsibilities and competence of the project team or leadership.

• The realism and justification of the project timeline, budget and allocation of resources.

• The identification of key risks and the adequacy of proposed mitigation measures.

Finally, the shortlisted projects are considered by the Foundation’s Research Funding Committee for strategic alignment with the Foundation’s purpose and approved Program Mandate, explicitly considering:

3. Strategic and purpose‑oriented review by the Research funding committee

Criteria 4: Det Norske Veritas Foundation’s priorities

• A clear rationale for how the proposed research contributes to the Foundation’s purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment

• The extent to which the proposal advances basic scientific research within the call’s defined priority areas.

• Coherence, balance, and quality of the funded portfolio as a whole

• Responsible and proportionate use of the available grant envelope and opportunity cost

• Integrity, ethical, reputational and governance robustness

All criteria are weighted equally and scored on a scale from 1 to 7, where 7 is the highest score. Applications are ranked and shortlisted based on the experts’ evaluation.

[Further information on the review and evaluation process is provided in the Review and decision process document here.]

Board review

The final award from the RFC shall be subject to board review. The Board can send the recommendation back to the RFC for follow up if they find that the process has not met ethical guidelines or that the final proposal is not in line with foundation purpose. Any member of the Board that is part of the RFC shall be recused and not be part of the board's elaboration.

Submission deadlines and responses

End March 2026: Call for proposals published

End May 2026: Application portal opens

5 July 2026: Application deadline

End October 2026: Public announcement of funding decisions