1 WHO CAN APPLY
The formal applicant must be an accredited university in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden . The principal investigator must have completed a PhD and have a formal affiliation to the host institution.
Anyone can start the application process but to submit, a letter of commitment from the host institution must be attached.
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.
2 WHAT WE FUND
- Basic research aligned with the purpose of the thematic calls. By basic research, we mean ‘experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts, without any particular application or use in view’ (taken from Frascati Manual 2015 (EN)).
- 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 by budget must be carried out in Nordic countries.
- Peer-reviewed publications arising from the grant, and the data and analysis code underpinning these publications must be made openly accessible in accordance with the Det Norke Veritas Foundation’s open research principles.
- IP generated under a Det Norke Veritas Foundation grant is owned by the host institution(s) and/or the researchers’ employer, not by the Det Norke Veritas Foundation.
Full details on terms and conditions will be available shortly in the Grant Agreement template.
3 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.
4 HOW TO APPLY
Anyone can start the application process.
The application must be completed in its entirety using the application form in the funding portal when open at the end of May 2026.
The application consists of an application form accompanied by a budget, where a preview of the application form and budget template will be available here shortly.
5 EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS
Following submission, applications undergo review in three stages:
1. Eligibility screening by the secretariat
2. Scientific review by the panels of experts
3. Strategic selection by the Research Funding Committee
5.1 Eligibility screening by the secretariat
An initial screening by the Det Norske Veritas Foundation Research Funding Secretariat to ensure eligibility and compliance with the call requirements.
5.2 Scientific review by expert panels
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 three criteria:
Excellence
• 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
Impact
• 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
Implementation
• The coherence, structure and feasibility of the work plan, including tasks, milestones and deliverables
• The appropriateness of project organisation, 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
All criteria are weighted equally and scored on a scale from 0 to 5, where 5 is the highest score. Applications are ranked and shortlisted based on the experts’ evaluation.
5.3 Strategic selection by the Research Funding Committee
Finally, the shortlisted projects are considered by the Foundation’s Research Funding Committee (RFC) for strategic alignment with the Foundation’s mission and approved program mandate. At this point, all proposals are assumed to meet the required scientific excellence threshold based on expert review.
The RFC members will evaluate applications independently of each other according to the following two criteria, again scored from 0 to 5:
The Det Norske Veritas Foundation’s priorities
• A clear rationale for how the proposed research contributes to the Det Norske Veritas 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
Strategic fit to the funding programme portfolio
• Responsible and proportionate use of the available grant envelope and opportunity cost
• Integrity, ethical and reputational robustness of the projects granted
The aggregated expert scores form the basis for a preliminary ranking of proposals. This ranking serves as the starting point for the RFC’s final deliberations. In the final decision meeting, the RFC’s task is to select the set of projects that together constitute a coherent, high quality and balanced portfolio within the scope of the call and the available budget. This includes ensuring diversity across research approaches, topics and disciplines, and precluding unnecessary concentration or duplication.
The RFC may, in justified cases, prioritize a scientifically fundable proposal that is ranked slightly lower over a higher ranked proposal, where this is necessary to achieve an overall stronger and more balanced portfolio. Such decisions are taken within the published criteria and documented.
Further information on the review and evaluation process will be provided in the Review and decision process document here shortly.
6 DEADLINES AND DECISIONS
End March 2026: Call for proposals published
End May 2026: Application portal opens
5 July 2026 midnight CET: Application deadline
End October 2026: Public announcement of funding decisions
If you have questions related to the call, please contact: researchfunding@detnorskeveritas.com
Generative AI policy
Applicants may use generative AI tools when preparing proposals but remain fully responsible for the content, including accuracy, originality and compliance with legal and research integrity standards. Any use of generative AI must be transparent and must not compromise confidentiality, privacy or intellectual property rights.
Applicants are encouraged to consult the European Commission’s Living guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI in research.
[1] These universities are formally recognised 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
