About the programme

The DNV Foundation issues one competitive research funding call per year. The 2026 Call for proposals opens on 22 May, with final funding decisions expected by the end of October. Applications are assessed through a structured three‑stage process designed to ensure transparency, scientific excellence, and strategic alignment with the Foundation’s purpose.
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.
 

Purpose

 
This research area advances the scientific foundations needed to ensure autonomous AI systems can be trusted in safety‑critical contexts. It focuses on understanding and governing emergent behaviours, aligning autonomous systems with human and societal intent, and developing methods to anticipate, estimate, and control risks arising from complexity, learning, and unknown failure modes. The aim is to enable autonomous technologies that enhance safety and resilience, while preventing harm to people, assets, and the environment as these systems operate at scale in the real world.
 

Purpose of the programme

In the context of heightened geopolitical tensions, climate change and constrained access to mineral resources, there is a critical need for long‑term basic research that underpins a sustainable and sovereign industrial future in the Nordics. This call focuses on ensuring sustainable, secure and competitive access to the 17 critical raw materials listed in Annex I of the EU CRMA.  This call further prioritizes system‑level basic research in the Nordics across the full value chain of strategic and mass materials, from geological formation and resource understanding to low‑carbon extraction, processing, recycling, and the development of alternative materials and processes that reduce dependence on scarce or geopolitically sensitive elements. Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary advances in materials science, chemistry, thermodynamics, process engineering, and design methodologies, enabling new balances between performance, resilience, circularity, and sustainability.

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.

 

Definition

 
Basic research is 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, as defined in the OECD Frascati Manual (2015).
 
Basic research analyses properties, structures and relationships with a view to formulating and testing hypotheses, theories or laws. The reference to no “particular application in view” in the definition of basic research is crucial, as the performer may not know about potential applications when doing the research or responding to survey questionnaires. The results of basic research are not generally sold but are usually published in scientific journals or circulated to interested colleagues. occasionally, the publication of basic research may be restricted for reasons of national security.
 

Scientific excellence

 
We fund excellent research through competitive calls, expert review, university-led execution, and results aimed at independent peer‑reviewed publication.
 

Governance, transparency and continuous improvement

 
Our governance aligns with the DNV Foundation governance principles and frameworks, ensures independence and integrity, and emphasizes transparency. Clear criteria, documented decision processes, and public information on awarded grants are combined with continuous evaluation and improvement of the funding framework.
 

Open science

 
Open science is the default. The DNV Foundation follows the widely adopted Norwegian principle of “as open as possible – as restricted as necessary”, which seeks to safeguard academic freedom while ensuring that legitimate national and international security considerations are respected.
 

Ethics and compliance

 
All funded research must comply with applicable laws and recognized standards for research ethics and integrity. Decision‑making is designed to reduce bias, and serious breaches must be reported in line with grant agreements.
 

Digital‑first and data‑driven

Applications, evaluations, and decisions are fully digital. High‑quality data, clear definitions, and audit trails support learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.

 

FAQ

  • Applicants register and log in using national electronic ID solutions (such as BankID, MitID, or FTN where applicable). Secure identification is required to initiate and submit an application.

     

  • One researcher initiates the application in the portal and may involve other researchers as collaborators. The accredited Nordic university acts as the formal applicant and host institution.
  • The application does not meet the formal eligibility or scope requirements defined in the call. Eligibility screening is administrative and does not involve scientific assessment.
  • Any researcher who has completed a PhD may serve as Principal Investigator. There are no formal requirements regarding seniority, tenure, or career stage.
  • Applicants should briefly describe how research results will be communicated and shared, including dissemination, engagement, and use of results, in line with open research principles.
  • User or stakeholder involvement should be described where relevant in the proposal, typically under impact, communication, or implementation, and justified by the nature of the basic research.
  • The institutional justification is provided through the required commitment letter from the host university and reflected in the proposal’s alignment with the Foundation’s purpose and priorities.
  • No. The DNV Foundation is an independent private foundation. Funded projects must nevertheless meet high standards of transparency, accountability, and responsible use of funds.
  • Any researcher may initiate an application, but an accredited Nordic university must be the formal applicant and host institution for funded projects.
  • Yes, they may participate if included by an eligible university and if their contribution strengthens the scientific quality of the project.
  • Yes. The call defines both minimum and maximum grant amounts to ensure projects are of sufficient scale and ambition.
  • Projects may run for up to three years from the official project start date.
  • No. Co‑funding is optional and does not affect eligibility or evaluation.
  • No. Projects are either funded at the requested amount or not funded.
  • Yes. A limited proportion of funding is withheld and released after approval of final scientific and financial reports.
  • Yes, provided there is no overlap in funded activities or costs and the Foundation’s contribution is clearly justified.
  • Reasonable and justified indirect costs are eligible, in line with the host institution’s cost model and transparency requirements.
  • Yes. Host institutions must maintain auditable accounts, and the Foundation may request additional financial checks where necessary.
  • Final reporting includes a scientific report, certified financial accounts, and documentation of open dissemination of results.
  • Yes. Applicants receive written, criteria‑based feedback based on expert and panel assessments.
  • No. Individual reviewers remain anonymous, but the names of panels or committees may be published.
  • Applications follow a three‑stage process: administrative screening, independent scientific review, and strategic decision by the Research Funding Committee.
  • Excellence, impact, implementation, and alignment with the Foundation’s purpose are used and weighted equally.

     

  • Yes, where appropriate for hypothesis‑driven research. Alternatives must be explained for other research types.
  • Openness is the default. Data and code should be shared unless restrictions are clearly justified.
  • Restrictions are allowed for legal, ethical, security, privacy, or dual‑use reasons and must be proportionate and documented.
  • Intellectual property is owned by the host institution or employer, not by the DNV Foundation.
  • No. The Foundation does not claim ownership or commercial rights to research results.
  • They are handled by the host institution under national procedures, with the Foundation informed and able to impose proportionate measures.
  • Through a risk‑based approach following the principle “as open as possible, as restricted as necessary”.
  • No. The funding is designed to support deep, discipline‑based basic research.
  • No. Proposals must be assessable ex ante based on excellence, impact, and feasibility.
  • No. Collaboration is optional and neither required nor prioritized.