Description

This call supports business‑led innovation projects in Norway, targeting companies that wish to carry out research-based innovation in the energy and transportation sectors (including renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transport, emissions reduction, and related green transition aims). The goal is to enable companies to develop new products, services, processes or business models that contribute to sustainable value creation, climate goals, and competitiveness — helping to drive Norway’s transition to a low‑emission and sustainable economy.

Funding Amount

• Funding per project: Typically within NOK 1,000,000 – 20,000,000.
• Total funding available (call budget): ~ NOK 547,000,000 for this call.
• Project duration: 12–48 months.

Funding is structured under state‑aid rules: support may cover a percentage (not full 100%) of project costs depending on company size and activity type (industrial research vs. experimental development).

Submission Deadlines

• The call is open‑ended: applications can be submitted at any time while funds remain available.
• This round of submissions closes on 31.12.2025 at 23.59 CET. Applications submitted after this will be rejected.
• The next call for proposals for innovation projects will open for applications in spring 2026.

Submission Conditions

• Eligible Project Owner: A company registered in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises that undertakes economic activity in Norway (private company or a public enterprise carrying out commercial/industrial activities). Sole proprietorships cannot be Project Owner (though they can be partners).
• Consortium Requirement: The project must include at least one partner company (Norwegian), or contract R&D services from at least one R&D provider (can be a Norwegian or foreign research organisation).
• Partners must be independent from each other (no controlling influence).
• Activities must have significant R&D content (industrial research and/or experimental development). Projects that are purely incremental or that have started before application are not eligible.
• State‑aid rules apply (block exemption under EU Regulation 651/2014). The amount covered depends on company size and R&D type; e.g., up to 50% of costs for industrial research.
• Funding cannot support activities that are purely commercial exploitation, marketing, or product rollout (unless they fall under “experimental development”).

• The project must comply with reporting, open‑access (if scientific output), data management (if relevant), and standard R&D ethics and security requirements.

Eligible Types of Businesses

• Private companies (small, medium, large) with business registration in Norway.
• Public enterprises with industrial or commercial activity are also eligible as Project Owner.
• Partner companies (private or public) can participate.
• R&D providers: Norwegian or foreign research organisations may join as subcontracted R&D providers (R&D suppliers), to deliver research tasks on behalf of the companies.
• Sole‑proprietorships are not eligible as Project Owner, but may participate as partners under restrictions.