Apply online before 11. February 2026, 13.00 CET
| Deadline: | 11. February 2026, 13.00 CET |
| Available Funding: | Up to 6.000.000 NOK per project |
| Funding decision: | 27. March 2026 |
| Project start: | From end April 2026 |
| Project announcement: | April 2026 |
| Webinar: | 14. October |
| Questions & answers: | Read all the questions and the answers from the webinar |
About the call
Nordic Innovation is calling for project proposals within two separate programs:
Innovative Solutions for 2030: The proposed projects should help speed up the green transition, demonstrating measurable effects by 2030. Possible outputs include new solutions, partnerships, strengthened value chains, or business models. Priority will be given to projects that contribute to faster commercialization of new solutions, green transition in sectors with a high impact on climate and environment, as well as to projects that demonstrate a high level of market readiness.
Nordic Forward: Resilience and Competitiveness for 2050: The aim of this program is to strengthen the Nordic region’s long-term competitiveness and resilience through the application of new technologies, deep-tech and new collaboration structures. The program will support ecosystems and value chain collaboration to solve global and Nordic societal challenges and achieve impact at a systemic level.
Applicants should note that projects should contribute to the joint Nordic Vision of making the Nordics the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030.
Funding
Nordic Innovation has allocated NOK 30 million to this call for proposals related to green and innovative solutions (program 1) and resilience and competitiveness for 2050 (program 2).
The funding sought per project can be in the range of NOK 2 000 000 – 6 000 000. This funding must be matched by co-funding that equals or exceeds the funding given by Nordic Innovation. This means, for example, that a project given 3 MNOK in funding by Nordic Innovation must secure at least 3 MNOK in co-funding, for a total project budget of at least 6 MNOK.
- The funding will be given in the form of a grant.
- For details on how to calculate personnel costs and overhead, please see Nordic Innovation's approved hourly rate 2024.pdf
- Public funding, including funding from Nordic Innovation, shall not exceed 50% of total project costs.
- Nordic Innovation requires a minimum of 50% co-funding from project participants.
- Co-funding can be in the form of direct funding (capital) or in-kind contributions (working hours). The composition of the co-funding must be demonstrated in the proposal.
- The co-funding requirement of 50% applies to the project as a whole and not to individual partners. However, we expect to see some level of commitment from all project partners, meaning no project partner should have 0% co-financing.
- The total share of any in-kind contributions must be reasonable and well-balanced.
- Nordic Innovation can freely choose to split the total amount of NOK 30 million between several projects.
- Nordic Innovation reserves the right not to use the entire allocated budget.
- Nordic Innovation reserves the right not to award any funding under this call.
Innovative Solutions for 2030
2030 is drawing nearer, yet the Nordic countries are still far from meeting the climate and sustainability goals set for that year. For that reason, Innovative Solutions for 2030 is about creating real change, fast. By helping new and improved solutions reach the market and creating and sharing new knowledge – and by contributing to the development of new industrial policies, sustainable and resilient value chains for critical raw materials and technologies for strengthened Nordic autonomy and competitiveness – the program aims to speed up the green transition across the Nordic region.
The focus is on the following areas:
- Using new solutions. By promoting sustainability, economic resilience, and new ways of working, we want to accelerate the green transition in sectors with high impact on climate and environment.
- Commercialization and market introduction. By positioning the Nordic region as an attractive early market, we want to support emerging businesses and the implementation of new green solutions and technologies.
- Accelerating sustainable circular economic systems. By increasing the application of circular business models and optimizing the use of resources – including organic materials and waste streams – we want to enable more sustainable and biobased economies.
Nordic Forward: Resilience and Competitiveness for 2050
The aim of the program is to strengthen the Nordic region’s long-term competitiveness and resilience through the application of enabling technologies, and strategic collaboration structures. This may include building robust cross-border value chains, foster deep-tech business ventures and enable data-driven ecosystems. The program will support ecosystems and value chain collaboration to solve global and Nordic societal challenges and achieve impact at a systemic level.
The focus is on the following areas:
- Mobilizing Nordic stakeholders around the development, application, and strategic management of critical technologies, and facilitate joint efforts with Nordic added value.
- Strengthening the technological capabilities in the Nordics to overcome the great societal challenges.
- Supporting strategic innovation projects that address resilience, sustainability, and regional integration or security of supply.
- Establishing long term innovation structures that drive commercialization and competitiveness
Who can apply
The project partners can be:
- Companies
- Clusters
- Cluster organizations
- Ecosystems
- Public sector bodies
- Business networks
- Innovation institutions
- Consultancies
Please note that the involvement of industry and the benefit for companies in the Nordic region will be part of the evaluation criteria. We are looking for consortia that show ambition, complementary strengths and competence.
We emphasize the significance of active participation of problem and technology owners as well as industry.
Consortium partners from countries outside the Nordic region are welcome to participate, but only partners from the Nordic countries can receive funding from Nordic Innovation. Only Nordic partners will count towards the requirement of participants from a minimum of three Nordic countries at the time of applying.
Eligibility
This call is the second of two steps. However, this larger call for proposals is also open to entities that did not participate in this first step. It is not a pre-requisite to have participated in the call for project outlines from spring 2025 to be able to compete for funding in this second round.
Participation of at least three Nordic countries at the time of applying
The projects funded by Nordic Innovation require partners from at least three Nordic countries, preferably as many Nordic countries as possible.
De Minimis aid obligations
Under EU law, an undertaking may receive State Aid of up to EUR 300 000 over a three-year period (de minimis aid). Since Nordic Innovation is financed by the five Nordic governments, only 20% of a grant counts towards the de minimis limit for any one country.
Evaluation criteria
All proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Impact (40%)
- How will the project create change, clear results and scalability?
- How will the project involve industry and create benefit for companies in the Nordic region.
- How does the project create value, new business opportunities, entrepreneurship and/or sustainable growth?
- How does the project contribute to the Nordic Vision 2030 and to solving societal challenges?
- Exit strategy: All applications must demonstrate how they intend to ensure the sustainability of the project results and impact creation after the project period has ended. (e.g. market uptake, EU/private/public follow-on funding, ownership/operating model, policy integration)
Quality and relevance (25%)
- How is the project relevant to Nordic Innovation’s mission and the topics of “Innovative solutions for 2030” or “Competitiveness for 2050”?
- How does the project enable innovation that involves different sectors?
- What is the Nordic added value of the project? In other words, what is the benefit of doing this at the Nordic level rather than at the national level?
- Where relevant, the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) should be 6-9.
Implementation (25%)
- Work plan quality: Is the work plan realistic, coherent and efficient (activities, milestones, deliverables)?
- Are risks and mitigation measures well defined?
- Is the allocation of resources, roles and responsibilities appropriate and efficient?
Does the consortium demonstrate the necessary competence and capacity, with active involvement from industry and key actors from the ecosystem/value chain?
Budget and value for money (10%)
- The total budget and cost structure must be reasonable, realistic and in line with the ambitions of the project.
- A high degree of own investment in the project will be assessed positively as it demonstrates commitment to the project.
- Is the project financially viable and does it provide good value for money?
Eligible costs and activities
For projects funded under this call, eligible costs include:
- Working hours
- External services
- Equipment and material
- Travel and meeting costs
- Communication
Project funding cannot be used to fund regular operating costs.
Evaluation
All eligible proposals will be evaluated by a panel consisting of external and Nordic Innovation experts. The final funding decision lies with Nordic Innovation. Proposals will be evaluated according to the evaluation criteria above.
Submission
The proposal should be submitted through the application portal that will open on 1. October 2025.
Apply online before 11 February at 13:00 CEST
Please note that length restrictions apply throughout the application form. You will also be asked to attach an activity plan and short CVs for the main participants.
Contact information
Questions or other inquiries? Please reach out to:
Benedicte Sognefest, Senior Innovation Adviser: benedicte.sognefest@nordicinnovation.org
Joonas Leppänen, Senior Innovation Adviser: joonas.leppanen@nordicinnovation.org
Questions & answers:
Co-financing and budgetary questions:
Is this the first questonWhat is the minimum level of co-financing for research organizations or academic institutions? Does the 50% co-financing requirement apply to all partners equally or is it calculated at the project level?
The 50% co-financing requirement applies at the project level, but we expect all partners involved to contribute at least some co-financing. No partner should have less than 10% co-financing.
What do you consider as eligible in-kind costs?
Only working hours directly linked to the project are considered eligible in-kind contributions. These must be documented and calculated according to Nordic Innovation’s approved hourly rate: Nordic Innovation's approved hourly rate 2024.pdf
Could we allocate running costs as equipment in the budget, and include co-financing in running costs or equipment?
Only the cost categories listed in the call text are eligible. Overhead or general running costs are not eligible. Costs must be directly linked to project activities and fit under one of the defined categories, such as equipment and material.
If companies X, Y, and Z are from three different countries, should the budget be allocated proportionally, by the same percentage, or is there any limit for one country?
The division of budget is not related to countries, but to what roles the different partners have. This is up to the consortium to decide.
Regarding co-funding, how do you calculate hourly rates, or what are the criteria for valuing time?
Here you can find how to calculate the hourly rate.
Partner and eligibility requirements:
Can academic institutions, research institutes, start-ups, SMEs and NGOs apply? And are there any limitations as to what type of entity could be the lead?
All types of entities mentioned above can participate and receive funding, provided that they are based in the Nordic countries and that the consortium includes partners from at least three Nordic countries. There are no limitations as to what type of entity could be the lead.
Can new organizations (businesses or NGOs) that have just been created apply? Is it beneficial if the organization is older?
Yes, new organizations can apply. However, it is important that the entity has the capacity and competence to carry out the project successfully.
Is it mandatory to have partners from at least two Nordic countries at the time of application, or can a Norwegian lead applicant bring in Nordic partners during the project development phase?
It is mandatory to have partners from at least three Nordic countries at the time of application. Each partner needs to sign a letter of intent, which is included in the application process.
Evaluation process:
Are you going through the applications as they are submitted, or will you review those once the deadline has passed?
The applications will be reviewed only after the deadline for submission.
How will the evaluation process be organized?
All proposals will be assessed against the published evaluation criteria. Nordic Innovation will conduct an initial internal review to ensure relevance and quality in relation to the call objectives. The most competitive proposals will then be evaluated by an external panel of experts before final funding decisions are made by Nordic Innovation.
How does the team view a project which has a Nordic consortium and is aligned with the vision, but where the activities will occur outside the Nordic region. Will this still be eligible?
Projects must demonstrate clear Nordic relevance and impact. Activities outside the Nordic region can be eligible if they directly contribute to achieving the project’s Nordic objectives and benefits for Nordic stakeholders. This will be assessed on a case by case basis.
Is there a requirement about "division of labor" among applicants? Can 1 applicant have a focal role and the others less heavy?
The division of labor is up to the consortia to define in a way that fits best with the scope, targets and milestones of the project.
Are innovative business models or financing models eligible under this call?
Yes, projects developing or testing innovative business or financing models are eligible, provided they contribute to the programme objectives and create measurable impact for Nordic stakeholders.
Are these programmes suitable in cases where the technology already exists, but the regulatory framework is not yet in place (e.g. regulatory sandboxes)?
Yes, projects addressing regulatory barriers or testing new policy frameworks, such as through regulatory sandboxes, are eligible if they contribute to innovation, market readiness, or Nordic policy learning.
General and practical questions:
We did not participate in Step 1 of the call. Are we still eligible to apply in Step 2?
Yes, participation in Step 1 is not a prerequisite. The call for full proposals (Step 2) is open to all eligible applicants, regardless of whether they took part in the first step.
On average, how many projects will receive grant under such program?
The total budget for the call is 30 mill. NOK and each project can apply for between 2-6 million NOK. This means that under this call, a maximum of 5 projects will be funded.
Will there be an opportunity for applicants to share an early project concept or book a short meeting with the Nordic Innovation team to check alignment before submitting the full application?
Unfortunately, the Nordic Innovation team does not have the opportunity to have meetings with the project teams. This is due to capacity and the high interest in the call. Applicants are welcome to submit concrete questions to the NI team.
What currency do you operate with?
The open call operates with Norwegian Kroner.
Thematic scope and programme specific questions:
You mentioned 'optimizing the use of resources including organic materials and waste streams' on the website, will a solution that extends product lifetime and reduces overconsumption through leasing models (PaaS) be valued as highly as solutions focused on material recycling?"
Yes, solutions that extend product lifetime or reduce resource use through circular business models, such as Product-as-a-Service or leasing, are equally relevant. The key is that the project demonstrates measurable impact on resource efficiency and sustainability.
Does the funding cover technology development activities such as AI model training, data integration, or pilot testing with partner organisations — or is the focus mainly on commercialisation and market uptake?
Technology development activities can be included if they are closely linked to the project’s innovation and impact objectives. The main focus should, however, be on demonstration, implementation and market uptake.
Have you defined what sectors with "high impact on climate and enviroment" are? Is it correlated to direct or indirect emissions?
The call does not define specific sectors. Applicants are expected to justify how their project addresses areas with significant climate or environmental impact, whether through direct emissions, resource use, or indirect effects on value chains.
Do you finance initiatives that are about commercializing methodologies for new ways of innovation?
Yes, projects focusing on commercialising new innovation methodologies or processes can be eligible, provided they demonstrate clear market potential, practical application, and measurable impact for Nordic stakeholders.
