Call for proposals: Using quantum technology to enable breakthroughs in life science and healthcare

Call for proposals Deadline 19.05.2027

Nordic Innovation is calling for proposals that can contribute to solving life science and/or health challenges by using quantum technology.

Call deadline: 19.05.2026, 13:00.
Funding: up to NOK 4  500 000.
Timeframe: up to three years.

Apply here

About the call

Nordic Innovation is calling for proposals that will have a transformative impact on healthcare or life science by applying quantum technology. Projects with a clear pathway to commercialization and involvement of end users will be considered for funding.

The selected proposals will be funded through the program Nordic Forward: Resilience and competitiveness for 2050, which has a strong focus on technologies as enablers for societal change. The program contributes to the Nordic Vision 2030, which states that the Nordics should become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030. 

Funding

Nordic Innovation will provide grant funding of up to 4 500 000 NOK for period of up to three years. The funding provided by Nordic Innovation must be matched or exceeded by co-funding from the project partners. Co-funding can be provided as in-kind contributions, i.e. working hours.

Background

The use of quantum technology is expected to have game-changing potential in many sectors and have a transforming effect on vital services and societal functions. The report “the Nordic-Baltic Quantum Ecosystem” (Nordic Innovation June 2025), makes several recommendations on how to position the Nordic region as a frontrunner in developing and applying quantum technology solutions.

In the report on the Nordic-Baltic Quantum Ecosystem, healthcare and life sciences is identified as a sector where the Nordic region can make a difference. Quantum computing, sensing, and communication offer new ways to model complex biological systems, accelerate drug discovery, and detect physiological changes with unprecedented precision. At the same time, the life sciences generate challenges—such as highdimensional data, intricate molecular interactions, and the need for ultrasensitive diagnostics—that align closely with the unique capabilities of emerging quantum technology.

Despite rapid progress, the integration of quantum methods into biological and medical research remains at an early stage. Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to bridge gaps between quantum physics, biotechnology, medicine, and data science. By fostering such collaboration, this call seeks to stimulate innovative approaches that leverage quantum principles to address fundamental questions in health and life science.

Projects supported under this call should demonstrate clear added value from combining quantum technologies with life science applications and have potential for high business or future societal benefit. The goal is to accelerate the development of new methodologies, strengthen cross-sectorial research and innovation environments, e.g. testbeds or science parks that also comprise start-ups, and position the field for breakthroughs that are not achievable within traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Project description

Nordic Innovation will support initiatives that have a mature proposal on how to apply quantum technology to improve health or life science services and a clear path towards commercialization. The project proposal must describe and include:

How end users (industry/companies/public sector) are included or involved in the project
How and when testing of the technology will take place
Plans for roll-out and commercialization
A clearly defined project objective (which change does the program aim to accomplish)

At the end of the project period, a final report must be submitted, outlining:

Added/unexpected value/results
Explanation of deviations from project plan and lack of achievement of project goal (if applicable)
Lessons learned
Future plans for commercialization (if applicable)

Who can apply?

The project partners can be a consortium comprised of vital stakeholders in all or parts of the value chain. If the consortium does not include end users, the project must clearly explain how they will be involved in the project. Applicants can be:

Cluster or ecosystem organizations 
Private or institutional investors 
Companies 
Innovation institutions 
Consultancies 
Higher education institutions 
Public sector actors

How end users are integrated in the project and how the project will benefit end users in the Nordic region will be part of the evaluation criteria. We are looking for consortia that show ambition, complementary strengths and competence. 

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. 

Eligibility

50 % co-funding

The funding provided by Nordic Innovation must be matched or exceeded by co-funding from the project partners. Co-funding can be provided as in-kind contributions, i.e. working hours.

Participation of at least three Nordic countries 

The project must be carried out by a consortium of at least three partners from three different Nordic countries.

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, our grants are divided into five parts when calculating State Aid. As such, only 20% of a grant count towards the de minimis limit for any one country. Each grant recipient must declare and register its State Aid upon signature of contract.

Evaluation criteria

All proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:  

Impact (35 %) 

Which change is the project aiming to achieve (goal formulation and description) and how well is the objective formulated?
Which societal challenge does the project aim to solve and how?
How will the project lead to clear results, commercialization, and investment?  
How does the project provide companies with value creation, new business opportunities, entrepreneurship and/or sustainable growth?

Consortium competence and capacity ( 25 %) 

How are the consortium members relevant to the project and what do they add to the consortium?  
How are end users involved in the project? 
How are the different parts of the Nordic region represented in the project?

Relevance and Nordic added value (20 %) 

How is the project relevant to ongoing national, regional, and international initiatives?  
What is the Nordic added value of the project? In other words, what is the benefit of carrying it out at the Nordic level rather than at the national or regional level? 
How does the project contribute to the Nordic Vision 2030? 
How does the project consider the Nordic Council of Ministers' cross-cutting issues sustainability, gender equality and youth?

Exit strategy (20 %)

How does the project aim to ensure continued operations after the funding period from Nordic Innovation has ended?

Evaluation methodThe evaluation will use a relative points model. Within each of the award criteria the call respondents will receive a score between 0 and 10. The best call respondent within each of the award criteria will receive 10 points, while the remaining call respondents will be given a score that reflects the difference relative to the best offer. The score for each award criteria is multiplied with the indicated percentage for the award criteria, which gives a sum for the call respondent. The sums for all the award criteria are added, and the best call is the one with the highest total sum. Nordic Innovation reserves the right to not provide any grants if proposals do not reach the desired quality.