The Research Council has funds – fewer applicants so seize the opportunity!
The institute is concerned that the number of applications to the Research Council is decreasing and that grants have become smaller. This coincides with new application routines with ongoing calls for proposals and quarantine schemes. The Research Council reports that they are receiving about half as many applications as before, which also means that the grant percentage is increasing. This provides room for opportunity for K2's researchers to receive funding.
The table below lists schemes that have ongoing calls for proposals where it can be expected that the deadline will be within 1-5 months. This opens up opportunities for innovative research, radical ideas and, not least, good opportunities for stays abroad. This is an underutilized opportunity that can have enormous significance for a future research career.
| Arrangement | Amount limit | Duration | Comment |
| FRIPRO – Research project (experienced) | NOK 4–12 million | 3-8 years | Curiosity-driven research |
| FRIPRO – Early career | NOK 4–10 million | 3-4 years | For researchers 2–7 years after PhD |
| FRIPRO – International mobility | NOK 4.7–7.4 million | 3-4 years | 1–2 years abroad, the rest in Norway |
| FRIPRO – Radical ideas | NOK 0.5–2 million | 4–12 months | Too early in career, high risk |
| Top researchers (FRIPRO) | NOK 15–40 million | 4-8 years | For the most outstanding researchers |
| Stays abroad for doctoral and postdoctoral fellows | NOK 30,000,000 (total) | Increase the proportion of young researchers with stays abroad | |
| Recruitment of talented researchers to Norway | Max NOK 9,000,000 per project | 24–36 months | Attract international researchers to Norwegian centers and projects |
| Support for events | NOK 50,000–150,000 | 1–12 months | Conferences, seminars and workshops |
In addition, the Research Council has calls for long-term funding through SFF and SFI. For the most ambitious environments, there are Centers of Excellence (CEE), with up to 10 years of funding (6+4 years). For the most recent call, the deadline was in November 2025 and K2 researchers are eagerly waiting to see if they have progressed to round 2.
In addition, provides Centers for Research-Driven Innovation (SFI) and Forskningssenter for klinisk behandling (FKB) and clinical anchoring. Here, our friends at K1 just received funding for the Innovation Center for Neuroresilience. New initiatives for these programs have not yet been announced.
The Research Council will launch a new application system with a simpler format, better calculation tools and clearer assessment criteria in 2026. Project funding from the Research Council is particularly important for K2's finances as indirect costs are also covered.
I hope this inspires –
Eystein Husebye, deputy director at K2