Funding Sources

South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Sør-Øst RHF, abbreviated HSØ) supports health research in the region. The projects will provide new knowledge and expertise for the development of tomorrow's specialist health services, for the benefit of the patients. Funding can be applied for in the following categories:

• Regional research funding
• Strategic funds for non-university hospitals
• International scholarships
• Regional research networks
• Regional research funding is announced annually for e.g. PhD scholarships, postdoctoral fellowships and open project support.

See Helse Sør-Øst - Forskningsmidler (Norwegian) for more information.

The Research Council of Norway (Forskningsrådet) contributes 10 billion NOK annually to research and innovation, in categories such as health, biotechnology and global development. The category "health" includes the programs:

• Research Programme on Targeted, Accurate Diagnostics, Treatment and Rehabilitation (BEHANDLING)
• Research Programme on Better Health and Quality of Life (BEDREHELSE)
• Programme on Health, Care and Welfare Services Research (HELSEVEL)

The main deadline for applications is in April each year. The most important project types are Researcher Project, Innovation Project, Research Center and Research Infrastructure.

More info: The Research Council of Norway.

The main objectives of KLINBEFORSK are to increase patients’ access to experimental treatment through clinical trials, increased coordination of expertise, resources and infrastructure and to strengthen the basis for providing effective, safe and high quality health services.

The programme annually announces funding for national multicenter trials. Each study must have participation from all regions.

See KLINBEFORSK (in Norwegian) for more information.

The Norwegian Cancer Society works to ensure that fewer people get cancer,  that more people survive cancer, and for a better quality of life for people affected by cancer. They support a wide range of cancer research through several types of calls.

The Norwegian Cancer Society has annual calls for funding for cancer research projects within basic research, translational research, clinical research, epidemiological research, as well as health and social science research. In addition, the Cancer Society annually announces funds for special investment areas, e.g. research on breast cancer (funds from the Pink Ribbon Action).

Read more on the Norwegian Cancer Society's website.

The Dam Foundation (formerly Extrastiftelsen) is the voluntary organisations’ own foundation, supporting research and development projects that promote physical and mental health, coping and quality of life. There are two schemes: Health and Research. "Health" includes projects and measures for preventive health, rehabilitation, care and public health. The aim of "Research" is to link research more closely to health challenges by supporting projects that improve living conditions, physical and mental health, coping, quality of life and social participation.

Read more at the Dam Foundation website (Norwegian).

Horizon Europe is the EU’s main research program for the period 2021–2027 and builds on Horizon 2020. The program funds research and innovation projects that aim to address societal challenges and create economic growth in the European Research Area (ERA). These goals are outlined in European strategies such as the ERA Policy Agenda, Strategic Plan for Research and Innovation, and Horizon Europe Strategic Plan.

Horizon Europe consists of three main pillars: Pillar I: Excellent Science, Pillar II: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, and Pillar III: Innovative Europe. Pillar I funds free, curiosity-driven research. Pillar II funds research that addresses major societal challenges, such as health, climate, and civil security. Pillar III funds innovation and growth of private companies in the ERA.

Depending on the pillars, the calls in Horizon Europe may have different requirements. In some calls, there is a requirement to include research institutions and/or companies from at least three different EU member states/associated countries in the consortium.

Calls in Horizon Europe.  

IHI is a public-private partnership between the EU and the European health industry. The goal of IHI is for patients and society at large to benefit from health research. To achieve this, IHI facilitates collaboration among key players in health research: healthcare institutions, universities, pharmaceutical companies and other industries, small and medium-sized enterprises, patient organizations, and regulatory authorities.

Calls for proposals in IHI

ERA-NET and European Partnerships are collaborative efforts between national research programs across European countries, designed to coordinate and enhance publicly funded research. These partnerships lead to international calls for proposals, with funding provided by the research programs of the participating countries. Norway is involved in several such calls, focusing on areas such as cancer, personalized medicine, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders and nanomedicine.

See ERA-LEARN - Network Information.

The National Institutes of Health consists of 27 different institutes and centres. Each has its own specific research agenda, which often focuses on specific diseases or diagnostic groups. NIH supports research within e.g. causal relationships, diagnosis, prevention and cure of human diseases, processes of human growth and development, biological effects of environmental toxins, and the understanding of mental, addictive and physical disorders.

Read more at the NIH website.