Arctic Research and Studies - Call for proposals 2025

Public and private Norwegian and Icelandic higher education institutions, research organisations, and/or other organisations can apply. Individuals may not apply.

Preparatory grants are awarded for the initiation of joint grant project applications in the field of Arctic science to international competitive funds, such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, EEA funds, NordForsk, and others.

The call is based on a Memorandum of Understandingfor co-operation between Iceland and Norway in the field of Arctic scientific research. The Icelandic and Norwegian Ministries of Foreign Affairs finance the Arctic Research and Studies programme. The Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannís) is responsible for the administration of the programme in collaboration with the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir).

Contact person at Rannís is Egill Þór Níelsson

More information about the Arctic Research and Studies Programme.

The maximum allocation per project is 25 000 EUR.

Eligible activities that can be funded:

• Costs for preparatory work
• Mobility costs (up to 10 000 EUR per project)

The programme provides lump sums based on fixed rates for mobility costs and preparatory work. Please consult chapter 6 in the Programme Guide for details about the rates.

To be eligible for a preparatory grant from the Arctic Research and Studies programme, at least one Norwegian and one Icelandic legal entity (university, research institute or other type of organisation) must apply jointly tothe programme. 

Both Icelandic and Norwegian partners must have significant roles in theproject that is developed by the partners during the preparatory grant period. In programmes where the minimum number of participating countries is three, mobility funding for third country participants/experts is eligible.The maximum duration of funded individual mobility is 12 days.

The preparatory support grant can be given for a maximum of 17 months from project launch.

See the Programme Guide for detailed information about the terms and conditions of the call. 

Apply electronically via Rannís' application system.

More information on application requirements and attachments.

The following criteria must be fulfilled for an application to be eligible for assessment:

• The application must include at least two eligible organisations, one Icelandic and one Norwegian.
• The application must have a clear Arctic relevance.
• The application must be complete with all annexes, budget & activity plan, declaration of honour and mandates.
• The application should be written in English.
• The application must be submitted within the deadline.

See the Programme Guide for information on the Arctic Research and Studies programme.

https://sjodir.rannis.is/menu/login.php

Applications are assessed by experts from Rannís and HK-dir, who agree on a consolidated list of applications which should receive funding. Rannís takes final grant award decisions.

Applications may receive full funding (what has been applied for), partial funding (only some of the activities applied for are funded, or the budget has been reduced), or may be rejected.

The applicant can expect an answer within 45 days after the application deadline.

Disbursement of the grant will be subject to documented submission of a prepared joint application to the EU framework programme for research and innovation, Horizon Europe, and other international competitive research and education programmes such as Erasmus+, Nordplus, EEA and Norway Grants, NordForsk and more.

All grant recipients are obligated to report to the Arctic Research and Studies programme no later than 30 days after the contract period has expired. The reports are to be submitted online, in the final report form which will be available through the website www.arcticstudies.is. 

For grant agreements exceeding 12 months’ duration,Rannís can request an interim report. A standard form for interim reports will be provided by the programme.