Calls on assorted themes in health research

• Health Cluster Horizon Europe: Annual calls covering many health-related topics including cancer, global health, and mental health and neurological diseases, among others. Collaborative projects requiring transnational consortia of at least 3 partners from at least 3 different eligible countries. Our PDF on upcoming calls is updated with the most recent work program and application deadlines as soon as they become available (usually before the summer). 

• Novo Nordisk Foundation: awards grants across many areas, inluding infectious diseases, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. They focus on four health themes: (1)Preventing and managing cardiometabolic disease, (2) decreasing the burden and threat of infectuous diseases, (3) advancing and applying regenerative medicine, and (4) reducing inequality in health. The foundation also supports education, sustainability, innovation, and humanitarian initiatives.

Ageing

• Active Assisted Living Programme (AAL): Funding to create better quality of life for older people and to strengthen industrial opportunities in the field of healthy ageing technology and innovation.

Brain-Related Research Including Mental Health

• JPI-JPND: Supports research on neurodegenerative disease. Collaborative projects requiring transnational consortia of at least 3-6 partners among the countries participating in the call.

• ERA-NET Neuron: Supports basic, clinical and translational research in disease-related neuroscience. Collaborative projects requiring transnational consortia of at least 3-6 partners among the countries participating in the call.

• Kavli Trust Programme on Health Research (mental health in children and adolescents)

• Civitan Norges Forskningsfond for Alzheimers sykdom supports research on Alzheimer's disease, covering casual factors, prevention, assessment and treatment, and measures aimed at relatives.

Cancer

• Kreftforeningen: Several calls, both for specific cancers and “open” cancer research.

• TRANSCAN-3: Supports translational cancer research. Collaborative projects requiring transnational consortia of at least 3 partners from at least 3 different eligible countries.

• Cancer Grand Challenges

• Rakel and Otto-Kristian Bruuns Endowment: Supports medical basic research within biochemistry, physiology and pathology. Cancer-related projects are prioritized. Applicants must be licensed medical doctors.

• Horizon Europe's Cancer Mission: Our PDF on upcoming calls is updated with the most recent work program and application deadlines as soon as they become available (usually before the summer). 

Chronic Diseases

• Olav Thon Foundation: Support for Nordic research projects in medicine focusing on reparative medicine targeting diseases in the musculoskeletal and peripheral and central nervous system.

Global Health

• RCN's Global development and international relations portfilio: A portfolio of global-development related calls from the Research Council of Norway (RCN). Keep an eye on the RCN's website to stay updated on new calls in this portfolio. 

• NORHED II (capacity development in education and research for higher education institutions between Norway and developing countries).  The 2021-2026 call is now closed, but keep an eye on the NORAD website for future calls. 

• EDCTP3 (clinical studies on poverty-related infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa).

• Gates Foundation

• Laerdal Foundation (supports practically-oriented research and development in acute medicine, in particular on projects related to saving lives in low-resource settings)

• JPI-AMR (antimicrobial resistance). Collaborative projects requiring transnational consortia of at least 3-6 partners among the countries participating in the call.

Personalised Medicine

• EP PerMed (The European Partnership for Personalized Medicine) - Collaborative projects requiring transnational consortia of at least 3-6 partners among the countries participating in the call

Public Health

• Nordic Programme on Health and Welfare 2012-2024 (Nordforsk): The health programme funded research into public health (with a strong focus on health data). This program is now closed but it is worth keeping an eye on Nordforsk. Calls and research areas are updated annually. 

From the Research Council of Norway

• FRIPRO: The Research Council of Norway's funding scheme for ground-breaking research. It provides funding for individual principal investigators through several calls depending on career stage. It has an open-ended deadline with applications evaluated several times a year.

  • FRIPRO Three-year Researcher Project with International Mobility No more than 7 years since PhD defence. Deadline: Open-ended.

  • FRIPRO Researcher Project for Early Career Scientists 2-7 years since PhD defence. Deadline: Open-ended.

  • FRIPRO Researcher Project for Experienced Scientists 6+ years since PhD. Funds research to advance the international research front and targets researchers who have demonstrated high scientific quality. Accepts both basic and applied research in all areas. Deadline: Open-ended.

From the EU

• The European Research Council (ERC): Supports individual principal investigators across all career stages. Projects are selected on the basis of scientific excellence alone, across all fields (groundbreaking, high-risk/high-gain, new or emerging research fields.

  • ERC Starting 2-7 years since PhD defence. Deadline: Annual, fall. 

  • ERC Consolidator 7-12 years since PhD defence. Deadline: Annual, fall. 

  • ERC Advanced 12+ after PhD defence, or a small team of principal investigators. Deadline: Annual, summer/fall. 

  • ERC Synergy 2-4 PIs. Deadline: Annual, fall. 

• European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder: Funding to achieve proof-of-concept of breakthrough technology (TRL 1-4). It is broken in to two types of calls: Pathfinder “Open” (no-predefined topics) and a “top-down” version of the Pathfinder called Pathfinder “Challenges”. Collaborative projects requiring transnational consortia of at least 3 partners from at least 3 different eligible countries. Deadline: Annual, varies depending on call type. 

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MCSA): Funding to support research activities with a strong focus on training equipping researchers with new skills and providing them with an international and inter-sectoral experience.There are four types, covering all career stages. All calls are “bottom-up” with no pre-defined subject area.

  • MSCA Doctoral Networks (funding to establish a new network of doctoral students). Deadline: Annual, early-fall. 

  • MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (individual fellowship for researchers within 8 years of their PhD defence). Deadline: Annual, early-fall. 

  • MSCA Global Fellowships (individual fellowship for researchers within 8 years of their PhD defence). Deadline: Annual, early-fall. 

  • MSCA Staff Exchanges (international and inter-sectoral mobility of R&I staff) 

  • MSCA-CoFund (co-funding of doctoral and postdoctoral programmes).

Other funders

• National Institutes of Health (NIH). The largest funder of biomedical research in the world. Norwegian institutions are eligible to apply to many calls with a US partner. For first time NIH applications, you will need the Grants Office to create your PI user account in eRA Commons. Contact the grants office if you need an account and we are happy to set this up. 

From the Research Council of Norway

• FRIPRO Researcher Project for Experienced Scientists: Funds research to advance the international research front and targets researchers who have demonstrated high scientific quality. Accepts both basic and applied research in all areas. At least 6 years musthave passed since PhD. Deadline: Open-ended.

• FRIPRO Researcher Project for Early Career Scientists: Funding aimed towards researchers 2-7 years after their PhD (time subtractions may apply). It includes funding for open “bottom up” research and a variety of thematic areas (top down). Deadline: Open-ended.

• FRIPRO Three-year Researcher Project with International Mobility: Funds projects of 24 months outside Norway, followed by a 12 month “return phase” to Norway. Applicants must be within 7 years of their PhD defence. Deadline: Open-ended.

From the EU

• The European Research Council (ERC): Supports individual principal investigators across all career stages. Projects are selected on the basis of scientific excellence alone, across all fields (groundbreaking, high-risk/high-gain, new or emerging research fields.

  • ERC Starting 2-7 years since PhD defence. Deadline: Annual, fall. 

  • ERC Consolidator 7-12 years since PhD defence. Deadline: Annual, fall. 

  • ERC Advanced 12+ after PhD defence, or a small team of principal investigators. Deadline: Annual, summer/fall. 

• MSCA European Fellowships: Postdoctoral fellowships of 12-24 months, all Nationalities. Must be within 8 years of PhD defence date. Deadline: Annual, early-fall. 

• MSCA Global Fellowships: Postdoctoral fellowships of 12-24 month stay outside Europe, followed by a 12 month “return phase” to Europe. Applicants must be within 8 years of their PhD defence date. Deadline: Annual, early-fall. 

Other funders

• EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship: Postdoctoral fellowships of up to 24 months. Applicants must be within 2 years of their PhD defence. Deadline: Open-ended.

• Samarbeidsorganet: Funds doctoral, postdoctoral and researcher positions. You can also seek funding for running costs, innovation projects and travel grants. Deadline: Annual, summer.

• Felles Forskningsutvalg (FFU): Permanent employees of St. Olavs Hospital or NTNU (except Gjøvik and Ålesund) may apply. Must be a collaboration between NTNU and the hospital. Deadline: Annual, summer.

• Stiftelsen DAM: A foundation supporting research on mental and physical health, quality of life and life mastery (basic research is not supported). Funding is available for PhD and Postdoc positions.  Deadline: Various, check the specific call.

From the Research Council of Norway

• Three-year Researcher Project with International Mobility: Funds projects of 24 months outside Norway, followed by a 12 month “return phase” to Norway. Applicants must be within 7 years of their PhD defence. Deadline: Open-ended.

• FRIPRO Researcher Project for Early Career Scientists: Funding aimed towards researchers 2-7 years after their PhD (time subtractions may apply). It includes funding for open “bottom up” research and a variety of thematic areas (top down). Deadline: Open-ended.

From the EU

• MSCA European Fellowships: Postdoctoral fellowships of 12-24 months, all Nationalities. Must be within 8 years of PhD defence date. Deadline: Annual, early-fall. 

• MSCA Global Fellowships: Postdoctoral fellowships of 12-24 month stay outside Europe, followed by a 12 month “return phase” to Europe. Applicants must be within 8 years of their PhD defence date. Deadline: Annual, early-fall. 

• ERC Starting Grant: Funding to support individual principal investigators in establishing research independance and/or their own research group at an early stage in their career (2-7 years after PhD defence). Projects are selected on the basis of scientific excellence alone, across all fields (groundbreaking, high-risk/high-gain, new or emerging research fields). Deadline: Annual, fall. 

Other Funders

• EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship: Postdoctoral fellowships of up to 24 months. Applicants must be within 2 years of their PhD defence. Deadline: Open-ended.

From NTNU

• NTNU discovery pilot project: The purpose of a pilot project is to establish a basis for further development of an idea that could lead to funding of a main project through Discovery or attract other sources of funding. Employees may apply for a grant of up to NOK 200,000. A DOFI must be delivered to NTNU TTO before applying. Deadline: Monthly.

• NTNU discovery main project: Support for prior recipients of the NTNU discovery pilot project, to further develop the idea and stimulate further innovation. Employees can apply for a grant of up to NOK 1,000,000. A DOFI must be delivered to NTNU TTO before applying. Deadline: Biannual in spring and fall.

From the Research Council of Norway

• Innovation Project: The research council offers financing to stimulate research and innovation based on the need to strengthen the sustainability of the municipal health and care services. Deadlines: Check the NFR's website for new innovation calls on health. Innovation calls relevant to health are published on average at least once a year with deadlines roughly in Septmeber.

• Qualification Project: The research council offers financing for projects undertaking initial investigations into the commercial potential of pubically funded research results. These projects should aim to inform and clarify the best direction for further research, technology development or strategic decisions. Deadline: Annual calls with open-ended deadlines. Check the NFR's website for current commercialisation calls on health.

• Proof-of-Concept Project: The funding must be used to reduce technological risks and increase the commercial application of results from publicly funded research projects. The project can be at levels 2–7 on the Technology readiness level (TRL) scale used in the EU. Deadline: Semi-annual (irregular) calls with open-ended deadlines. Check the NFR's website for current commercialisation calls on health.

From the EU

• European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder: Funding to achieve proof-of-concept of breakthrough technology (TRL 1-4). It is broken in to two types of calls: Pathfinder “Open” (no-predefined topics) and a “top-down” version of the Pathfinder called Pathfinder “Challenges”. Collaborative projects requiring transnational consortia of at least 3 partners from at least 3 different eligible countries. Deadline: Annual, varies depending on call type. 

• European Innovation Council (EIC) Transition: Funding to validate and demonstrate technology (TRL 4 to 5/6) & develop market readiness. Single applicants or small consortia (2-5 partners). Must build on results from a EIC Pathfinder, FET or ERC PoC project. Two types: Transition “Open” (no-predefined area); Transition “Challenges” (specific themes). Deadline: Annual. 

• European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator: Funding to scale up innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. Single applicants (start-ups and SMEs). Two types: Accelerator “Open” (no-predefined area); Accelerator “Challenges” (specific themes). Deadline: Biannual, spring and and fall. 

• ERC Proof-of-Concept: Funding for ERC grant holders to establish proof-of-concept of an idea that was generated during their ERC-funded project. Deadline: Biannual, spring and and fall. 

Shorter term (≤12 months):

• Fulbright Fellowship: Stays between 3 to 12 months in the United States, for Norwegian Nationals. Deadline: Annual, fall. 

• EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant: Stay of up to 3 months, open to all career stages inluding PhD candidates at least one year into their PhD. Deadline: Open-ended, at least 30 days before the start date of the research visit

• AURORA mobility programme: The Norwegian Resrarch council's program funding short-term research stay to France intended to launch and develop joint research projects. Deadline: Annual, fall deadlines. Look for current Coordination and Support Activity calls on Internationalisation on the NRC's website. 

• Åsgard Research Programme: Funds very short-term stays in France (one week) intended to facilitate cvollaboration and technology transfer. Deadline: Annual.

Longer term (≥12 months):

• MSCA European Fellowships: Fellowships between 12-24 months in length, all Nationalities. Must be within 8 years of PhD defence date. Deadline: Annual, Fall. 

• MSCA Global Fellowships: Fellowships between 12-24 month stay outside Europe, followed by a 12 month “return phase” to Europe. Applicants must be within 8 years of their PhD defence date. Deadline:  Annual, Fall.

• EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship: Fellowships up to 24 months in length. Applicants must be within 2 years of their PhD defence. Deadline: Open-Ended, several cut off dates throughout the year. 

• Three-year Researcher Project with International Mobility: Funds projects conducted for 24 months outside Norway, followed by a 12 month “return phase” to Norway. Applicants must be within 7 years of their PhD defence. Deadline: Open-ended.

• Human Frontier Science Program's (HFSP): HFSP's Long-Term Fellowships are three-year postdoctoral fellowships  (36 months) funding basic research projects in the life sciences. The fellowship can not be hosted in the country where the researcher has completed a PhD or prevoius post-doc. Applicants must be within 3 years of completing their PhD. Deadline: Annual, spring deadline for letter of intent, fall for full proposal. 

From the Research Council of Norway

• Regional and thematic EU networks: RCN-funded networks to promote the participation of Norwegian entities in Horizon Europe.

From the EU

• COST Actions: Large networks of transnational consortia on all fields of research. Funds activities like organisation of meetings, training schools and short-term scientific missions, to promote global networking of nationally-funded research. COST Actions are open and inclusive: you may request to join an existing action to expand your own network. Deadline: Annual, Fall. 

Other Funding

• Peder Sather Grant Program: Funding to promote research collaboration between UC Berkeley and Norwegian universities. Funding is available to support networking activities like workshops, mini-conferences and exchanges, but also research activities such as pilot studies or the collection and analysis of data. Deadline: Annual, Spring. 

• EEA grants: Funding from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (“donor states”) to strengthen bilateral relations with 15 beneficiary countries in Southern and Eastern Europe. Each beneficiary country manages and publishes calls for proposals on a variety of subject areas which can vary. The grants may cover research, education, capacity building or networking and applicants must be based in in one of the 15 beneficiary countries. Deadlined: Various.

• Clinical Academic Groups (CAG): Funding from Samarbeidsorganet to strengthen cooperation between the clinicians and researchers addressing a specific, regional health challenge. Keep an eye on the linked website for information about future calls. 

From the Research Council of Norway

• Collaborative Project to meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges: Research organisations can apply in binding cooperation with actors from public sector entities, NGOs, trade and industry or other private organizations. Check the NFR's website for new Collaboration and Knowledge Building Project calls. Deadline: Annual, Winter. 

Other Funding

• Regionale forskningsfond (Trøndelag): Funding to support research addressing the challenges and needs of companies and municipalities in Trøndelag. Universities and research organisations may apply only in collaboration with regional small or medium-sized enterprises, municipalities or municipal enterprises. The research problem to be addressed must be rooted in the company’s or municipality’s needs. Deadline: Open-Ended.

• Innovative Health Initiative (IHI): Collaboration between academia and European life sciences industries. IHI’s core objective is To translate health research and innovation into tangible benefits for patients and society, and ensure that Europe remains at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary, sustainable, patient-centric health research. Deadline: Annual, Spring.

From the EU

• Research Infrastructure – Horizon Europe: funding to establish European Research Infrastructures that provide resources and services for research communities to conduct research and foster innovation. Deadline: Various. 

From the Research Council of Norway

• Norwegian Centres of Excellence scheme (SFF): The Research Council of Norway’s scheme for Centres of Excellence. Centres are funded for up to ten years (6 + 4 years). Deadline: Every 4 years (latest deadline: 12 Nov 2025)

• The Centres for Research-based Innovation Scheme (SFI): The Research Council of Norway’s scheme for Centres of Research-based Innovation. Between 50 and 96 million NOK for 5 to 8 years. Deadline: Every 5 years. (latest deadline: 18 Sept 2024)

• Centres for Clinical Treatment (FKB): The Research Council of Norway’s scheme for Centres for Clinical Treatment Research. A maximum of 160 million NOK over a period of 8 years. Next deadline: Anticipated for early 2026.

Other Funding

• K.G. Jebsen: is a private foundation that funds Norwegian research centres in translational medicine. A maximum of 4.5 million NOK over a period of 5 years. (latest: deadline 8 May 2025)

From the Research Council of Norway

• INTPART: The Research Council of Norway’s International partnerships for excellent education, research and innovation. The goal is to develop world-class research groups through long-term international cooperation with partners in Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, China, and South-Africa, South-Korea and USA. The number of applications NTNU can send is limited, meaning that an internal process is run each year that there is a call and only pre-approved proposals can be sent to the RCN. Calls will be published on the Research Council's website.  

From the EU (Erasmus+)

Erasmus projects must be registered in NTNU’s International Office’s registration portal before submitting the application. For more information, see the International Office’s Erasmus+ wikipage. If you are considering to apply for an Erasmus+ application through the MH faculty, please contact Siri Elisabeth Haug for support.

• Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships: The aim is to exchange best practices, develop collaboration networks, and increase the quality and relevance of educational offerings through internationalization. There must be at least 3 partners from partner countries in the Erasmus+ scheme. Deadline: Annual, March.

• Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education: Funds collaboration on modernization and internationalization of higher education in partner and programme countries. There are three different types of capacity building projects: fostering access to cooperation in higher education, partnerships for transformation in higher education, and structural reform projects. Projects must consist of at least 2 programme countries with one higher education institution in each country, as well as one partner country with two higher educational institutions. In total, there must be an equal number of partner institutions from program and partner countries. Deadline: Annual, February.

• Erasmus+ Alliances for Innovation: The aim is to create innovate educational offerings that promote innovation and entrepreneurship. This call includes research. Minimum 8 partners. Deadline: Annual, March.

Other Funding

• UTFORSK: This is a call funding collaboration with Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, China, South-Africa, South-Korea and/or USA. The aim is to develop and carry out joint educational activity, increase student mobility, integration of education and research, as well as strengthen the connection to the world of work.

• EEA grants: Funding from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (“donor states”) to strengthen bilateral relations with 15 beneficiary countries in Southern and Eastern Europe. Each beneficiary country manages and publishes calls for proposals on a variety of subject areas. The grants may cover research, education, capacity building or networking. Norwegian institutions cannot apply directly, but can participate as partners. Deadline: Various, depending on call. 

• Nordplus: A mobility, network and project partnership programme for education (bachelor’s and master’s level) in the Nordic and Baltic countries. An application must consist of at least three institutions from three different Nordplus countries. Main call is published each November. Deadlines: Biannual, February (main deadline) and October (preparatory activities).

• NORHED II: This was Norad’s North-South-South university partnership programme (2021-2026) for projects on capacity development in higher education and research. News about a possible NORHEAD III is not yet available. 

• Samarbeidsorganet: Funding for education-related projects aiming at strengthening the quality, relevance, and capacity in study programmes with practical training. Deadline: Annual, December.

• Increased work-relevance in higher education: This was a HK-dir grant for projects that lead to increased work-relevance for educational programmes, increased students’ learning and met the needs of future employers. Cancelled in 2024.