How do the EEA and Norway Grants work?
The EEA and Norway Grants provide?funding for collaboration between entities in Norway, and in the case of the EEA Grants, also Iceland and Liechtenstein, and entities in?beneficiary EU countries. The funding programmes are run by beneficiary state programme operators. The beneficiary state institutions are responsible for applying for project funding, while the Norwegian (donor state) institutions can participate as project partners.
Note that the programme portfolio varies from one beneficiary country to the next. This web page highlights the beneficiary country programme portfolios that are of particular interest to UiO faculty.?
Current funding and eligibility period
The Grants cover multiannual periods. The total Grant by the donor countries for the current funding period (2021-2028) is €3 268 billion.?The EEA and Norway Grants are funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Calls for project proposals can be expected in 2026, 2027, and 2028. The calls will be published on the EEA Grants web site and on the Programme Operator web site.
Project funding ends?in April 2031. The eligibility period for individual projects will be specified in the project contract.
What areas can be funded?
- The EEA?and Norway Grants provide funding in a number of programme areas,?many of which provide opportunities for partnerships with donor states entities.
- Programmes under the following programme areas specifically support project collaboration between research and education institutions. Partnerships between Donor State and Beneficiary State entities are mandatory in these programme areas:
- Research and Innovation
- Education, Training and Youth Employment.
- Greeen Transition?welcomes?research institutions as partners.
- Other programme areas may also provide opportunities for Norwegian universities to be partners in EEA/Norway grants projects, such as:
- The Culture programme?may involve academic institututions.
- The? Civil Society Fund, under which entities from the Donor States can contribute to Civil Society projects through partnerships with civil society organisations in the beneficiary states.
- Other programmes, which may also be highlighted under the country headings below.
- Bilateral funds The funds for bilateral relations are a source of funding within the Grants, specifically designed to support bilateral activities. Each Beneficiary State is required to set aside between 2 and 5% of its total allocation for bilateral initiatives. The calls for proposals under bilateral funds may be open to applications from donor state institutions. See Bilateral guidelines for detailed information.
- The overall priorities for the grants in the current funding period are:
- European Green Transition
- Democracy, rule of law and human rights
- Social inclusion and resilience
Programme portfolios by country?
Negotiations on the programme portfolio for each beneficiary country for the 2021¨C2028 funding period are ongoing.
The?scope and thematic focus of the individual programme and the?measures?that can be?funded will be set out in the country specific programme?descriptions and open calls for project proposals under the programmes. Links to the programmes and open calls will be provided when the information becomes available.
Countries implementing research, education and/or green transition programmes are presented in this overview. The overview is not exhaustive: Other programmes may also provide partnership opportunities for Norwegian universities.
Bulgaria
Fact sheet Bulgaria: Education component included under the Local Development programme.?
Croatia
News release 23.9.2025:?Renewed cooperation with Croatia (EEA and Norway Grants)
The Czech Republic
Press Release: 4.11.2025 Norway signs agreement with The Czech Republic on EEA and Norway Grants
Estonia
Press release:?Norway signs agreement with Estonia on EEA and Norway Grants - regjeringen.no
Poland
Press release:?Norway signs agreement with Poland on EEA and Norway Grants - regjeringen.no
MoU?and?Fact sheet (in Norwegian)
Portugal
Romania
Information pending negotiations on the programme portfolio for Romania for the current funding period.
Slovakia
Press release:?Helping to reduce social inequalities and promote green transition in Slovakia - regjeringen.no
Funding opportunities
Research and Innovation
Beneficiary countries implementing research programmes during the 2021¨C2028 funding period. The grants for research collaboration projects will normally be 1-2 million euro.
The Czech Republic
€43 million has been allocated to Research and Innovation
Programme Operator: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Donor Programme Partners: Research Council of Norway; The Icelandic Centre for Research
The programme¡¯s objective is to enhance excellence in research and research-based innovation, strengthening the foundations for the green and digital transitions, democracy, rule of law, human rights, social inclusion and resilience. The programme will also support the social sciences and humanities and enhance the career progression of early-stage and female researchers.
Poland
€140 million has been allocated for research cooperation, divided between fundamental and applied research.?The first calls are expected to be launched in spring 2026.?
Applied Research and Innovation?
€80,000,000??
Programme Operator:?The National Centre for Research and Development???
Donor programme partners:?The Research Council of Norway, The Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannis)???
- Programme description : Not yet available
- Calls: Not yet available.
Basic Research
€60,000,000??
Programme Operator:?The National Science Centre (NCN)??
Donor programme partners:??The Research Council of Norway, The Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannis)???
- Programme description : Not yet available
- Calls: Not yet available.
Portugal
€49 million has been allocated to the programme area Blue growth, business development, innovation and research. It is expected that €20,6 million of the budget will be dedicated to research cooperation projects. The focus will be on research excellence, "New Knowledge with Social Impact".
- Programme description : Not yet available
- Calls: Not yet available. One call only, launch planned in the second half of 2026.
Romania
Research programme pending negotiations on the programme portfolio for Romania.
Other
Please note that the?Baltic research programme for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will not be continued?under the 2021-2028 funding period. However, funding for research collaboration may be available under other programmes in these countries.
Education, Training and Youth Employment
Beneficiary countries that will support cooperation on educational projects during the 2021-2028 funding period.?The list will be updated with additional countries as the decisions on the programme areas funded in each country are finalised.
Bulgaria
Education component included under the Bulgarian Local Development programme.?
Programme partners: HK-dir (Norway); Liechtenstein National Agency for International Education Affairs
Croatia
Development of STEM education under Croatia's?Local development, good governance and inclusion?programme. Budget €33 million.
News release:?Renewed cooperation with Croatia (EEA and Norway Grants)
Programme operator:?Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds of the Republic of Croatia
Programme partner: HK-dir (Norway)
The Czech Republic
€ 20.5 million (EEA Grants) has been allocated to Education and Training.
Programme Operator: Czech National Agency for International Education and Research
Donor Programme Partners: Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills ; National Agency for International Education Affairs of Liechtenstein
With this programme, the donor states will enhance quality, access and relevance of education and training for the green and digital transitions, human rights, democracy and youth employment. They will support civic education and citizenship competences in the Czech Republic and the development of pedagogical competences of current and future teachers. They will also assist in strengthening information integrity and media literacy.
Portugal
Education component included under the Portuguese Blue growth, business development, innovation and research programme.
Programme partner: HK-dir (Norway)
Green Transition
Beneficiary countries that will implement Green Transition programmes during the 2021-2028 funding period. The list will be updated with additional countries as the decisions on the programme areas funded in each country are finalised.
Croatia
€30,3 million has been allocated for Green Transition
The Czech Republic
€43 million has been allocated for Green Transition
Programme Operator: State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic
Donor Programme Partner: Norwegian Environment Agency
The programme will accelerate the green transition towards a more sustainable society. The parties agreed to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems, restore nature and find nature-based solutions with this programme.
Estonia
€17 million has been allocated for Green Transition
Poland
€160 million has been allocated for Green Transition.
Portugal
€49 million has been allocated to Blue growth, business development, innovation and research. Se sections above for the education and research components of the programme.
- Programme description : Not yet available
- Calls: Not yet available.
Slovakia
€26,7 million has been allocated for Green Transition
Slovakia
€26,7 million has been allocated for Green TransitionFunding: € 30 million (Norway Grants)
Programme Operator: State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic
Donor Programme Partner(s): Norwegian Environment Agency
The programme will accelerate the green transition towards a more sustainable society. The parties agreed to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems, restore nature and find nature-based solutions with this programme.
Civil society fund
All beneficiary states will have a Civil Society Fund run by a fund operator. Donor state entities may contribute through partnerships with civil society organisations.
Civil society fund description:?Civil Society Fund
How can you participate?
The first calls are expected in the first half of 2026. It is recommended to start discussions with potential partners starts well in advance of the calls.
Alternative 1: You are approached by a partner
Have you been approached by a potential partner who plans to apply for project funding?
- Find out first if the programme?which will provide?the funding is a Resesarch Programme, an Educational Programme or another type of programme financed under the EEA/Norway Grants.
- Ask for links to the programme descriptions and call?texts to make sure you have the relevant information. If the call text is not in English, we recommmend that you request a translation.
- Note that the rules and opportunities for funding your participation will vary according to programme category and country.
Alternative II: You are?searching for funding opportunities within?the Grants
Are?you looking for funding opportunities for Research or Educational Collaboration Projects? in partnership with?beneficiary country institutions??
- Find out if a research or educational programme exists or is planned?for the country you are interested in by checking the country?overview above.
- Since most calls stay open only for two months, you are advised to?contact potential partners and plan project proposals well ahead of the calls being launched.
- Funding for preparatory visits will be normally be?available through open calls.
The rules applicable to the programme and calls?will be available?in the call documents.??Experienced?UiO participants will find that the Grants work?in a?similar way to the previous period.?
Advice for the application stage
You will be partner in?applying for project funding?in a beneficiary country:
Application process
Regular projects
- The beneficary state project?promoter?is responsible for submitting the project application to the programme operator.
- The?Norwegian institutions act as project partners.
- Terms and conditions are published?in the calls on the programme operator Web site.
- As a general rule, any public or private legal entity established in a beneficiary country is eligible to apply.?Exceptions are published in the calls, for instance if only education and research institutions are eligible to apply or be partner.
- Applications must be supported on an institutional level. Individuals apply through their institutions.
Other projects and activities
- Norwegian institutions may apply for funding directly to the programme operator if permitted?under?a specific?call.
Project proposal stage
You are strongly?advised to engage?with your benefiary country project?partner at the earliest possible stage in the development of the project.?This is?essential to?ensure mutual benefits from the collaboration and?a clear definition of your role in the project, the?amount of funding?allocated for your part in the project?etc. Please note that the Department Head should co-sign the application according to the general guidance for externally financed project cooperation. See?Roles and Responsibilities Project Owner (in Norwegian only)
The projects normally require limited co-financing on the part of the Norwegian project partners. The Grants aim to make the project administration user-friendly and relatively simple for the Norwegian partners.
Project funding has been granted: Project agreement
You must enter into a written agreement with?the project coordinator setting out?the conditions of?the partnership and the obligations of the partners. At the UiO, the Office for legal services?can check the agreement before it is signed. Your department financial advisor should check the budget.
Please the relevant Work Support page?for more information on contracts, roles and responsibilities. Please note that??the rules and advice relating to?the?role and responsibilities of "Project Owners" at the UiO apply?in so?far as relevant?to the role?as project partner, which is the role that the UiO partner has under the EEA/Norway Grants programmes.
- Work support: Research Support - Contracts
- Work support: Research Support - Signing contracts
- Work support: Roles and Responsibilities Project Owner (in Norwegian only)
UiO resources page?for the EEA and Norway Grants
Where to go for more information
- EEA Grants official Website? provides news and updates for the Grants as a whole.
- The Norwegian Programme Operators (listing not complete)
- Research Council?(in Norwegian) - research programme partner
- The Norwegian environment agency??- Green Transition programme partner
- The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE)?- Green Transition programme partner
- The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) -?Education, Training and Youth Employment programme partner