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Internal funds

Table of Contents

Internal recruitment positions

The MN Faculty has a large number of fixed-term positions available (PhD and postdoctoral fellows). The internal recruitment positions are the MN Faculty's largest and most important strategic resource and are used to strengthen the position as an international research faculty.

→ MN's principles for the management of internal recruitment positions (pdf) (only in Norwegian)

Main principles for awarding internal recruitment positions

The recruitment positions will be used in accordance with UiO's and MN's adopted overall strategies. MN's total portfolio of recruitment positions (max. 20% postdoctoral fellows at each Department) will, to a limited extent, be tied to applications for external funding.

The positions can support:

  • Excellence in research
  • Participation in EU research programmes
  • Gender balance (more women in leading positions)

Own contribution in applications to the Research Council of Norway

Recruitment positions are used as own contribution in the following cases:

  1. SFF/SFI/FME centres: assessed/decided for each call*.
  2. Thematic centers and large projects: assessed/decided for each call*.
  3. Joint initiatives in the FRIPRO call.

*Rule of thumb is one recruitment position per 20 mNOK in fresh funds for MN from the Research Council of Norway.

The start time of the position(s) must be agreed with the Department and the Faculty.

Horizon Europe incentives

  1. ERC winners: one PhD position can, in special cases, be given to ERC winners as own contribution (more information here).
  2. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (European Fellowship): one year of a recruitment position will be offered to successfully granted MSCA fellows of the European Postdoctoral Fellowship (more information here).
  3. MSCA Doctoral Networks: one recruitment position will be offered to an MN researcher who is successful in applying as the coordinator (project leader) of an MSCA Doctoral Network (read the guidelines here).
  4. Collaborative projects: one recruitment position will be offered to an MN researcher who is successful in applying as the coordinator (project leader) of a collaborative project (read the guidelines here).

Guidelines for receiving an internal recruitment position (MSCA Doctoral Networks and Collaborative projects)

The term collaborative project is used for research projects with participants from at least three different institutions and at least three different countries.

This incentive was updated in January 2025.?This change of policy is not applied retroactively.

The main purpose of this incentive is to help the project leader maintain scientific progress and production during the operational phase of the project.

Contact the EU Team when you know you are going to apply.

  1. The project must have been awarded, and the project contract must have been signed.
  2. The PhD candidate's project must be a part of the coordinated project.
  3. The project leader (coordinator) receives the PhD position. It is a prerequisite for the incentive that the coordinator has research activity at MN for the whole duration of the PhD position.
  4. If the project leader does not have a permanent position at UiO, the PhD project must have an explicit connection to the PL's research group, and it is recommended that three supervisors are appointed. Furthermore, the department must have approved that the (EU) application is submitted with a temporary employee as coordinator, and the recipient must have an employment contract extending beyond the PhD period.
  5. The project leader can receive only one internal recruitment position through this incentive during Horizon Europe.
  6. The project leader can at all times have only one internal recruitment position from this incentive.
  7. The position is awarded through the Faculty's annual process.

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Project Establishment Support (MN PES funding)

The MN Faculty has funds to support work towards applying for EU funding (MN PES funding). These funds are a supplement to the central PES funding. The researchers must first apply for the central PES funding.

MN PES funding is primarily directed towards multi-partner projects (e.g. EU's collaborative projects, MSCA Doctoral Networks, ERC Synergy Grants). It is emphasized that these funds are awarded in special cases only, where the additional funding is viewed as decisive for a proposal’s quality and finalization.

Examples of activities that are supported

  1. Consulting services or similar when developing a specific multi-partner EU proposal where MN is the coordinator (beyond what is provided in central PES funding).
  2. Travel to or host meetings to discuss a project proposal or upcoming call/topic with one or more partners or participate in EU information meetings (such as brokerage events).

Guidelines for applying for MN PES funding

Send the application by e-mail to Ingse Noremsaune at the MN Faculty with the following information:

  1. Name of the call
  2. Budget
  3. Recommendation from the Head of Department

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Research excellence funds

The term collaborative project is used for research projects with participants from at least three different institutions and at least three different countries.

The coordinator (project leader) of a collaborative project can receive operational support funds for administrative tasks in connection with the implementation of the project. The funds come from UiO centrally and will be used to strengthen the Departments' administrative capacity during the operational phase of the project.

The support has two rates, depending on the project's total budget (applies to new projects from 2026):

Million EURNOK per year during the project period
1-6?600,000
> 6900,000

Guidelines

  • Up to 50 % of the funds may, if needed, be allocated to the applying department/research group.
  • The MN Faculty’s EU Team will initiate a discussion with the coordinator and the Head of Department about needs and practicalities.
  • The EU Team prepares an application to be approved by the Dean's office.
  • The allocation of funds may, if needed, be tentatively approved before the application is submitted.

→ Detailed guidelines for the use and redistribution of MN's Research excellence funds (pdf) (only in Norwegian)

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Travel grants for research stays abroad

The MN Faculty wishes to encourage its researchers to spend a research period abroad and has provided funding for travel support. Both temporary and permanent academic staff are eligible to apply.

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Other internal UiO-funds