Announcement of the UiO innovation funds for researchers? 2026

Please read the call text carefully before you apply.

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Available funding

The University of Oslo has in 2026 allocated NOK 5 million for early-stage innovation projects with the potential for value creation within all research areas. Funding is available for projects in two different phases:

• the idea and concept phase ¨C project funding up to NOK 50 000.?
  A total of 20 projects can be granted.
• the test and further development phase ¨C project funding up to NOK 400 000.
  A total of 10 projects can be granted.

Eligibility and requirements

• Who can apply: The call is aimed at researchers (faculty staff, clinicians, postdocs, and PhD candidates) who?
  (i) are employed at the University of Oslo with a minimum 20% position (and searchable on the UiO employee webpages) and?
  (ii) have an innovative idea that can contribute to solving an important societal need. This can include ideas for new or significantly improved products, services, processes, organisational forms etc. that can add value to society.
• The project manager must be employed at UiO for the entire project period.
• The application, including a detailed cost budget, must be approved by the head of the department/centre.
• For commercial projects, the call is aimed at technologies or services that have not yet had a registered DOFI or project at a technology transfer office (TTO). Note that DOFIs/projects that have been rejected by a TTO may apply.
• Active projects in SPARK Norway or SPARK Social Innovation can only apply in their final year.
• The applicant is responsible for entering into a collaboration agreement with external institutions that will contribute to the project. It is important that UiO always has the rights for further research on the results.
• Projects failing to demonstrate progress will not be eligible for new funding.

Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be considered

What is funded?

• Personnel costs: Salary expenses only for activities absolutely necessary for idea development. The potential buyout of permanent staff requires specific justification.
• Consulting services: Costs related to the purchase of services from subcontractors or other development services, including external R&D and consulting services if necessary.
• Materials and equipment: Costs related to the purchase of materials and equipment for the production of prototypes, necessary equipment for laboratory tests and more that cannot be rented elsewhere at UiO (including ¡°Leiested¡±) or externally.
• Other costs: All costs that do not fit under the above categories must be specified and directly linked to the project's development goals in order to be covered by the innovation funds

What is not funded?

• Basic research, development or marketing of existing products and services, or development costs for companies.
• Further development or implementation of existing technology/methods for Norwegian conditions.
• Patent costs.
• Development of marketing material, website, logo and profiling products.

Selection criteria

• Innovation potential ¨C degree of innovation and to what extent your solution is significantly new and better than existing solutions (products, services, processes, organisational form, etc.).
• Social benefit ¨C utility value for users of the new solution (products, services, processes, organisational form, etc.). Contribution to sustainable solutions for current and/or future societal challenges.
• Feasibility ¨C ability to implement based on team composition, project plan, budget, financing and strategy for utilisation.?

The final recommendation will consider all fields of study at UiO based on approved applications. In addition, the recommendation should also have a good balance between commercial/non-commercial utilisation.

How to apply?

1. Download and fill out the relevant Word template for the project description before you proceed to step 2. Some of the points may not apply to your project; you may leave those open.

   Project description template (one template for each application)

   • Project description template for idea and concept phase NOK 50 000
   • Project description template for test and further development phase NOK 400 000
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2. Fill out this online application form and submit your application by 16 March 2026. You have to log in with your FEIDE account. You upload your project description from step 1 as a PDF document in the form.

Evaluation process

The applications will be evaluated against the selection criteria by panels with relevant expertise in innovation. The panels consist of representatives from the incubators Aleap, StartupLab and Sharelab in Oslo Science Park, as well as Oslo Cancer Cluster Incubator, and innovation advisers in the UiO Growth House.

Follow-up

All applicants will be offered follow-up from the UiO Growth House:

• Those who are granted funding, will receive an invitation to a meeting to discuss how to proceed, including what guidance they need from the UiO Growth House or external mentors so that they can further develop their innovation idea.
• Those who have not been granted funding, are also offered guidance on how they can work further with the project.

Project duration and reporting requirements

Projects have a maximum duration from the date of grant and throughout the entire subsequent year. Extensions may be requested from UiO Growth House using our online application form.

At the end of the funding period, the main applicant must submit a short report to the UiO Growth House using our online reporting form.

Important dates

• Call opens: 30 January 2026
• Application deadline: 16 March 2026 (23:59h)
• Result of call announced: end of May 2026

Contact

If you have any questions, please send an email to innovation@growthhouse.uio.no.
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