Please read the call text carefully before you apply.
Available funding
The University of Oslo has in 2025 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 – project funding up to NOK 50 000. A total of 20 projects can be granted.
- the test and further development phase – 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, organizational 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.
Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be considered
What is funded?
- Personnel and indirect 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 – degree of innovation and to what extent your solution is significantly new and better than existing solutions (products, services, processes, organizational form, etc.).
- Social benefit – utility value for users of the new solution (products, services, processes, organizational form, etc.). Contribution to sustainable solutions for current and/or future societal challenges.
- Feasibility – ability to implement based on team composition, project plan, budget, financing and strategy for utilization. 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 utilization.? (only applicable for projects in the test and development phase)
How to apply
- Download and fill out the relevant Word template for the project description. Some of the points may not apply to your project; you may leave those open.
- Fill out the online application form and submit your application by 1 September. You upload your project description 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: week starting with 16 June 2025
- Application deadline: 1 September 2025 (23:59h)
- Result of call announced: end of November 2025
Contact
If you have any questions, please send an email to innovation@growthhouse.uio.no.