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 funding 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 are expected in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Project funding ends in April 2031. The funding period for individual projects is 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 programme areas Research and Innovation and Education, Training and Youth Employment fund project collaboration between research and education institutions. The Green Transition programme area also welcomes research institutions as partners. Partnerships between Donor State and Beneficiary State entities are mandatory in these programme areas.
- Other programme areas may also provide opportunities for Norwegian universities to be partners in EEA/Norway grants projects: The Culture programme may involve academic institututions. Entities from the Donor States can also contribute to Civil Society projects through partnerships with civil society organisations financed by the Civil Society Fund.
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 offering research, education and/or green transition programmes are presented in this overview, which does not aim to be exhaustive.
The Czech Republic
Information pending negotiations on the programme portfolio for Czechia for the current funding period.
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
Press release: A new chapter of cooperation with Portugal | EEA Grants
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 programmes
Beneficiary countries that will implement research programmes during the 2021¨C2028 funding period:
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 Blue growth, business development, innovation and research.
- Programme description : Not yet available
- Calls: Not yet available.
Romania
Research programme expected, pending negotiations on the programme portfolio for Romania.
The Czech Republic
Research programme expected, pending negotiations on the programme portfolio for Czechia.
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.
Education, Training and Youth Employment programmes
Beneficiary countries that will run educational programmes during the 2021-2028 funding period: To be confirmed.
Green Transition programmes
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.
Estonia
€17 million has been allocated for Green Transition
Poland
€160 million has been allocated for Green Transition.
Slovakia
€26,7 million has been allocated for Green Transition
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 early 2026. However, identification of potential partners should start 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.
- Norwegian Programme Operators
- 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