Support joint R & D projects where French and Norwegian industrial firms are main partners
R & D projects have to lead to processes and products with industrial applications
Connect French and Norwegian industry partners
Organise workshops and seminars
Promote cooperation between French and Norwegian researchers and industrialists
Research priorities
Aquaculture and food industry
Biotechnology and biomedical industry
Informatics and information technology
Environmental technologies and energy
Marine science and technology
Material science and technology
Oil and gas exploration and production
Requirements for proposal and project funding
The French-Norwegian Foundation promotes long-lasting French/Norwegian cooperation through the financing of joint R&D projects in which both industry and research institutes/universities are involved with the aim of creating cooperation lasting beyond the project-period.
At least one French and one Norwegian industrial company should be partner. Preference is given to small and medium enterprises (as defined by the EU standards). A subsidiary of a foreign company having only manufacturing or commercial activities in France does not qualify for support on the French side.
Applicants (at least one on each side) are required to be members of FNS/FFN. The applicants can become members at the time of submitting the proposal.
The proposals shall demonstrate that the project is of interest for all participants in the project and contribute to the goals of FNS/FFN, including enhancing French-Norwegian industry cooperation.
The scientific, technical, industrial and economic aspects of the project shall be clearly identified and the planned R & D activities shall identify the technological solutions having potential for industrial applications and marketing. The proposal (application form and project description) shall include a business plan dealing with the exploitation of the results.
The proposal shall give a short description including the type of organisation for each partner.
When large enterprises and research organisations are partners, exchange of research scientists, either post-doctoral fellows or graduate students, should be considered. If possible, the project shall also provide for such educational exchange.
The maximum level of funding from the Norwegian and French public institutions or programs (including FNS/FFN) cannot exceed 50% of the projects costs.
Project support can be obtained for a maximum of 3 years. FNS/FFN usually approves the project for one year, stating an intention of funding the subsequent year(s), subject to FNS/FFN having enough funds and the project reaching the milestones agreed to upon signature of the contract.
"High risk" projects and projects with long term horizon qualify for funding. FNS/FFN funding is usually limited to the first phase of such long-term research.
A consortium agreement governing the relationship between the project participants must be drawn up and signed before the parties enter into a contract with the Foundation. This agreement shall state that the parties agree on the ownership and sharing of any rights and products resulting from the project. The intention of this principle is to ensure that the collaborative parties have clarified all questions and issues related to implementation of the results of the project. The agreement should also cover the relationship to researchers participating in or working for the project.
The Foundation also supports pilot studies and feasibility studies, including finding new and suitable partners, establishing agreements and working out joint R&D program and pilot studies for future EU or EUREKA programs.
The Foundation can also support workshops and seminars contributing to the main objectives of the Foundation.
An annual report must be submitted. A final report including three slides with results achieved must be submitted within three months after the project is finished.
Evaluation of project application
The Secretariat determines whether the application is eligible on the basis of the above requirements.
Evaluation of the project is to start immediately after the project proposal has been received provided the partnership meets the R&D public funding requirements in France and Norway. In the opposite case a partnership change has to be carried out before starting any procedure.
In Norway, the application is evaluated by an expert from the Research Council of Norway and/or an external referee, using the existing databases at the Council.
In France, the FFN Secretariat determines the scope and character of the proposed work and the main features of the partnership. The application is then evaluated by an external referee. During that period, the project is sent to the relevant ministry(ies) and funding agency(ies) who identify the possible sources of funding. The FFN Secretariat follows up so that replies on the evaluation are in place within the agreed time frame (see section below).
In cases where the application fits into another specific programme (for example, the EUREKA Program), the applicants should be informed of this immediately and given advice on application procedures and deadlines.
The French and Norwegian Secretariats prepare a recommendation for the FNS/FFN Board on the technical merit of the proposal and the level of funding.
Target response time from FNS/FFN
The FNS/FFN Board meets twice a year, normally in April and October. The target time for project evaluation is a maximum of three months. Although the call for proposals has no fixed deadline, the practical deadline is January 1 for a decision at the Board meeting in April and August 1 for the October Board meeting.
If needed, final decisions can be taken between meetings.
Reporting to the Board
The application, together with the evaluation prepared in France and Norway, are provided to the Board.
For each application, the Secretariate state its assessment of eligibility, merit and relevance, and makes a recommendation with respect to funding. If relevant, the Secretariate suggests alternative steps that should be taken before a final decision can be made.
On this basis, the Board decides whether the project is approved, rejected, postponed to the next meeting or is to be approved between meetings. When funding cannot be found, the project should be rejected.
If the Board has decided to delay a decision between meetings, the Secretariate shall seek approval from the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of FNS/FFN before final decision is sent to the applicants, unless otherwise decided by the Board.
In the case of a rejection, the reason for rejection shall be given to the applicants.
Funding
In Norway the project will be financed as a grant by the Foundation. In France funding is provided from various sources such as Ministries (Industry, Research), Agencies (National Research Agency, OSEO Innovation, ADEME) and through Programs such as EUREKA entitled to back R and D activities in the international level.
