NordForsk is a Nordic research board operating under the NCM and is responsible for Nordic collaboration in research and research training. The primary task of NordForsk is to promote efficient cooperation between the Nordic countries as well as Baltic countries, in terms of research and researcher education of the highest international quality.

All of NordForsk’s forms of funding shall contribute to making NORIA – the Nordic Research and Innovation Area – attractive to researchers. As a means of enhancing cooperation between Nordic national research and innovation financiers and managers, NordForsk has launched the pilot coordination programme NORIA-net. The primary aim of the NordForsk NORIA-net initiative is to launch coordination activities leading to mutually beneficial effects, sustainable cooperation and joint investments within research funding and research policy.

The intention is to encourage collaboration between the Nordic countries as well as the three Baltic countries and Northwest Russia, and to strengthen the Nordic countries’ position in the competition for European research funding, for example within the framework of the European Research Council, the Seventh Research Framework Programme, etc.

The following general assessment criteria apply to all NordForsk’s evaluation forms:

• Relevance to the call for proposals, as communicated in the call text and the associated instructions for applicants.
• Quality of the proposal, including quality and innovativeness of the project plan.
• Competence of the applicant(s) and project management; NordForsk will assess the extent to which the project manager has the knowledge and experience required, and his/her general qualifications to lead and organise the project. In connection with large-scale projects, the entire project team will be evaluated.
• Feasibility of the project plan; the realism and the feasibility of the project in relation to the proposed resources (including human resources, budgetary and time line parameters) will be evaluated.
• Potential impact of the project, including scientific, societal, economic, environmental impact, etc.
• Dissemination: plans for communicating results and user contact will be assessed.
• Nordic Strength: NordForsk aims to identify and promote activities where Nordic collaboration will produce added value.
• Researcher career: NordForsk seeks to promote researcher education and improved career possibilities for researchers in all its activities.
• Ethical perspective: as a general rule the application should follow good research ethics and take into consideration ethical questions of relevance to the project.
• Gender perspective: NordForsk will pave the way for participation of both men and women in its activities and always make an effort to increase the participation of minority gender.

Projects funded by NordForsk should normally include at least three Nordic countries or autonomous areas (the Faroe Islands, Greenland and the Aland Islands). Many NordForsk activities are open to all countries in the Nordic region, which in addition to the Nordic countries includes the three Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania as well as Northwest Russia.

NordForsk’s activities should be of high quality, goal-oriented, limited in time, and clearly show the added value of the Nordic dimension. NordForsk supports initiatives within all scientific fields. NordForsk strives to enable lasting and sustainable cooperation among Nordic research groups.

NordForsk funding should mainly cover costs associated with cooperation between countries. Therefore, a degree of cofinancing is normally expected from the participating institutions. Grants are usually administered by a Nordic university/institution or another public organisation in the Nordic region which is dedicated to research.

If you have any questions or problems, you can also contact NCM's office in Estonia. Contact: Madis Kanarbik: phone +372 742 36 25, e-mail: madis.kanarbik (at) norden.ee.