Dear Colleagues,
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The first Norwegian Centres of Excellence (SFF) were awarded in 2002 and initiated in 2003. Since then, the Research Council of Norway has maintained this programme as a powerful tool for long-term public funding of basic research.
Earlier this year, the Research Council announced that the next allocation, the sixth generation of SFF, will be announced in Autumn 2027. But the hunt begins now; initially with UiO-internal deadlines for submitting application initiatives.
Mapping of Application Initiatives at MED
The Research Council has already held an information meeting about the planned SFF VI call. The recording can be found here: Applicant Webinar: SFF-VI Call.
The Research Council's website provides general information about the SFF scheme and an overview of the timeline from the initial call to the final establishment of new centres.
The application process at the Research Council consists of two stages. The first stage involves submitting a project outline. It is expected that approximately one in five applicants will pass this stage and be invited to submit a full application
The deadline of 2 December 2024 is our internal deadline, which aims only to get an overview of planned applications, stimulate early commencement with the development of outlines, and the allocation of incentive funds. Subsequently, there will be ongoing internal advising at UiO, followed by comprehensive peer reviews by the Research Council and finally interviews with a small selection of applicants before the final allocation in Autumn 2027.
Information About the Further Process
The faculty will, as usual, provide information about the application process and the call in our newsletters MED-nytt and "Funding opportunities." Information will also be given in meetings between the faculty and the units. An overview of the internal processes at UiO in conjunction with the Research Council's timeline can be found here.
Best regards,
Jan