Innovation Norway Innovation Contracts (Innovasjonskontrakter)

Innovation Norway Innovation Contracts Grant (Innovasjonskontrakter)

Supports Norwegian innovators and customers through co-developed solutions with market focus.

Innovation Norway's Innovasjonskontrakter (Innovation Contracts Grant) provides rolling grants of a minimum NOK 1,000,000 to Norwegian SME suppliers conducting R&D projects in a committed partnership with a pilot customer. The program's core requirement is a formal innovation contract between the supplier and the pilot customer, with the customer actively participating in development so the final solution best meets real market needs. The R&D activities must be aimed at strengthening the supplier's competitive position and generating lasting value creation in Norway.

Eligibility is limited to small and medium-sized Norwegian for-profit enterprises (SMEs). Large companies, nonprofits, universities, and individuals are not eligible as lead applicants. The innovation contract with the pilot customer is a hard prerequisite — applications without a committed pilot customer partnership will not qualify. The program operates under EU GBER state aid rules registered with Norway's ESA. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed competition windows. The 2026 state budget reduced the program's allocation by approximately NOK 94 million, contracting the total number of awards available.

Applicants most likely to succeed present a pilot customer that is highly credible and has contractually committed to the development process, not merely expressed informal interest. The R&D activities should be clearly scoped, with measurable milestones tied to the customer's specific needs. Given the budget reduction, reviewers will apply tighter scrutiny to both the commercial case and the strength of the pilot customer relationship. SMEs that have already signed a letter of intent or formal contract with the pilot customer before applying are better positioned than those still in early discussions.