RCN Research Centres — SFF, FME, PETROSENTER

FME — New Research Centres for Environment-friendly Energy

Funds Norwegian clean energy hubs with long-term support for research-led transformation in power and storage.

The FME (Senter for miljøvennlig energi — Research Centres for Environment-Friendly Energy) 2026 call establishes new Norwegian research centres focused on clean energy transition technologies. The programme is operated by the Research Council of Norway under its Energy and Transportation portfolio. The total pool is NOK 240 million distributed across two to four new centres; individual centre awards run from NOK 60 million to NOK 120 million over a 10-year funding period. The deadline for applications is 23 September 2026.

Eligibility is restricted to approved Norwegian research organisations — universities and research institutes on RCN's approved list — which must serve as the host institution and project leader. Companies cannot lead an FME centre but are typically expected to participate as industry partners in the consortium, given the programme's mandate to bridge academic research and industrial application in the clean energy sector. Eligible research topics span the full clean energy portfolio: renewable energy systems, hydrogen production and storage, energy efficiency, carbon capture and storage, offshore wind, and related low-emission industrial technology. Centre duration is 10 years, requiring host institutions to commit to long-term infrastructure and staffing.

FME is a recurring scheme; previous rounds produced centres covering solar energy, offshore wind, CCS, and zero-emission buildings. Successful applicants in this call are expected to present a research agenda that is scientifically ambitious and addresses technology gaps in Norway's clean energy transition, name a research director with a strong publication record and industry relationships, and demonstrate that the host institution can mobilise the physical facilities and co-funding required to run a centre at this scale. Award amounts of NOK 60–120 million represent the total grant over 10 years, not annual funding, so applicants must budget accordingly across the full project duration.