FRIPRO — Free Investigator-Driven Research
Supports Norway's largest competition research grant for researcher-led projects at Norwegian research organisations across all scientific disciplines.
FRIPRO (Free Project) is the Research Council of Norway's flagship bottom-up funding scheme, supporting investigator-initiated research across all scientific disciplines without thematic restrictions. The 2026 portfolio totals NOK 1.67 billion across five subcalls targeting different career stages and research ambitions, from NOK 0.5M radical-idea micro-grants for early-career researchers up to NOK 40M awards for establishing world-leading research communities. All five subcalls share the same rules: only research organisations may apply (companies are excluded from being partners — they can only be subcontractors), applications require a score of 6 or 7 on all criteria, project managers face a 1-year waiting period between submissions, and intake is rolling open-ended. The 2024 cohort success rate was 21%.
Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.
Funds early-career Norwegian scientists through in-depth development opportunities at national research organisations.
Funds experienced Norwegian researchers with flagship support for broad, high-impact research and collaboration.
Funds postdoctoral mobility for Norwegian researchers by enabling international research stays and collaboration.
Funds early-career Norwegian researchers exploring radical ideas through short high-risk experimental grants.
Funds established Norwegian research environments building globally visible excellence through long-range scientific programs.