Norwegian Research Council launches second selection phase of €151m Centres of Excellence initative

The Norwegian Research Council has launched the final phase of the call for applications for its Centres of Excellence, inviting 36 projects to present their case on 19/05/2026.

The successful project applicants will share a total of 1.76 billion Norwegian kroner (€151m) to establish Centres of Excellence aimed at promoting long-term research with strong potential for innovative discoveries.

The call for proposals took place in two phases. The first phase received 176 applications. Thirty-six applicants have now been invited to submit further details as part of the second phase, for which the deadline is 11/11/2026.

The selection committee comprised three subcommittees:
• Social Sciences and Humanities: 12 candidates selected from a total of 50 applications;
• Natural Sciences and Technology: 12 candidates selected from a total of 65 applications;
• Life Sciences: 12 candidates selected from a total of 61 applications.

The programme offers Norwegian scientific communities the opportunity to organise themselves into centres in order to achieve ambitious scientific goals. The Centres of…