Call for proposals: Nordic and Baltic solutions on food security

Portal call text Available Budget: Up to NOK 115,0 million for Nordic partners and up to EUR 300.000 for Estonian partners and EUR 420.000 for Lithuanian partners. Maximum amount of Nordic funding that may be sought NOK 15,0 million. Maximum amount for Estonian and Lithuanian partners, see the national rules (annex 1). Please note that NordForsk may make changes to the call text until 6 weeks before the deadline. Any such changes will be stated clearly. This call is announced as a collaborative effort between: The Research Council of Norway The Agriculture and Food Industry Research Funds (Norway) Formas (Sweden) Research Council of Finland Research Council Faroe Islands Rannis (Iceland) Estonian Research Council Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania Research Council of Lithuania and NordForsk. NordForsk announces funding for approximately 10 Nordic or Nordic/Baltic research projects. Applicants are invited to submit proposals for projects within the scope of the call. Eligibility criteria To be eligible for funding, the following conditions must be met: Proposals must be submitted electronically through NordForsk Call and Application Portal by the call deadline. Proposals must be written in English. Project partners can be research performing organisations*, industry partners, public sector authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or other non-academic partners. The rules for Estonian and Lithuanian partners, are outlined in annex 1. The consortium must include: partners in at least three Nordic countries or in at least two Nordic countries, and one partner in Lithuania and/or Estonia. Nordic countries are defined here as Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland Islands. at least two research performing organisations. at least one non-academic partner. The host organisation (project owner) for the research project must be an established research performing organisation*, such as university, university college or a research institute based in one of the countries co-funding the call: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Estonia or Lithuania. If the project owner is based in Estonia or Lithuania, the project must appoint a Nordic co-host organisation among the list of eligible partners, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland Islands. The project leader (principal investigator) must have a PhD and be employed by the host organisation (project owner) during the duration of the project. A project leader can lead only one application but may participate as team member in other applications. The rules for Estonian and Lithuanian project leaders, are outlined in the annex 1. The proposal must include a signed Letter of Commitment from the project owner. Letters of Commitment must be signed by a person authorised to take on financial commitments on behalf of the host organisation for the entire duration of the project. Organisations based in the Russian Federation and Belarus may not participate in projects funded by this call. Applicants and project participants from Estonia and Lithuania must comply with national rules (see annex 1). Applications that do not fulfil the above eligibility criteria will not be processed. * A research-performing organisation is a legal entity which is a university, university college, or research institute and is characterised by the following criteria: Having as its primary goal to independently conduct fundamental research and/or applied research and/or research-based innovation where results are published. The organisation may be private or public but must not pay dividends from its activities. Research organisations pursuing both non-economic and economic activities must have a formal separation in place between its economic and non-economic activities. The organisation must have a significant production of academic, peer-reviewed, and published research. Stakeholder involvement Projects are expected to include appropriate stakeholders and end users in the co-development and co-leadership of the project. Engagement with other sectors, as appropriate, are expected to identify implementation barriers as well as help develop strategies and systemic approaches to overcome them. A trans-sectoral approach – involving the academic, research, economic (businesses), societal (governmental and non-governmental organizations) and/or community sectors – strengthens the relevance of outcomes and enhances the conditions for their uptake and use, thereby increasing the likelihood of long-term societal and industrial impact. There are two ways for stakeholders to be involved in the project. First option, stakeholder organisations may participate as partner organisations. Stakeholder partner organisations have essential tasks for implementing the proposed research and shall sign the collaboration agreement defining the rights and obligations of all partners in the project. As consortium partners, they have access to project results, and their eligible costs are covered by the grant. Second option, stakeholders participate without being consortium partners. The stakeholder as an individual/or organisation does not sign the collaboration agreement. The costs can be reimbursed, from the grant, typically from the project owners budget for stakeholder involvement. They have no rights or duties connected to the implementation of the project. They may still provide access to data, participate in workshops, be active in a stakeholder board, support dissemination activities etc. If the Nordic partner is an undertaking (a business), the maximum support from NordForsk is 150.000 EUR (1.6 mill. NOK) irrespectively of the sector mentioned below. The rules for Estonian and Lithuanian project partners, are outlined annex 1. The support for an undertaking is provided as de minimis aid. There are limitations on the amounts an undertaking may receive under this obligation. For undertakings in the primary fishery and aquaculture sector (1) or the primary agricultural sector (2), the total amount of de minimis aid shall not exceed EUR 30,000 or EUR 50,000 respectively over the two preceding financial years and the current financial year as specified in the de minimis regulations applicable to these sectors. Since NordForsk is financed by five Nordic states, our grants are divided into five parts when calculating de minimis support. As such, only 20 % of a grant count towards the de minimis limit for any one recipient. Consequently, only 20 % of 150.000 = 30.000 EUR counts towards the state aid funding limitations for each undertaking. (1) For more information on the primary fishery and aquaculture sector, see: CL2014R0717EN0030010.0001_cp 1..1 (2) For more information on the primary agricultural sector, see: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal content/DA/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02013R1408-20231025 Background for the call The Nordic and Baltic food system faces risks from climate change, geopolitical instability, and disruptions in global trade and co-operation. Although supply chains for major imports are generally stable, the region is still vulnerable to market shocks and trade restrictions. Access to food and feed varies between sectors, geography and countries; some export while others rely on import. Food security is therefore influenced not only by production capacity, but also by logistics, storage capacities, cross-border co-operations and the optimal use of regional resources, including sea food, meat and plant-based food. Risks arise from disruptions to logistics and transport routes, challenges related to import and export flows, food distribution, and access to critical inputs. These vulnerabilities are further reinforced by geographic constraints and dependencies related to energy, fuel and infrastructure. Solving these challenges requires research-based knowledge for food system actors and policymakers. Scientific contributions may help assess the impact of climate events or geopolitical uncertainties on food production, processing, distribution and access. The outcomes can guide strategies to reduce dependency, strengthen domestic capacity, and improve cross-border coordination, including adjusting food production and harvesting during crises. The Karlstad Declaration (19 June 2024) underscores the need for joint Nordic efforts to enhance food preparedness and resilience through coordinated policy, planning, and research. Collaboration across sectors and strengthened scientific co-operation are vital for securing regional food systems in emergencies. NATO’s Civil Emergency Planning Committee (CEPC) mandates secure and sustainable access to food and water as one of its seven requirements for member states. Aim of the call and thematic framework The overall objective of this call is to support research and innovation projects that strengthen food security by enhancing the resilience of food systems across the Nordic and Baltic region through improved crisis preparedness, resilient support systems, and shifts in consumer behavior : Advancing integrated approaches that connect technological, organisational, and institutional innovation Addressing both short-term shocks and long-term systemic stresses Strengthening the capacity of food systems to anticipate, respond to, and transform in the face of disruptions Supporting evidence-based policy development and implementation Together, the three themes below address how food systems can anticipate and manage crises, ensure robust infrastructure and logistics, and reduce vulnerability by increasing the production and access to regionally produced food. The call emphasises both system - level and actor - level perspectives, and the interaction between physical, institutional and societal drivers of food security. Funded research is expected to generate knowledge and solutions that enhance long - term resilience, sustainability and emergency preparedness across Nordic and Baltic food systems. The aim is to promote transdisciplinary research collaboration between research groups and relevant societal and business actors to develop new knowledge and build research expertise that is necessary to address the topics below. The call is not open to projects that are primarily aimed at developing new commercial technologies or solely aim to increase short-term profitability for participating industrial partners. The aim is to fund projects involving parts of the land-based value chain and/or parts of the sea food-based value chain, or combined projects. Projects must address food security within at least one of these areas: 1. Transnational/(transregional) preparedness and crisis response in food systems Research under this theme should strengthen Nordic and Baltic preparedness for food system shocks caused by climate change, natural hazards, geopolitical events or other systemic risks. This includes tools, models and frameworks for risk assessment, scenario planning, crisis management and coordinated emergency response across food system value chains. 2. Resilience and interdependencies of critical infrastructure This theme addresses the resilience and interdependencies of critical infrastructure supporting food production and distribution, such as transport, storage, energy and digital systems. Research should identify vulnerabilities, bottlenecks and cascading risks across agricultural and seafood supply chains and explore options for restructuring and strengthening these systems under future uncertainty. 3. Consumer behavior and increased use of Nordic and Baltic produced food Strengthening food security also depends on consumer choices and market demand. In particular demand for locally and regionally produced food is a key factor for ensuring stable access to food in all parts of the Nordic and Baltic region. This theme focuses on consumer attitudes, preferences and barriers related to choosing healthy, affordable, and locally or regionally produced food. Research may address how factors such as culture, price, availability, information, labelling and policy incentives influence food choices, and how diets based on Nordic and Baltic resources can support food system resilience, sustainability, public health and preparedness. Nordic and Baltic added value The initiative provides Nordic and Baltic added value by tackling shared vulnerabilities in food systems, supported by similar climatic conditions, governance systems, and public-private partnerships. It aims to strengthen food security through updated policy recommendations and aligns with the Nordic vision 2030 for a green, competitive, and sustainable region. Building on previous NordForsk calls, it deepens understanding of risks and governance in food production and supply, offering new insights to boost resilience and preparedness. Compliance to NordForsk’s policies on open access, gender equality, and data management The projects are expected to comply with the NordForsk policies on Open Access and Gender Equality . The funded projects are expected to implement good data management practices such as the FAIR principles . Research institutions receiving funding from NordForsk must have a Gender Equality Plan available on their website and a data management plan in place before any funding will be disbursed. Gender dimension in research content NordForsk requires applicants to consider and describe whether and how gender perspectives are integrated into the proposed research, where both social and biological aspects of gender and gender identity are included in the research designs and analyses. The integration of a gender dimension, where relevant, will be assessed as part of the criteria for scientific quality. Artificial intelligence (AI) in grant applications Any use of AI tools must be ethical and responsible, and respecting legal and research standards and requirements. The use of generative AI should be transparent. Applicants are advised to read the European Commission’s Living guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI in research . Responsible internationalisation As applicants in this call researchers must adhere to national rules regarding responsible international co-operation. Financial framework Applicants are invited to apply for funding to establish a research project with a budget of maximum NOK 15 million and a duration of up to 4 years. Funding may be used for costs that are necessary for the implementation of the project, such as: Salaries of researchers corresponding to the person’s activity level in the project PhD and post-doctoral positions corresponding to the person’s activity level in the project, and not covering salary during teaching or other departmental duties Running costs (data collection and analysis, consumables, minor equipment, premises) Mobility and research stays, travels Dissemination, outreach, and knowledge exchange activities (including open access charges) Stakeholder involvement/activities Indirect costs and overhead Project owner and/or partners in the project can engage subcontractors to provide services that contribute to the implementation of certain tasks in the project. Subcontractors are not considered as consortium partners and may not be granted rights to project results. All costs must be explained. Indirect costs and overhead may be included. NordForsk does not apply any fixed rate or model for calculating indirect costs for research projects. Such costs should be determined by the participating institutions according to their own rules and models, and applicants are advised to consult these for further guidelines. The rate for overhead should be explained under the budget section on justification of resources. The feasibility of the budget will be assessed. Partner institutions from outside the Nordic region must fund their own participation; however, travel and accommodation costs may be covered. Applicants and project participants from Estonian and Lithuanian must comply with national rules (see annex). Funding model The call is funded with a true common pot provided by the Nordic funding partners and administered by NordForsk. The funding partners from Estonia and Lithuania intend to provide funding to eligible Estonian and Lithuanian partners respectively. Budgetary considerations The projects shall participate in meetings, conferences and other events arranged within the framework of this call. Applicants shall include in their budget travel costs for at least three persons from each project for joint meetings initiated by NordForsk – such as a kick-off meeting and a final meeting/event (i.e., travel and lodging for one night). ​​​​ Submission of proposals The project leader must submit the application form and the annexes on behalf of the research consortium electronically through the NordForsk Application Portal no later than 13.00 CET (Oslo Time) on 2. December 2026. The following documents are mandatory: NordForsk full proposal form as specified in application portal. Research plan (max ten pages, including references). Communication and dissemination plan (max two pages). CVs including a list of up to ten publications and up to ten other key outputs (max three pages for project leader and max one page for each key researcher). Budget specifications (standard templates). Letter of Commitment from project owner. Please find further instructions and details in the application portal. Assessment criteria All eligible proposals will be rated using a scale 1-7 (1=poor; 2= weak, 3= fair 4= good, 5= very good, 6= excellent, 7= outstanding) based on the criteria described below. An international expert panel will assess the proposals according to the following criteria: Contribution to call aims The extent to which the proposed research is appropriate to the aims of the call Scientific quality Clarity of objectives, research questions/hypotheses and project description Soundness and credibility of concept and methodology (including, when relevant, interdisciplinary approaches, stakeholder involvement, consideration of the gender dimension in research content) Potential to develop new knowledge beyond current state-of-the-art Ethical considerations and how these will be handled Credibility of expected research results, societal relevance, and potential for impact Nordic and Baltic added value Potential to create benefits for the Nordic and Baltic research ecosystem (such as enhancing scientific excellence; achieving necessary critical mass and/or expertise; building competence; supporting mobility and networking; facilitating early-career researchers’ opportunities for building lasting Nordic and Baltic networks and future international careers; enhancing cost-effectiveness by sharing data and research infrastructure; developing or utilising particular Nordic and Baltic strengths or expertise, phenomena or data) Potential to create benefits for Nordic and Baltic societies (such as addressing needs that are particular to the Nordic and Baltic countries considering similar societal structures, similar challenges concerning climate and biodiversity, shared cultural heritage; providing a strong and quality-assured knowledge base for policymakers, practitioners and other stakeholders; or creating new innovations, patents or solutions that help enhance development and co-operation in the Nordic and Baltic region) Quality of the research team Experience, expertise and merits in relation to delivering the proposed research Complementarity of the participants and extent to which the consortium as whole brings together the necessary expertise, including how the consortium partners jointly contribute to the project Feasibility Quality and effectiveness of the work plan, including extent to which financial and personnel resources are appropriately assigned in line with the objectives and deliverables Appropriateness of the management structures and procedures, including risk management Communication and dissemination Quality of plans for communication, dissemination and knowledge exchange including the extent to which such activities align with project objectives and target relevant stakeholders Quality of open science practices in terms of sharing research data and outputs The expert panel will provide a written statement, including a final overall grade for each proposal. Normally, proposals rated 4 or below by the expert panel will not be considered for funding by the NordForsk Board. The Call Committee will assess the two criteria contribution to call aims and Nordic and Baltic added value . In addition, the committee may pursue a balanced portfolio of funded applications in relation to the call aims and objectives. Processing of proposals NordForsk's guidelines on impartiality will be applied to handle possible conflicts of interest. The assessment process will be administered by NordForsk. The process leading up to a funding decision includes the following steps: Eligibility : Proposals will be subject to an administrative eligibility check examining the adherence to the requirements of this call. Only applications which meet all the conditions set out in this call text and annexes will be assessed. Peer review by expert panel: The proposals will be evaluated by a at least three international experts, they will do the assessments individually and independently, using the assessment criteria as specified above, before they convene in a panel meeting to agree on the overall grade of the proposal. Call Committee: The Call Committee will assess the top-rated proposals, using the two assessment criteria as specified above. The Call Committee will recommend projects to be awarded funding to the NordForsk Board. Funding decisions: The NordForsk Board will take the final funding decision based on the recommendation from the Call Committee. This is expected to take place in Q2 2027. The funding agencies Estonian Research Council, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania and Research Council of Lithuania will take their final funding decision on the national contributions, based on the recommendation of the Call Committee. The funding decision will be announced by NordForsk shortly after the funding decision has been made. All applicants will receive written feedback from the expert panel. Please note that NordForsk may adjust the process described above in case of an unforeseen high number of submitted applications or other unexpected events. Management and monitoring of projects that are granted funding The outcome of the funding decision will be notified to the project leader through the application portal. NordForsk will sign a contract with the project owner (project leader organisation) and this contract will set out the specific funding rates and details in accordance with NordForsk Standard Terms and Conditions of Contract . A consortium agreement regulating the rights and obligations of the various institutions/partners involved in the project must be signed by the project partners before any funding will be disbursed, but projects can start earlier. The project leader will be responsible for submitting annual reports consisting of a scientific progress report, a financial report and an impact report. A final report must be submitted to NordForsk at the end of the funding period. The project leaders are responsible for the implementation of human resource strategies for researchers in keeping with the basic principles of the EU Charter for Researchers and the EU Code for the Recruitment of Researchers , where applicable. Provider article Photo: Adobe Stock Call for proposals: Nordic and Baltic solutions on food security call A green Nordic region Agriculture Sustainable fisheries Deadline 02.12.2026 The call for proposals on Nordic and Baltic solutions on food security is launched. Proposals must address preparedness and crisis response in food systems, critical infrastructure and/or increased use of Nordic and Baltic produced food. Published: 23.06.2026 Read the full call text and apply Call Deadline: 02.12.2026 13:00 (CET/Oslo Time) Available Budget for Nordic partners: up to 115 MNOK Available Budget for Estonian partners: up to 300 000 EUR Available Budget for Lithuanian partners: up to 420 000 EUR Amount of funding that may be sought to Nordic partners in a project : up to 15 MNOK Funding for Estonian and Lithuanian partners, see the national annexes. The aim is to fund approximately ten Nordic or Nordic/Baltic research projects. Background The Nordic and Baltic food system faces risks from climate change, geopolitical instability, and disruptions in global trade and co-operation. Although supply chains for major imports are generally stable, the region is still vulnerable to market shocks and trade restrictions. Access to food and feed varies between sectors, geography and countries; some export while others rely on import. Food security is therefore influenced not only by production capacity, but also by logistics, storage capacities, cross-border co-operations and the optimal use of regional resources, including sea food, meat and plant-based food. Risks arise from disruptions to logistics and transport routes, challenges related to import and export flows, food distribution, and access to critical inputs. These vulnerabilities are further reinforced by geographic constraints and dependencies related to energy, fuel and infrastructure. Solving these challenges requires research-based knowledge for food system actors and policymakers. Scientific contributions may help assess the impact of climate events or geopolitical uncertainties on food production, processing, distribution and access. The outcomes can guide strategies to reduce dependency, strengthen domestic capacity, and improve cross-border coordination, including adjusting food production and harvesting during crises. The Karlstad Declaration (19 June 2024) underscores the need for joint Nordic efforts to enhance food preparedness and resilience through coordinated policy, planning, and research. Collaboration across sectors and strengthened scientific co-operation are vital for securing regional food systems in emergencies. NATO’s Civil Emergency Planning Committee (CEPC) mandates secure and sustainable access to food and water as one of its seven requirements for member states. Aim and thematic framework The overall objective of this call is to support research and innovation projects that strengthen food security by enhancing the resilience of food systems across the Nordic and Baltic region through improved crisis preparedness, resilient support systems, and shifts in consumer behavior: Advancing integrated approaches that connect technological, organisational, and institutional innovation Addressing both short-term shocks and long-term systemic stresses Strengthening the capacity of food systems to anticipate, respond to, and transform in the face of disruptions Supporting evidence-based policy development and implementation The aim is to fund projects involving parts of the land-based value chain and/or parts of the sea food-based value chain, or combined projects. Projects must address food security within at least one of these areas: 1 . Transnational/(transregional) preparedness and crisis response in food systems Research under this theme should strengthen Nordic and Baltic preparedness for food system shocks caused by climate change, natural hazards, geopolitical events or other systemic risks. This includes tools, models and frameworks for risk assessment, scenario planning, crisis management and coordinated emergency response across food system value chains. 2. Resilience and interdependencies of critical infrastructure This theme addresses the resilience and interdependencies of critical infrastructure supporting food production and distribution, such as transport, storage, energy and digital systems. Research should identify vulnerabilities, bottlenecks and cascading risks across agricultural and seafood supply chains and explore options for restructuring and strengthening these systems under future uncertainty. 3. Consumer behavior and increased use of Nordic and Baltic produced food Strengthening food security also depends on consumer choices and market demand. In particular demand for locally and regionally produced food is a key factor for ensuring stable access to food in all parts of the Nordic and Baltic region. This theme focuses on consumer attitudes, preferences and barriers related to choosing healthy, affordable, and locally or regionally produced food. Research may address how factors such as culture, price, availability, information, labelling and policy incentives influence food choices, and how diets based on Nordic and Baltic resources can support food system resilience, sustainability, public health and preparedness. Stakeholder involvement Projects are expected to include appropriate stakeholders and end users in the co-development and co-leadership of the project. Engagement with other sectors, as appropriate, are expected to identify implementation barriers as well as help develop strategies and systemic approaches to overcome them. Read more about stakeholder involvement in the full call text. Funding This call is announced as a collaborative effort between the Research Council of Norway, the Agriculture and Food Industry Research Funds (Norway), Formas (Sweden), Research Council of Finland, Research Council Faroe Islands, Rannis (Iceland), Estonian Research Council, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, Research Council of Lithuania, and NordForsk. Webinar Watch the recording of the webinar Question and answers Do you have questions related to the call? Please contact : [public contact omitted] Phrase the question in general terms as the question and the answer will be published. We update the questions & answers section continuously, and you will shortly find a reply to your question below. Aim of the call Would the following types of research questions be considered within the scope of the call, provided that they are clearly linked to food security and Nordic-Baltic preparedness? [list of topics have been omitted] The proposals will be evaluated through a peer review process. The peers have the same information as you have when considering the scope of the proposal. The evaluation criteria applied when considering the scope is “Contribution to call aims". The extent to which the proposed research is appropriate to the aims of the call”. As “Contribution to call aims” is an evaluation criteria, a proposal may score 1, indicating a low contribution to call aim, but with in scope. It may score 7 indicating a high contribution to call aim, and within scope. Are there any requirements or expections to which extend the resarch is directly applical on a short term? This could also be described as a form of Technology readiness levels of the project/technology/knowledge fostered in the project. No, there is no direct expectation to a TRL level or short-term outcomes. The call states: “The aim is to promote transdisciplinary research collaboration between research groups and relevant societal and business actors to develop new knowledge and build research expertise that is necessary to address the topics. Funding "Amount of funding that may be sought to Nordic partners in a project: up to 15 MNOK” just want to double-check is it total budget for 2-3 partners (what I think), or 15M/per partner? Please see the first thre sentences in the call. Maximum amount of Nordic funding that may be requested is NOK 15,0 million. The total budget for the Nordic partners. Not 15,0 million per partner. Funding for Estonian and/or Lithuaninen partners is in addition to the Nordic funding. Can small production companies be partners of the project and receive funding? Yes. In the stakeholder paragraph two options are described. Small businesses can be partners (and receive funding as a partner) or be active by providing access to data, participate in workshops, be active in a stakeholder board, support dissemination activities etc. (and receive funding over a partner budget). Would it be possible to include a Danish research partner in a proposal, even though Denmark is not listed among the funding organisations? Yes, the call states that Nordic partners can come from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland Islands. Be aware that the project owner cannot be from Denmark, but from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Estonia or Lithuania. All partners and project owners can be funded. What percentage of the total cost can be funded by the call? Costs for participants can be funded 100%. There is no requirement for in-kind contributions, but it is an option. Can the call fund the on-the-ground work by civil society actors who are implementing or piloting innovative, research-based solutions? Yes, any relevant actor can receive funding as a partner. Yes, it is a research and innovation call as the project owner must be a research performing organisation. The call is not aimed at implementation or piloting. What's the duration of the project? Up to four years. I wonder what role civil society can play in the call? Can they get funding covering 100% of their time? How big a part of the funding can go to these kinds of partners? Partners can be funded 100%, including non-academic partners. There is no limit on the funding directed to different sectors or countries. Funding should be justified in support of the aim of the call and the evaluation criteria. Can farmers or companies be reimbursed for trial activities as stakeholders or subcontractors rather than consortium partners? Subcontracting as in the purchase of services is possible. If successful, when is funding released? Funding is released after the collaboration agreement, developed by the project owner, is signed by all partners. For the following years funding is released once the progress report has been approved by NordForsk. The deadline to submit is 31 March and then NordForsk need s time to process. Is there any limitation on using the funding for a postdoc based in Denmark? There is no limitation on who (positions) contribute and are funded to reach the aim of the project. Is there a minimum time percentage required for the PI? No, there is no such requirement. Project management is part of the evaluation. Evaluation How will the involvement of food producing companies be regarded? Stakeholder involvement is expected. The call states: “Projects are expected to include appropriate stakeholders and end users in the co-development and co-leadership of the project.” Companies can be considered as stakeholders in the context. Can you please be more specific on the evaluation criteria, e.g. science vs societal impact? I assume you feel comfortable with the science impact (high-quality publications, building critical mass, networking, sharing of data and infrastructures and building on particular strengths). Societal impact contributes to needs in the Nordic and Baltic societies. This implies that the high-quality research also has to be relevant, not only to a science community, but relevant to the greater society. One way to achieve this is by involving society in the proposal, society here represented by relevant stakeholders. Projects must address at least one of the three themes. Is there any advantage in integrating two or more themes, or would NordForsk generally prefer a strong and focused contribution to one main theme? There is no advantage in two or more themes. Now that the call is published, what counts is not the preference of NordForsk, but the evaluation of the peer review process. What is strong demonstration of Nordic/Baltic added value? Please see: https://www.nordforsk.org/nordic-added-value Is it enough to collaborate with the non-academic partner in a participatory, co-production way? Ie. Collaborate on participatory elements such as workshops, engagement activities, living labs etc. Yes. Try not to think about what is enough, but what is best to reach the goal. Whatever supports the proposal best in the ambition to meeting the ambitions of the call and the call criteria. Eligibility Can one partner have two roles, research organisation and stakeholder? No. One organisation can only have one role in a proposal. It may have another role in another proposal. Is a Nordic-Baltic Institute based in Instanbul an eligible partner? Yes/No, an organisation based in Instanbul can be part of a consortium, but activities must be in-kind contributions and cannot be funded through the call. Are there some rules related to gender balance or balance related to seniority? No, but a bullet point in the criterion mentions the consideration of the gender dimension [no balance] in research content. Are Letters of Commitment (LoC) required only from the project owner, or also from each partner? The call mentions the following in the section for mandatory documents: "Letter of Commitment from project owner.". No other LoC is requested. If someone is a project owner on another NordForsk call, can they also be a project owner on this call? Yes. The non-academic partner does not need to be a signatory consortium partner, correct? If you have more than one non-academic organisation and the eligibility requirement is fulfilled, these can be partners or we can call them participants. Are universities of applied sciences (in Finland: "ammattikorkeakoulu"/UAS) considered established research performing organisations? Yes. Can one institution participate in more than one proposal? Yes. A project leader can lead only one application but may participate as team member in other applications. The rules for Estonian and Lithuanian project leaders, are outlined in the annex 1. If the project leader is employed by the project owner the first two years of the project, and the employment is continued with funding from NordForsk, is this ok? Yes, this should be addressed in the letter of commitment. Can a Danish institution be the consortium leader, and if not, is there a lead-sharing option available? The project leader/consortium leader is the organisation with the contract with NordForsk, if funded. This organisation cannot be based in Denmark. A partner can be based in Denmark. How the consortium organizes leadership is up to the consortium, and is part of the evaluation. Consortia Is there demand for international partners in a project? And amount of them, if obligatory? There is no demand for international partners beyond the consortium requirements. It is possible with international partners who cover their own costs. International involvement is also possible if you have the option to invite international food security experts and then covert their costs. Regarding involvement of different stakeholders - what policy actors are expected to participate and should this involvement be throughout the project? In the call this is phrased as “Projects are expected to include appropriate stakeholders and end users in the co-development and co-leadership of the project. Engagement with other sectors, as appropriate, are expected to identify implementation barriers as well as help develop strategies and systemic approaches to overcome them.” and “A trans-sectoral approach – involving the academic, research, economic (businesses), societal (governmental and non-governmental organizations) and/or community sectors – strengthens the relevance of outcomes and enhances the conditions for their uptake and use, thereby increasing the likelihood of long-term societal and industrial impact.” Would a consortium comprising research-performing organisations from two Nordic countries (Denmark and Finland) and one Baltic country (Lithuania) meet the geographical eligibility requirements, or is the participation of both Lithuania and Estonia required? Participation of both Lithuania and Estonia is not a requirement. The call states states“ the consortium must include partners in at least three Nordic countries or in at least two Nordic countries, and one partner in Lithuania and/or Estonia. Nordic countries are defined here as Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland Islands. The call requires at least one non-academic institution. Is one non-academic partner sufficient for the entire consortium, or must a non-academic institution be formally involved in each participating country? One non-academic partner is the minumum requirement for the entire consortium. Also check the annex. Would it be acceptable to include funded non-academic partners with their own budgets in Lithuania and Finland, while involving non-academic stakeholders or end users from Denmark and Estonia without separate partner budgets? Could the latter be included as associated partners or through another formal status recognised by the call? Which option is more accetable for the call? Yes, non academic organisations can be partners and be funded as partners and will also have commitments as partners. This includes the joint responsibility of implementation, signing the consortium agreement and reporting. Non academic organisations can participate and contribute without being partners. There is no formal status required for NordForsk. We expect that the consortium ensures that deliverables and activities described in the project description are achieved. The model chosen should be the model most feasible to reach the aim of the call. If Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania acts as the project owner/coordinator, is it mandatory to appoint a Nordic co-host institution? If so, could either Copenhagen Business School in Denmark or the University of Turku in Finland serve as the Nordic co-host, and would NordForsk conclude the funding agreement for all Nordic partners with that institution? Yes. In the stakeholder paragraph two options are described. Small businesses can be partners (and receive funding as a partner) or be active by providing access to data, participate in workshops, be active in a stakeholder board, support dissemination activities etc. (and receive funding over a partner budget). Can an organisation outside Europe act as a partner without any budget? Yes, partner institutions from outside the Nordic region must fund their own participation; however, travel and accommodation costs may be covered. Scope Is my proposal within scope? If you find that the topic fits into on or all the three areas that the proposal has to address, and the peer evaluation reaches the same conclusion, then it is within scope. Should all projects concern both land- and sea-based food production? The proposal does not have to included both land and sea or aquatic. It can be either or. It does not have to include production. Under area 3 (Consumer behavior and increased use of Nordic and Baltic produced food) you mention "demand for locally and regionally produced food". What do you mean by local and regional in this context? For example, do you mean regional as in larger regions such as the Baltic or Nordic region, or do you mean smaller geographical regions? As the call already mentions resilience of food systems across the Nordic and Baltic region, we are thinking smaller regions. Is there any advantage in integrating two or more themes, or would NordForsk generally prefer a strong and focused contribution to one main theme? There is no advantage of addressing more than one theme. Develop a proposal that strongly supports the aim of the call and scores high on the evaluation criteria. Which definition of food security is applicable for the call? The call is not specific on this beyond the “Background for the call” and “Aim of the call and thematic framework”. Other Will the webinar on 19th August be recorded and shared if registered to the webinar? Yes, the webinar will be recorded and shared. When are the applicants expected to be informed of the funding decision? Second quater of 2027, Q2 2027. What is the earliest and latest possible project start date? Would it be realistic to plan field activities for the 2027 growing season, and are costs incurred before the final contract or funding disbursement eligible? Earliest 31.05.2027. Latest 31.10.2027 Read the full call text and apply

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