The application deadline was Monday 4th September 2023 at 16:00.
Note! A PI may only submit one application in this call for proposals.
Application categories
For 2024, research funding is available within the following application categories:
Who can apply?
All applications must be submitted through an applicant institution, i.e. a hospital/private non-profit hospital or a private institution with access to applications in Helse Sør-Øst. The PI (applicant) must have a PhD and be employed in at least 20% position at the applicant institution from the application deadline and throughout the project period. In addition, the PI's main position must in the health region.
Helse Sør-Øst RHF has set an upper annual limit for the amount awarded per PI. This limit is NOK 4.5 million for 2024 and includes both ongoing and new research projects, independent of application category.
External PI
PIs who meet the formal requirements given above have the opportunity to submit one additional application as external PI for a doctoral or postdoctoral grant at a non-university hospital in the region. External projects are not included in the annual quota per PI. Note, however, that external PIs who have had an application for research funding approved in the last three years (project start 2021, 2022 or 2023) will not be able to submit a new application as external PI in this call for proposals.
Upper age limit for PI
People over the age of 70 (born in 1953 or earlier) do not have access to applications, but can have a role as a project participant. If the PI turns 70 during the project period, the application must be accompanied by a confirmation from the applicant institution that the responsibilities of the PI will be transferred to another person. Use the template for such confirmation.
Selection of thematic group for distribution of the application to the relevant review panel
The application must be submitted electronically via the online solution eSøknad. In the application form, there is a list used for classification of the application to one of the following groups:
- Clinical research in mental health and substance abuse/addiction
- Research in public health, epidemiology, health services etc.
- Clinical somatic research
- Clinical somatic research, including therapy research
- Health and biomedical informatics
- Biomedical research with a translational perspective
- Experimental medical research
- Translational research and precision medicine
The review panels are put together so that they reflect the thematic profile within each thematic group and the subject areas included in the applications in these groups. Correct classification of the application is therefore a central element in the application process and instrumental for the distribution of applications to the members in each panel.
Please note that subgroups have been added to the subject groups for clinical somatic research and biomedical research with a translational perspective. The subgroups may be merged if the number of applications in one group is particularly low.
Note! The PI is personally responsible for classifying the application in the correct group, and the research administration in Helse Sør-Øst RHF cannot contribute to any re-classification of the application after the application deadline.
See an overview of the composition of each subject group.
Prioritised research areas
The board of Helse Sør-Øst RHF has decided to earmark up to 10 million NOKs of the call to research projects within the following three areas:
- Treatment of mental disorders and addiction in children/young adults
- Health competency
- Patient safety
See our own website with a description of the prioritized thematic areas.
Regional research networks
Helse Sør-Øst RHF is also announcing earmarked research funds for regional research networks in the following areas:
- Streamlining/personnel-saving technology
- Decentralized clinical trials
Please note that a separate application form must be used for regional research networks in eSøknad.
See description and guidelines for targeted regional research networks.
Strategic allocation to non-university hospitals
The board of Helse Sør-Øst RHF has decided that research funds will continue to be set aside for the non-university hospitals in the region at the same level as before. This year, all applications from non-university hospitals are processed together with other applications for regional research funds in one and the same process.
See guidelines for the strategic research funds of non-university hospitals.
Application assessment and user participation
All applications are assessed according to criteria for scientific quality and expected impact for the health services. These criteria are common to the regional health undertakings.
Please note that a plan for user participation is included as an element in the project description and will be part of the application assessment. The project description must explain the extent to which users are involved in the planning and implementation of the project, or why this is not appropriate.
References:
- Overview of the assessment criteria
- Process for processing applications in Helse Sør-Øst RHF
- User participation in health research in the specialist health service
Applications that do not meet the formal requirements in the announcement may be rejected. See overview of possible reasons for rejection of applications.
Frequently asked questions and contact information
Under frequently asked questions, you will find answers to many of the most frequent questions regarding applications for research funding. If you have any other questions, please contact us via e-mail: forskningsmidler@helse-sorost.no
In the event of any discrepancies between the Norwegian and English versions of the tender documents, the Norwegian version will take precedence.
Template for the project description
User participation in health research