Call for proposals: Ocean Testing Collaboration

Quick facts

Background

Since 2021, Nordic Innovation, on behalf of the Nordic governments, has worked through the Sustainable Ocean Economy program to leverage the region's existing strengths in pursuit of making the Nordics a global leader in sustainable ocean economy development. The program has enhanced cross-border collaboration has been strengthened by creating new opportunities for growth and innovation in the Nordic region. To that end we have, for instance, supported innovative uses of marine biomass and practical applications of multi-use concepts.

As the program draws to a close, a gap in the Nordic ocean economy identified in our 2021 mapping report remains: the lack of opportunities for testing new marine solutions, business models, and market access for ocean biomass products. To address this, we aim to foster innovative testing initiatives that can bridge this gap. These efforts may involve collaboration among Nordic testbeds, partnerships between Nordic testbeds and companies testing solutions outside the region, or attracting non-Nordic solutions to be tested within the Nordics. By supporting such testing opportunities, we seek to enhance innovation, accelerate market readiness, and strengthen the Nordic position as a global leader in sustainable ocean solutions.

What we are looking for

Nordic Innovation seeks to fund a Nordic collaboration project focused on testing ocean-based solutions with the potential to create new opportunities for ocean innovation and strengthen the Nordic Ocean Economy. The project should leverage the unique strengths of each partner, with the added value of the collaboration consortium clearly demonstrated.  Examples of such projects include:

• Initiatives that foster collaboration between companies and/or networks to test innovative ocean-based solutions.
• Activities that support access to international markets for Nordic ocean-based solutions.
• Efforts to attract and integrate international ocean-based solutions into Nordic markets.
• Cross-sectoral cooperation between ocean-based and land-based industries.

The project should demonstrate:

• Added value for the Nordic region and the competitiveness of Nordic businesses
• How it helps make the Nordic ocean economy more competitive and sustainable

By ocean-based solutions, we are referring broadly to technologies, products, services or business models within ocean-relevant sectors, including, but not limited to, aquaculture, fisheries, offshore energy production, security, and tourism.

Continuous testing is an integrated part of many development processes. As such, the project funded under this call can take aim at any stage of product or business development.

Through these activities, we aim to drive innovation, strengthen market access, and enhance the Nordic region’s competitiveness in the sustainable ocean economy.

Nordic Added Value

Nordic Innovation’s activities should promote cooperation between stakeholders across Nordic borders. As such, Nordic Innovation only engages in activities that can create Nordic added value.

Nordic added value is created when cross-border cooperation between actors generates more value than those actors could have achieved by only working nationally. This needs to be demonstrated in the project proposal, as we are looking for projects that maximize the impact of Nordic cooperation. Furthermore, Nordic Innovation will only fund initiatives that would not otherwise be realized.

Funding

Nordic Innovation will fund one project with up to 1.5 million Norwegian kroner (NOK).

Nordic Innovation requires at least 50% in co-funding from project participants. This can be direct funding (capital), in-kind contributions (working hours) or a combination thereof. Consequently, in this call, if the total project cost is 3 MNOK, the combined co-funding from project partners must be no less than 1.5 MNOK. The composition of the co-funding must be demonstrated in the proposal. Nordic Innovation’s budget template must be filled out and submitted with the proposal.

Nordic Innovation may request a full accounting of costs during and after the project period.

Who can apply

A consortium of partners headed by a Nordic Lead Partner. The consortium must consist of partners from at least three different Nordic countries. Consortium partners from non-Nordic countries are welcome to participate, but only partners from Nordic countries can receive funding under this call.

The project partners can be:

• Companies (SMEs and larger companies)
• Clusters, business organizations, and facilitators
• Academic institutions and foundations
• Public entities

Project period

The project is anticipated to be carried out within 6 months. Under special circumstances the project period can be extended to 12 months. If the project period is to be longer than 6 months, this shall be clearly specified in the proposal.

Eligibility criteria

Only project proposals that meet all the following eligibility criteria will be considered for funding:

1. The proposal must be correctly submitted electronically within the given deadline.
2. The proposal must be valid until 1 April 2025.
3. The proposal shall be in English. 
4. The consortium must consist of partners from at least three different Nordic countries. The consortium must be headed by a Nordic Lead Partner.
5. The proposal must be signed by the Lead Partner.
6. A signed Letter of Intent from all project partners shall be included. 
7. The proposal shall include a project budget demonstrating at least 50% co-financing of the total project costs. Nordic Innovation’s budget template must be used.

Evaluation criteria

All proposals that meet the formal requirements will be evaluated by an expert panel based on the following criteria:

Impact (50%)

• Economic potential: What is the project’s potential economic impact on industries within the Nordic ocean economy? How will the project enhance competitiveness of Nordic Business?
• Vision 2030: How will the project contriburte to the program’s agenda and  Vision 2030 for the Nordic Cooperation?
• Nordic Added Value: What are the benefits of carrying the project out at a Nordic level rather than the national or regional level? How does the project leverage cross-boarder collaboration?
• Long-term impact: What is the anticipated will the long-term impact of the project?

Competence, relevance and implementation (30%)

• Are the project activities and the project management realistic, well-structured, and with measurable outcomes?
• What is the competence of the consortium to carry out the project activities? Please note that a wide geographic and sectoral distribution of partners will be considered positive.
• What is the project’s relevance to the Nordic region and real needs in the market?
• How will Nordic businesses and industries be involved in the project?

Value for money (20%)

• What is the level of co-financing and commitment of project partners?
• Is the total budget realistic and in line with the proposed activities?
• To what extent will funding from Nordic Innovation enable activities that would otherwise not have been carried out in the same manner?

Submission

Proposals must be submitted by e-mail to info@nordicinnovation.org and labelled Ocean Testing Collaboration. The deadline for submitting a proposal is 10 February 2025 at 23:59 CET.

Funding decision

The final funding decision will be made by Nordic Innovation no later than at the end of March 2025.

Information regarding the funding decision, including an abstract of the projects funded, will be published on Nordic Innovation’s website.

Nordic Innovation may reject all proposals if the result of the evaluation procedure gives reasonable grounds for doing so.

Questions and further information

During the Call period, Nordic Innovation will host a webinar to promote and explain the purpose and scope of the call. Details on this event will be announced on the program’s website: https://www.nordicinnovation.org/programs/sustainable-ocean-economy

For inquiries related to the call, please contact on the following:

• Thordur Reynisson, Senior Innovation Advisor at tr@nordicinnovation.org
• Emil Gejrot, Innovation Advisor at emil.gejrot@nordicinnovation.org
• Håkan Lind, Senior Innovation Advisor at h.lind@nordicinnovation.org

The deadline for submitting questions is 3 February 2025.

Relevant and frequently asked questions will be addressed in a special FAQ section for this call on Nordic Innovation’s website.

Miscellaneous

Applicants submitting proposals under this Mission Call are responsible for ensuring the inclusion of all necessary information and that all specified requirements are met. Proposals or other information received after the submission deadline will not be considered. 

The submitted proposal shall consist of:

1. A single pdf file consisting of:
   1. Proposal Document,
   1. Gantt chart or similar timeline outlining key deliverables and milestones, and
   1. Short CVs (½ page each) for key project participants.
2. A Budget using the provided template

The project currency must be Norwegian kroner (NOK). This applies to the Contract, the Budget, project accounts, disbursements from Nordic Innovation, and all project reporting.

Nordic Innovation will offer a contract to the Lead Partner of the selected project proposals. The contract will be between Nordic Innovation and the Lead Partner. It is the Lead Partner who is responsible for the running of the project on behalf of the consortium. Nordic Innovation’s standard terms and conditions will be a part of the project contract. A final report and project accounts shall be submitted to Nordic Innovation no later than three months after completion of the project.

The Lead Partner must be a legal entity registered in one of the Nordic countries.  

The Nordic countries are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland and the autonomous region of Åland.