Before you apply

Careful planning at an early stage increases your chances of success when applying for external research funding. Before you start writing your proposal, we recommend that you consider the following:

Assess whether the funding call fits your project idea

If you have identified a relevant call for proposals, read the call text carefully and consider whether your project idea addresses the objectives, expected impacts, and evaluation criteria of the call. Many proposals are rejected not because of weak research ideas, but because they are not sufficiently aligned with the specific call requirements. The Research Administration can assist you in assessing whether a funding opportunity is relevant to your project idea.

Familiarise yourself with internal procedures and requirements

Before you begin preparing your proposal, please read the Guidelines for the application process for externally funded research projects carefully. The guidelines outline responsibilities, roles, and the internal procedures that apply at Østfold University of Applied Sciences.

Secure internal anchoring for your project

Inform the Vice Dean for Research and your Head of Department about your plans as early as possible by registering your intended application through the web form for planned applications for external research funding. Early notification facilitates resource planning, clarification of institutional support, and proper internal anchoring of the project.

Build on previous experience

If you have submitted similar proposals in the past, we recommend reviewing evaluation reports and feedback from previous application rounds. Lessons learned from earlier evaluations can help strengthen your project description and improve the quality of your proposal. It may also be useful to discuss your proposal with colleagues who have previously secured external funding.

Identify relevant collaborators

Many funding programmes place considerable emphasis on collaboration and complementary expertise. If you are looking for project partners, national and international project databases can help you identify relevant research environments and potential collaborators. Useful resources include the Research Council of Norway's Project Bank, CORDIS, and the partner search database available through the EU's Funding & Tenders Portal.