About
Vestland fylkeskommune is a regional government authority (county municipality) in western Norway, formed by the merger of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane counties. The organization is responsible for a wide range of public services including upper secondary education, vocational training, public dental health services, regional planning, culture, public transportation, county roads, business and community development, public health, climate initiatives, and research funding. The county municipality serves the Vestland region with administrative offices in Bergen, Leikanger, and Førde.
Funding Opportunities
Fullføringsmidlar
Fullføringsmidlar is a completion funding program offered by Vestland County Municipality in Norway to increase completion rates for youth and adults in apprenticeship relationships and those waiting for apprenticeship positions. The program provides financial support to enable applicants without apprenticeship positions to sign apprenticeship contracts. Apprentices and apprenticeship candidates at risk of not completing upper secondary education can receive support to achieve their vocational training or parts of vocational training. The funds support various initiatives including workplace testing, additional personnel resources, measures to strengthen training to meet curriculum goals, extended training time, and takeover of training responsibility from other training companies.
Hospitering og yrkesfaglærar 2
Vestland fylkeskommune offers two funding schemes for vocational education development in Norway. The 'Hospitering' (Internship) scheme provides funding for instructors and vocational teachers to gain updated knowledge through short-term placements in schools or companies. Instructors from companies can receive grants to spend time in vocational schools, while vocational teachers can receive funding to work in companies to update their knowledge of their own profession or other related professions. The 'Yrkesfaglærar 2' scheme enables schools to bring professional expertise from the business community directly into vocational education. The goal is to involve professionals from working life directly in vocational training, strengthen the relevance of vocational education, increase student motivation, and build relationships between schools and businesses. Funding can be used to compensate companies/professionals who provide training and to cover costs related to transporting students to companies. Both schemes are part of the national initiative for competence development in vocational education and aim to strengthen cooperation between schools and working life, develop competence and networks, and view vocational training as a four-year continuum.
Tilskot til breibandutbygging
Vestland fylkeskommune lyser ut 40 millionar kroner til utbygging av breiband i fylket. Kommunane kan søkje om tilskot til område der det ikkje er kommersielt lønsamt å bygge ut. Ordninga støttar utbygging i område som manglar tilbod om breiband med 100 Mbit/s eller høgare. Prosjekt som mottar tilskot skal etablere eit reelt breibandstilbod til alle hushald og verksemder innanfor det geografiske området det er søkt om støtte til, med minimum 1 Gbit/s kapasitet etter utbygging. Ved prioritering mellom søknadar legg fylkeskommunen vekt på tal hustandar og bedrifter som får betring av breibandtilbodet, kostnadseffektiv utbygging i det enkelte prosjektet, og lokal medfinansiering. Støttemidlar skal ikkje brukast til å etablere tilbod til fritidsbustader. Største delen av midlane kjem frå ei rammeløyving frå Digitaliserings- og forvaltningsdepartementet, og prosjekt som får tilskot skal vera gjennomført innan 1. juli 2027.
Næringsutvikling i landbruket – tilskot til inspirasjonssamlingar
Vestland fylkeskommune offers grants to municipalities and business development companies working on behalf of municipalities to organize inspiration gatherings for farmers to develop their farm operations. The gatherings aim to provide broader insight into possible business activities on farms, inspire through showcasing what others have achieved, identify new potential for business operations on their own farms, and provide information about financial support schemes. The gatherings can be large or small single meetings, or a series of meetings over time. This grant is part of the Regional facilitation measures in agriculture and follows up on the 2026 annual plan's main priority in the agricultural theme plan. The program emphasizes collaboration with relevant partners, planning for follow-up of participants, and geographic distribution of activities throughout the county. Projects focusing on converting from stall to free-range livestock housing are not part of this call, as farmers already have good access to information and assistance for this process. The grant is intended to motivate farmers to develop their operations through knowledge sharing and collaboration between municipalities, professional organizations, and policy actors.
Tilskot til regionale tilretteleggingstiltak i landbruket
The Regional Facilitation Grant for Agriculture is a funding program offered by Vestland County Council to support time-limited development projects that contribute to regional business development, recruitment, and competence enhancement in the agricultural sector. The program aims to strengthen value creation in agriculture and realize goals and strategies outlined in the Thematic Plan for Agriculture for Vestland County 2023-2027. Eligible activities include development work, cluster collaboration, competence-building measures, recruitment activities, methodology development, and facilitation for business development. The program supports both preliminary projects and multi-year projects with regional significance. Projects must bring something new beyond existing measures and demonstrate an additive effect where the grant is essential for project implementation. Applicants may include municipalities, organizations, and research/development institutions registered in the Business Register. The program does not provide company-specific support that benefits only one or a limited number of businesses.
Tilskot til normalladarar ved reiselivsdestinasjonar i Vestland
Vestland fylkeskommune offers grants to tourism operators and other organizations to purchase and install publicly accessible normal chargers (electric vehicle charging stations) for visitors. The grant program supports the county's goal of climate transition and zero emissions by 2030 through electrification of vehicle fleets. Eligible locations include accommodation facilities and parking areas connected to cultural venues and recreational areas. The grant amount is 8,000 Norwegian kroner per charging station, limited to 50% of approved costs. Applicants must wait for approval before ordering or purchasing chargers, and have one year to complete the project and submit a final report.
LivOGLyst for lokalsamfunnsutvikling
LivOGLyst is a program for community development in Vestland County, Norway, designed to strengthen well-being, community, and activity in local neighborhoods. The program provides both competence in community development and financial support for mobilization and local initiatives. Projects are driven by local residents and can be a neighborhood, village, or district, with the goal of bringing people together across age, background, and interests to create something positive together. The program consists of two phases: a pilot project (forprosjekt) receiving 80,000 NOK to gather people, create engagement, generate ideas, and test them out during the first year; and a main project (hovudprosjekt) providing 300,000 NOK over three years to continue work from the pilot phase. Participants become part of a regional network with training in project work, annual networking meetings, digital gatherings, and follow-up from the county and local municipal contact persons.
Tilskot til forprosjekt for nye utdanningstilbod
Vestland fylkeskommune offers funding for 2025 to support the development of new educational offerings that are particularly relevant to the workforce in Vestland. This includes both the business sector and public sector. The purpose of the grant is to support projects that will either form the basis for new educational offerings in Vestland or qualify projects for national funding calls. Projects must be carried out in collaboration with the workforce to ensure that educational offerings meet real competency needs. The maximum grant amount per project is set at 400,000 Norwegian kroner, with a requirement of 50% self-financing of total costs. The grant supports activities such as investigating the content of new educational offerings and facilitating collaboration between education providers and the workforce, including project management and dialogue meetings. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as long as funding is available.
Tilskot til samarbeid om større søknader til nasjonale og internasjonale ordningar innan berekraftig verdiskaping 2026
Vestland fylkeskommune is providing up to 1 million NOK in total funding to strengthen regional collaboration for developing larger applications to national and international funding schemes that contribute to sustainable value creation. The goal is to support actors who wish to develop projects that can secure financing, such as establishing new centers, programs, or major projects in Vestland. Development of competitive applications requires time, resources, and good partnerships. This initiative aims to help actors in Vestland become stronger competitors and elevate more regional initiatives to national and international levels. Individual applications can receive up to 100,000 NOK to support activities such as personnel costs for project development and application writing, establishing national and international consortium partnerships, consultant assistance for application development or partner searches, and travel, meeting, and collaboration activities related to the application process. The program supports initiatives targeting major, long-term programs that typically require collaboration between at least 4-5 partners, have a total budget framework exceeding 10 million NOK, and a project duration of at least two years.
Bedriftsintern opplæring (BIO) 2026
Vestland County Council announces funding for company-internal training (BIO) totaling 5,225,000 kroner in 2026, with an additional 1.5 million kroner allocated to digital competence development. The BIO program aims to support targeted and time-limited competence development in business and industry in Vestland, enabling companies to carry out necessary transformation and strengthen their competitiveness. The funding is directed toward four priority areas: green transition, inclusion, defense and preparedness, and digital competence. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis while funds remain available. The program supports extraordinary training initiatives that are not part of ordinary operations and must have a time plan under 26 weeks. Training must contribute to UN sustainability goals and regional plans for sustainable value creation.
Frivilligprisen Vestland
Frivilligprisen Vestland is an annual prize of 50,000 Norwegian kroner awarded by Vestland County Council to recognize and celebrate voluntary work in the Vestland region. The prize aims to motivate, highlight, and value volunteerism in the county by showcasing exemplary individuals, organizations, groups, or associations that have distinguished themselves through voluntary efforts for the benefit of fellow citizens and society. The prize winner must be a role model and inspiration to others, having either sustained long-term voluntary work or completed a significant time-limited project. The prize money must be used within the voluntary sector, with the winner deciding its specific application. Recipients are selected through a nomination process where any resident of Vestland can submit nominations with written justifications. A jury consisting of representatives from umbrella organizations in the voluntary sector reviews nominations and recommends winners. The prize is presented at the annual Kulturkonferansen Vestland (Vestland Culture Conference). Public entities are not eligible for this award.
Tilskot til konservering av ruinar frå mellomalderen
This grant program aims to secure ruins from the medieval period (before 1537) and make a selection of them accessible to the public. The grant supports conservation and preservation work, documentation, maintenance and monitoring, public outreach, and competence development related to medieval ruins. Long-term and demanding conservation projects already underway are prioritized. The program also aims to maintain expertise in the conservation and care of masonry structures.
Tilskot til kulturminne på verdsarvlista – Bryggen
This grant program helps fulfill Norway's obligations under UNESCO's World Heritage Convention by supporting the development of World Heritage sites as beacons of best practice in natural and cultural heritage management. The program focuses on condition, management, and formal protection of the Bryggen World Heritage site in Bergen. Funding supports projects and initiatives related to preserving the outstanding universal values defined in the inscription document through restoration and sustainable use, strengthening heritage management, stimulating local engagement, communicating World Heritage values, promoting competence in craft techniques and traditional use, supporting sustainable tourism and business that strengthens heritage values, contributing to research and new knowledge about the heritage, and risk management including fire safety and preparedness against unwanted climate, natural and environmental impacts.
Tilskot til kulturbygg i Vestland
This is a grant program financed through gaming funds (spelemidlar) to support suitable facilities, buildings, and outdoor arenas for various cultural activities in Vestland county, Norway. Applicants can seek funding for cultural centers, multi-purpose venues, or specialized facilities for arts and culture including libraries, museum buildings, cultural heritage projects, performing arts venues, concert halls, or visual arts exhibition spaces. The program also supports the establishment of non-denominational ceremony rooms. The funding can be used for new construction, reconstruction, and modernization of cultural buildings, but not for maintenance or operational costs. The program aims to provide spaces for diverse cultural activities and prioritizes locally-owned arenas operated by organizations such as community halls, assembly houses, and youth centers that host cultural activities like dance, theater, music, and art exhibitions.
Tilskot til nasjonale og internasjonale idrettsarrangement og arenaer
The grant program for national and international sports events and arenas aims to help actors in Vestland organize sustainable sports events and develop facilities that meet national or international standards. The program supports sports events of national and international character that provide social value, inclusion, and visibility for sports in Vestland, as well as the establishment, development, and upgrading of facilities that enable hosting of national and/or international sports events. The program emphasizes sustainability (environmental, economic, and social), universal design, innovation, and collaboration between multiple actors. Priority is given to projects with national and international reach, projects that strengthen Vestland as a host for sports events, and events that include para-sports as part of the event.
Tilskot til kulturarenaer med regionale funksjonar
This grant program supports the development of cultural venues with regional functions and value in Vestland County, Norway. The program funds new construction, renovation, and modernization of cultural buildings and outdoor cultural arenas that serve needs beyond municipal boundaries. These venues must have value, size, and reach that covers regional or even cross-county needs. The funding aims to promote sustainable, modern, functional, and universally accessible venues that facilitate shared use and activities for different target groups. Projects must be implemented in accordance with planning and building laws, be architecturally well-designed, and demonstrate quality in both function and integration with built and natural surroundings. Supported venues must remain dedicated to cultural purposes for at least 20 years after funding is disbursed.
Tilskot til nyskapande aktivitetsanlegg
Vestland fylkeskommune invites municipalities and upper secondary schools in Vestland county to apply for grants for project planning and design of innovative meeting places with a focus on physical activity. The program emphasizes inclusion and shared use from a public health perspective, targeting projects in early development phases. Selected projects receive guidance from the county and access to architectural expertise funded by Vestland fylkeskommune. The support aims to create model facilities with high functional quality that can inspire future development of sports and physical activity facilities. Projects should address local challenges while having national transferability. The grant covers architectural competence for project design rather than direct cash payments to municipalities.
Tilskot til kartlegging og tilrettelegging for friluftsliv
This grant opportunity from Vestland County supports mapping and facilitation of outdoor recreation activities to make it easier for everyone to participate in health-promoting outdoor activities, both on land and at sea. The program aims to strengthen the knowledge base about outdoor recreation routes and lower barriers to participation through sustainable management and facilitation. It consolidates several previous grant programs including support for rowing and paddling routes, establishment of new outdoor recreation councils, and plans for outdoor recreation routes. The program particularly targets those with special needs for good facilitation in outdoor areas, including the elderly, people with reduced functional abilities, and children and youth.
Tilskot til livskvalitet og sosial utjamning
Vestland fylkeskommune tilbyr tilskot til prosjekt og tiltak som betrer livskvaliteten, styrker deltakingen i samfunnet og fremmer sosial inkludering og integrering for innbyggerne i Vestland. Ordningen skal bidra til at flere kan være med i fellesskapet. Tilskotsordninga bygger opp under målet om at Vestland skal være et inkluderende fylke med trygge, attraktive og livskraftige lokalsamfunn i hele fylket. Ordningen støtter prosjekter som gjør det enklere for målgruppen å være aktive i lokalmiljøene, stimulerer til felles aktiviteter (fysisk, mentalt og sosialt), bidrar til nedbygging av barrierer for deltaking, og har regional verdi. Tidligere ordninger som tilskudd til inkluderings- og integreringsfremmende tiltak, ABC for god psykisk helse, og lavterskel fysisk aktivitet for barn og ungdom er samlet i denne ordningen. Fylkeskommunen prioriterer søknader som reduserer barrierer for deltaking, har stor grad av medvirkning fra målgrupper, representerer nye aktiviteter, og som innebærer samarbeid på tvers av kommuner og organisasjoner.
At a Glance
- Total Funding Opportunities
- 44
- Active Now
- 19
- Source Domain
- vestlandfylke.no
Catalog Data
This funder profile was automatically extracted from grant listings. Information may be incomplete.
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