Kvalifisering – kommersialisering av forskning ved offentlig finansierte forskningsorganisasjoner 2026

This is a qualification grant program from the Research Council of Norway aimed at supporting the commercialization of research from publicly funded research organizations. The purpose is to conduct preliminary investigations of potential applications that form the basis for further pathways, including further research directions, technology development, or strategic decisions. The results from a qualification project can be used as a basis for an application for a verification project, as a possible next step in bringing research results closer to a market-ready product or solution. The program supports the pre-commercial phase, often characterized by close collaboration between academic and research communities, while projects also need dialogue with market actors such as partners, licensees, future investors, and customers to ensure proper direction and further financing. Projects must be based on research results from approved research organizations representing technological breakthroughs or significant improvements compared to existing knowledge or state-of-the-art, with potential to form the basis for new products, processes, or services.