The Research Council of Norway recently announced funding to support innovation projects in the business sector (IPN) for 2026. Funds have been earmarked for projects in the land-based bioeconomy, including the forest and wood value chain.
There is no application deadline, so applications are processed on a rolling basis.
46 million for the land-based bioeconomy
For 2026, the Research Council has allocated 46 million kroner to projects in this research area land-based bioeconomy. One of the main areas is Forests and Wood, which includes:
- forestry and forest management
- timber and lumber processing
- the development and use of wood in construction, interior design, and other products for outdoor and indoor environments
This means that the call for proposals covers our entire value chain.
The purpose is to support research- or development-driven innovation projects aimed at developing new technologies, products, or services in the value chains of the land-based bio-industries. The projects should contribute to sustainable value creation and the development of the land-based bioeconomy in Norway, in both existing and new value chains.
Innovation Projects in the Business Sector (IPN)
The Research Council’s IPN Program:
- Up to 50% funding for project costs (depending on the company’s size and the type of R&D activities)
- Opportunity to apply for 1–10 million kroner in funding
- Project duration: 12 to 48 months
- Requirement to collaborate with at least one R&D partner or another company
- Can be combined with SkatteFUNN for additional financial benefits
Rating
The evaluation of applications for the 2026 IPN call for proposals focuses on the quality of the application, the potential impact of the project, and the ability to carry out the project.
More information
Read more about the call for proposals here: Innovation Project in the Business Sector: Land-Based Bioeconomy 2026