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Nordic Countries
NIC Nordic Innovation Centre
The Nordic Innovation Centre (NICe) is the Nordic Council of Ministers` single most important instrument for promoting an innovative and knowledge-intensive Nordic business sector. Our basic assumption is that each of the Nordic countries possesses knowledge, which through increased co-operation significantly will improve innovation capabilities and competitiveness of Nordic businesses.
Today, the Nordic Innovation Centre is an important player in Nordic knowledge platforms within the areas of:
- innovation policy
- creative industries
- biotechnology
- micro- and nanotechnology
- technology foresight
- food safety
- innovative building & construction
- environmental technology
- venture capital
Establishing common Nordic knowledge platforms on strategically important areas gives Nordic businesses access to a larger knowledge basis and greatly enhances their innovation capabilities. The total project portfolio of the Nordic Innovation Centre consists of more than 120 ongoing projects and networks. NICe has since 2005 financed 17 MNT-projects which are collaboration between Research Institutions and Industry. The only formal funding restriction NICe has is that at least three countries from the Nordic Region must be represented in the project and that the projects have innovation focus, i.e. pure research projects are not funded.
Together with several hundred completed projects of great value to Nordic businesses, these projects involve the Centre in nearly all strategically important Nordic areas. NICe has a yearly funding budget of approx €10 millions.
MNT-ERA.NET Support Programmes
Country and Geographical coverage: All Nordic countries may apply. Finnish and Swedish applicants may apply for funding from national agencies (see information under these countries). Each Nordic partner may only apply for funding from one Nordic funding agency.
Name of initiative/program: MINT III
Programme owner: Nordic Innovation Centre (NICe)
Executing agency: Nordic Innovation Centre (NICe)
Contact:
Eili Vigestad Berge: +47 41 46 34 34, e.berge@nordicinnovation.net
Sigridur Thormodsdottir: +47 91 57 65 77, s.thormodsdottir@nordicinnovation.net
| Program/Call name | Technology/application focus covered | Opening/Cut-off dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| a) | MINT III www.nordicinnovation.net/mint |
Energy efficiency. See call text on www.nordicinnovation.net/mint | Pre-proposal May 6, 2009 at 12.00 Full-proposal July 10, 2009 |
Phases of R&D being funded (basic research, pre-competitive, application, serial production, market entry), funding rates (app.)
Projects funded within the Nordic MINT III programme shall both demonstrate considerable impact on energy efficiency and prove good potential for commercial success:
- Capitalise on existing research and investments in technology and systems
- Form essential links between industry research and the end-user; product consumer or technology exploiter (B2B, B2C and/or B2R cooperation, public/private)
- Emphasise a holistic approach on the energy efficiency problem
- Develop and/or implement more energy efficient value products and/or services
Major restrictions (e.g. types of institutions eligible for funding; SMEs, public/private etc.)
Maximum length of projects: 2 years
Maximum 50 % of total project funding from NICe.
Maximum amount granted from NICe: 3,5 MNOK
Project consortia must include:
- Partners applying for funding from minimum two MNT ERA-Net funding agencies (see list of funders on www.mnt-era.net )
- Partners from at least three Nordic countries
- Substantial participation from industry/business sector
Participation from Non-Nordic partner(s) and public/private end users/consumer is encouraged. This will influence the project prioritisation.
Participants from all Nordic countries may apply for funding from NICe.
In addition to funding from NICe the Finnish partners may apply for funding from Tekes. Swedish partners may apply for funding from Vinnova or from Energimyndigheten
Each Nordic partner may only apply for funding from one Nordic funding organisation.
Other national/regional programmes potentially suitable for co-operation
Finland: See information on Finland
Norway: Norwegian research council is through their NANOMAT programme participating in MATERA call (energy related projects only). Please see http://www.forskningsradet.no/servlet/Satellite?c=Page&pagename=nanomat%2FHovedsidemal&cid=1226993562781
Sweden: See information on Sweden. In addition it is possible to apply for funding from Energimyndigheten http://energimyndigheten.se/sv/Om-oss/Utlysningar/