UiA Innovation Pilot for employees

Through the UiA Innovation Pilot, academic staff can apply for funding to test research and development results with social impact or commercial potential.

The purpose is to help initiate innovation projects that do not yet qualify for other funding.

You are encouraged to contact UiA Nyskaping to discuss your idea and receive assistance in preparing the applicationt.

Download application form

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Application

Who can apply?

Academic staff from all disciplines may apply for funding.

You must hold at least a 50% position at UiA throughout the entire project period.

What you can receive funding for

You may apply for up to NOK 250,000 per project. The estimated total funding available for awards in 2026 is NOK 1 million (both target groups combined).

Funding may be used for the following costs:

• Salary costs: Project funding may cover salary costs for UiA employees, so that these are charged to the Research and Innovation Division rather than the faculty.
• Equipment and materials: Purchase of equipment and materials to produce prototypes, conduct laboratory tests or similar activities.
• Consultant services: Procurement of external expertise.
• Rental costs: Costs for renting premises outside UiA.
• Other costs: As a general rule, the project should only include costs from the four categories above. If other costs are nevertheless necessary (for example, networking with relevant markets/areas of application), these may be included in the application as “other costs”. Such costs must be directly related to the project objectives.

The project must start no later than 1 March 2027 and be completed within 12 months of the start date.

What you cannot receive funding for

• • Development of ideas that are not related to research and/or development results at UiA.
• • Development costs in later stages of an innovation project. If the project has already received qualification funding from the Research Council of Norway, it will normally have progressed too far to receive support through the UiA Innovation Pilot.
• Patent costs, including the preparation and filing of a patent application.
• Costs related to establishing or operating a company.
• Marketing and communication activities, e.g. event support, participation in research conferences and publication costs.

How to apply

Complete the application form for the call. You may elaborate on the application in an attachment, but the application form and attachments combined must not exceed 5 pages.

To submit the application, follow the link at the top of the page, upload the application and any attachment, and click “Submit”.

You may amend a submitted application until the application deadline of 23 October 2026.

Evaluation

Assessment criteria

1. Challenge and proposed solution

What challenge is the idea intended to address? How is the idea new and ambitious compared with existing solutions? What research and/or development results underpin it, and is the project approach realistic?

2. Societal benefit, added value and sustainability

Are there specific challenges that will be addressed, and for whom? What potential positive effects or wider impacts could the project generate?

The assessment will also consider whether the project demonstrates awareness of relevant ethical, social or environmental issues related to the idea and its application.

3. Expected project outcome

What new knowledge, insights or clarifications is the project expected to provide? To what extent will the project help mature the idea and provide a better basis for assessing its potential, needs, target groups, societal benefit or possible next steps?

4. Project plan

Has a realistic project plan been prepared? What are the key milestones? How likely is it that the stated objectives will be achieved by following the project plan?

Emphasis will be placed on whether the project has realistic and relevant objectives for the current stage of the idea, and whether the results can contribute to learning, further development or qualification for subsequent innovation activities.

5. Project team

How is the project team composed, and what expertise does each participant bring to the project? Does the project have access to the resources and expertise required to carry it out?

6. Budget

How realistic and cost-effective is the budget? Are the budgeted costs consistent with the project’s plans and needs?

7. Plan for further development after project completion

What plans does the project have for further developing the results after completion? Are the plans realistic and appropriate? How likely is it that the idea will be realised in the longer term after the project has ended?

Processing of applications

UiA Nyskaping checks whether the application meets the formal requirements of the call and rejects applications that do not meet these requirements.

A decision committee assesses the applications and decides on the allocation of funding. The committee consists of:

• The Vice Rector for External Relations and Innovation,
• The Director of Research and Innovation,
• Two academic staff representatives
• One student representative

Financial management and final reporting

Financial management

The faculty administration follows up the project finances while the project is underway. For approved projects, the faculties invoice the Research and Innovation Division in advance and establish dedicated project accounts/work orders where the corresponding funds are recorded.

Final report

After the project has ended, a final financial statement prepared by the faculty’s project financial officer must be submitted, showing how the UiA Innovation Pilot funding has been used.

Each project manager must prepare a short presentation (3–5 slides) covering experiences from the project, results and next steps, and present it at a final gathering.

Do you have any questions?

If you would like more information about the UiA Innovation Pilot, you are welcome to contact UiA Nyskaping.

Thomas Aamodt

Senior innovation adviser

Email

thomas.aamodt@uia.no

Phone

+47 38 14 14 44