Applications for funding from the Nordic Working Group for Oceans and Coastal Areas

NHK is funding efforts to develop a basis for Nordic initiatives to improve the marine and coastal environment. Representatives from at least three Nordic countries, or two Nordic countries and one Baltic country, must participate in the project application. It is important that the project has clear Nordic added value and that its objectives are in line with the NHK’s priority themes for project funding in 2024. The successful project will normally be published in the Nordic Council of Ministers’ publication series.

Applications that fall within the scope of the NHK’s mandate but outside these priorities may also be taken into consideration. Where relevant, applicants are encouraged to build on previous projects funded by the NHK or other working groups.

1. Harmonisation and standardisation of eDNA methods between national monitoring programmes for Nordic marine areas.

Harmonisation and standardisation of eDNA methods between national monitoring programmes for Nordic marine areas.

2. Suggestions and recommendations for how knowledge that contributes to ocean literacy and a positive engagement for Nordic marine and coastal environments can be spread.

Suggestions and recommendations for how knowledge that contributes to ocean literacy and a positive engagement for Nordic marine and coastal environments can be spread.

3. Impact of non-native species in Arctic and Nordic marine and coastal areas.

Impact of non-native species in Arctic and Nordic marine and coastal areas.

4. Overall and cumulative impacts of offshore wind power in Nordic waters. Joint Nordic maritime spatial planning for offshore wind power and co-operation to protect ecosystems and the use of areas that cross national marine boundaries

Overall and cumulative impacts of offshore wind power in Nordic waters. Joint Nordic maritime spatial planning for offshore wind power and co-operation to protect ecosystems and the use of areas that cross national marine boundaries.

5. Local restoration projects in the Nordic coastal zones: impact on the ecosystem, cost and/or socio-economic value.

Local restoration projects in the Nordic coastal zones: impact on the ecosystem, cost and/or socio-economic value.

6. The impact of bottom trawling and other activities on carbon storage in Nordic marine environments and/or the impact of activities on the capacity of Nordic blue forests and sediments to act as a carbon sink (carbon storage)

The impact of bottom trawling and other activities on carbon storage in Nordic marine environments and/or the impact of activities on the capacity of Nordic blue forests and sediments to act as a carbon sink (carbon storage).  

7. Secondary impact of ocean acidification and increased temperatures on biota.

Secondary impact of ocean acidification and increased temperatures on biota.

8. Impact of area-based management measures such as protected areas and climate refuges on Nordic marine ecosystems.

Impact of area-based management measures such as protected areas and climate refuges on Nordic marine ecosystems.

Applications for funding will be assessed by experts for marine and coastal environment management at the Nordic countries’ authorities. The quality of the application, a well-thought-out communication plan, as well as the relevance of the project to co-operation in the Nordic Council of Ministers and the priority themes of the Nordic Working Group for Oceans and Coastal Areas carry great weight in the assessment.

Assessment criteria:

• Relevance in relation to the NHK’s priority themes and Nordic added value
• The quality of the application with respect to the description of the issues, objectives, project plan, organisation and budget
• The project group’s composition, including common experiences and synergy effects of co-operation
• The project’s novelty with regard to method and generated knowledge
• Mediation plan for the results obtained, including the relevance of the mediating activities to the intended target groups

The application is to be submitted using the NHK’s application form (see link below), which contains detailed instructions on how the various parts of the application should be designed.

The project should be relevant to at least three or more Nordic countries or autonomous territories and support the work of the Nordic Region in international forums and negotiations. The application must contain a project plan which will clearly articulate the project’s goals and issues. The project’s organisation and budget must be reported in order to demonstrate that the project plan can be implemented within the proposed schedule. The implementation process must be described, including the methods and networks the applicants intend to use. Relevant target groups for the project results, communication channels used for reaching the target groups as well as which processes/negotiations the results are expected to have an impact on must be clearly presented in the application.

A status report and final report, as well as publication of the results in the Nordic Council of Ministers’ publication series, must normally be included as deliverables. If deliveries will take place in another form, this must be stated in the application. The number of working hours, fees for experts expected to take part in the project, publication costs, and any other expenses incurred must be included in the budget. Effective meeting solutions or digital platforms that reduce travel will be prioritised. Co-funding from multiple working groups and sectors, as well as from other funding sources, is encouraged.

Usually, projects with a budget of between DKK 200,000 and DKK 600,000 are granted funding.

• Ansøgningsskema for projektmidler/Application form for project funding  DAN/ENG
• Budgetskema til projektbeskrivelse DAN
• Budget form for project description ENG

The application should be sent to lisa.valkonen@regeringen.ax

Please also read the funding guidelines for the Nordic Council of Ministers’ co-operation on the environment and climate: