About funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers
Each year, some 500 projects and activities are launched and run within the framework of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The majority are run by an “administrative body”, usually a national institution or organisation in the Nordic Region commissioned for the purpose by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Nordic Council of Ministers also issues direct calls for funding applications on particular topics from time to time.
Current calls for funding applications are listed here:
Terms and conditions
The general terms and conditions for project funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers are listed below. The individual councils of ministers may stipulate additional rules and requirements.
Nordic co-operation is based on the vision “Together we are stronger” and its four pillars:
- Freedom of movement
- Innovation
- Visibility
- International engagement
The various councils of ministers draw up plans, strategies and programmes that reflect their political priorities. The Nordic Council of Ministers also has three intersectoral strategies: for sustainability, gender equality, and children and young people. The country holding the Presidency each year also has a “priority budget”. Projects applying for funding should, of course, comply with the Nordic Council of Ministers’ vision, the various co-operation programmes, the annual programmes for the Presidency, and the inter-sectoral strategies.
The most important criterion for a Nordic project, irrespective who administers or runs it, is that it must be of benefit to the Nordic Region. Therefore, each project must include at least three out of the Nordic countries, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. Projects may also include at least two out of the Nordic countries, Greenland, Åland, and the Faroe Islands and a non-Nordic country.
Projects that receive Nordic funding must have a pan-Nordic value. All Nordic activities must pursue one or more of the following criteria:
- it would otherwise be done under national auspices, but a joint Nordic solution offers greater positive effects
- it must manifest and develop a Nordic sense of affinity
- it must enhance Nordic competency and competitiveness
- it must boost Nordic influence at international level
Project process
We have a three-phase project process.
Start up
In order to be eligible for funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers, applicants must fill in a project description and account for their budget.
For multiple connected projects with the same objective, a programme description may be more appropriate.
Status
Interim reports must be submitted throughout the course of the project.
This is done via the project portal – see “Project administration” below.
Completion
A final report must be submitted at the end of the project.
This is done via the project portal – see “Project administration” below.
Annual reports – for organisations with framework agreements
Organisations that have framework agreements with the Nordic Council of Ministers must submit annual reports. The individual at the Secretariat to the Nordic Council of Ministers who is responsible for the project will notify the organisation before the end of the year.
Publications
Will the project result in a Nordic report or publication? If so, the Nordic Council of Ministers has a publication strategy and guidelines that must be adhered to:
Guidelines
You can read more about every step in the process in our guidelines.
Project administration
The project portal is where the recipients of funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers administer current projects. You will be given a username and password by the Secretariat to the Nordic Council of Ministers.
You will find manuals for the project portal here:
The Nordic Council of Ministers’ Project Database
The Nordic Council of Ministers’ project database
Here you can search for results, budgets, contacts etc. from many interesting projects.