Innovation project in the business sector (IP-N)

Support for the development of new or improved products, services, or processes through industrial research or experimental development

The innovation project in the business sector, IP-N, is a funding scheme from the Research Council of Norway aimed at companies seeking to develop new products, services or processes. The support covers part of the costs of an R&D project, such as salaries, procurement of research services and equipment, while the company itself must contribute with co-financing.

Projects must be research-driven, demonstrate a clear level of innovation, and show substantial potential for value creation both within the company and in society. The funding from the Research Council must be essential for the implementation of the project and should therefore support projects that would not otherwise be carried out.

In IP-N projects, collaboration with other actors is required, often involving research institutions or R&D companies. The collaboration must ensure that the project receives the necessary knowledge input. The projects must be at a technological readiness level where research is still required to take the idea from concept development or proof of concept to validation in a relevant setting.

The funding rate is determined based on company size and the type of activity, where activities classified as industrial research are eligible for a higher support rate than those classified as experimental development. The thematic scope can be broad, but the project must align with the Research Council’s prioritised areas. Projects are assessed according to criteria within the following areas:

  • Research and innovation
  • Implementation capacity
  • Impacts and effects
  • Relevance to the call
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IP-N in short

Target audience Target audience

Norwegian companies conducting innovation projects with a significant component of industrial research and/or experimental development

Budget per project Budget per project

The amount of funding depends on the project and the topic of the application, ranging from 1 to 10, 16 or 20 MNOK

Application deadline Application deadline

Continuous application deadline

Structure Structure

IP-N consists of various thematic areas and programmes

Project types Project types

Innovation projects with strong emphasis on research and development content and value creation

Collaboration Collaboration

Requirement for collaboration with at least one, preferably several, other actors.

Themes in IP-N

IP-N has theme-oriented calls within Industry and Service Sectors, Food and Bioresources, and Energy and Transport. The thematic scope can be broad within these categories, but the project’s application area and innovation must fit within the Research Council’s prioritised fields.

Thematic areas:

  • The health industry
  • The ICT industry
  • Process and manufacturing industries
  • Goods-producing industries
  • Construction, real estate and property
  • Service industries (such as retail, tourism, media and culture, finance and banking, and other service provision)

Funding range: 1 to 16 MNOK.

Thematic areas:

  • Forestry and wood utilisation
  • Agriculture and food
  • Fisheries and other marine industries
  • Aquaculture

Funding range: 1 to 10 MNOK.

Thematic areas:

  • Environmentally friendly energy
  • Petroleum
  • Maritime
  • Transport

Funding range: 1 to 20 MNOK.

Which projects qualify for SkatteFUNN?

Does your project qualify for IP-N? To be eligible, several conditions must be met:

  • The applicant company must be registered in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises and have economic activity in Norway
  • There must be collaboration with at least one Norwegian partner or R&D provider. The partners must be independent of one another
  • The funding must be a decisive for the project to be carried out, and project activities must not have started before the application is submitted
  • The funding rate for IP-N varies depending on whether the activities are classified as industrial research (IR) or experimental development (ED), and is also influenced by the company’s size and whether the project receives other forms of public funding
Industrial research Experimental development
Small companies 50% 45%
Medium-sized companies 50% 35%
Large companies 50% 25%

How can PNO Innovation support your IP-N application?

We support companies with IP-N projects by organising and structuring the work in close collaboration with the client, in order to develop a clearly defined project that provides a solid foundation for a strong application.

  • We work closely with the client to shape and define the project. This involves analysing the idea, clarifying objectives and research challenges, highlighting the innovation potential, and positioning the project at the appropriate maturity level.
  • We contribute to organising and establishing the project. This includes structuring the work packages, preparing the budget and timeline, and ensuring that necessary partners and roles are clearly defined.
  • We take responsibility for the writing process. The application is developed in accordance with the Research Council’s requirements, with a precise project description, necessary attachments, and a presentation that highlights the research content, risk factors, collaboration, and value creation. If the application is approved and the project is carried out, we also assist with project reporting.

Start your IP-N application

We can assist you with your IP-N application. Fill out the form below, and we will get in touch to show how we can help make your project happen.

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