PES – Support for Project Establishment Aimed at Horizon Europe
The PES grant from the Research Council of Norway funds preparatory scientific activities for Norwegian applications to Horizon Europe and the European Defence Fund.
Funder: Research Council of Norway
Due Dates: January 7, 2026 | March 4, 2026 | May 4, 2026 | July 8, 2026 | September 2, 2026 | November 4, 2026
Funding Amounts: Most awards NOK 50,000–500,000 depending on project type and role; up to NOK 41 million available in 2026; extra NOK 150,000 for projects with African or Ukrainian partners.
Summary: Supports Norwegian actors preparing Horizon Europe and European Defence Fund applications by funding project establishment activities.
Key Information: PES applications for EIC Accelerator must be submitted by the corresponding EU deadline; apply at least 4 weeks before other EU call deadlines.
Description
This scheme from the Research Council of Norway (RCN) is designed to boost the quality and competitiveness of Norwegian applications to Horizon Europe and the European Defence Fund (EDF). It provides targeted financial support for preparatory activities—such as travel, meetings, positioning, and professional services—required to develop strong project proposals. The scheme covers a wide range of Horizon Europe initiatives, including collaborative projects, EIC Accelerator, Women TechEU, EIC STEP Scale Up, and the EDF. There is a particular emphasis on encouraging projects that include partners from African countries or Ukraine.
