PES – Support for Project Establishment Aimed at Horizon Europe
Norway's PES grant funds preparatory research activities to help Norwegian actors develop strong Horizon Europe and EDF proposals, with extra support for projects involving African or Ukrainian partners.
Funder: Research Council of Norway
Due Dates: Open-ended (apply at least 4 weeks before relevant EU deadline) | EIC Accelerator cut-offs: Jan 7, 2026 | Mar 4, 2026 | May 4, 2026 | Jul 8, 2026 | Sep 2, 2026 | Nov 4, 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to NOK 400,000 for coordinators of large Horizon Europe projects; NOK 50,000–200,000 for most roles; NOK 500,000 for EDF coordinators; extra NOK 150,000 for African/Ukrainian partners; annual ceiling and project-type dependent.
Summary: Financial support for Norwegian actors preparing Horizon Europe or EDF proposals, covering preparatory costs to strengthen Norwegian participation and success.
Key Information: Apply early—at least 4 weeks before the EU call deadline; strict eligibility for framework grant holders.
Description
The Project Establishment Scheme (PES) is designed to boost the competitiveness and quality of Norwegian applications to Horizon Europe and the European Defence Fund (EDF). The scheme provides financial support for preparatory activities—such as travel, meetings, positioning, and consultancy services—necessary to develop strong project proposals for a wide range of Horizon Europe calls (including EIC Accelerator, Women TechEU, EIC STEP Scale Up, Advanced Innovation Challenges, ERC, Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions, collaborative projects, and EDF). Funding is provided as a lump sum if the EU application meets or exceeds the threshold evaluation criteria. Special bonus support is available for projects involving African or Ukrainian partners.
