Public Sector PhD Project – Doctoral Project in the Public Sector 2026
The Research Council of Norway’s Public Sector PhD Project 2026 funds doctoral research embedded in public agencies to drive innovation and address sector-specific challenges.
Funder: Research Council of Norway
Due Dates: September 23, 2026, 13:00 CET (application deadline) | August 10, 2026 (earliest start) | January 4, 2027 (latest start) | January 3, 2031 (latest completion)
Funding Amounts: Up to 50% of total project costs; max NOK 715,000–852,000/year for 3-year projects or NOK 536,000–639,000/year for 4-year projects; total call budget NOK 109 million.
Summary: Supports collaborative doctoral research projects in Norwegian public sector agencies to foster innovation and build long-term competence.
Key Information: Ongoing application processing until funds are exhausted; candidate must be named and employed by the public sector applicant at submission.
Description
This program funds PhD projects conducted in close collaboration between Norwegian public sector bodies (as Project Owners) and degree-conferring institutions (universities or university colleges, in Norway or abroad). The goal is to strengthen research-based innovation and long-term competence within the public sector by recruiting and training doctoral candidates on projects aligned with public agencies’ research needs and development plans. The scheme is open to a broad range of thematic areas, including but not limited to defense capability, sustainable health and care services, labour and welfare, education, gender equality, and the circular economy. Projects must address challenges relevant to the public sector and be integrated into the agency’s strategic plans.
