NordForsk Call on “Nordic-Baltic education systems and 21st century challenges”

Nordic and Baltic countries share a strong tradition of state-funded education spanning early childhood education and care to higher education and lifelong learning. International surveys highlight significant differences in performance across the national systems. Comparative research is therefore well-positioned to uncover how similar conditions can yield diverging outcomes in areas such as student achievement, equity, and social mobility. Rapid advances in technology are reshaping the ways in which teaching and learning are organised, creating both opportunities and risks. Nordic and Baltic education systems, long recognised for their emphasis on equity and inclusion, are now challenged to adapt while preserving their core values.

NordForsk invites proposals that explore how education can contribute to resilient, equitable, and future-ready societies. This Call aims to generate new knowledge about Nordic and Baltic educational systems considering pressing societal challenges. The Call specific objectives: (1) to strengthen the Nordic-Baltic position in educational research; (2) to broaden and deepen research collaborations and networks; (3) to contribute to the development of knowledge-based policy across the Nordic-Baltic countries, and (4) to ensure wide dissemination of results to decision-makers and stakeholders. The Call thematic areas: (i) democracy, integration, inclusion and/or exclusion in education; (ii) impact of emerging technologies in education, including digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI); and (iii) organisation of educational systems, teacher and continuous education, competence development and upskilling for teachers. In addition, proposals needs to integrate the following cross-cutting priorities – inclusion of early-career researchers, interdisciplinarity, societal engagement and impact.

The Call intention is to fund 5 research projects.
Deadline: 22 April 2026
See more details here.

NordForsk Call on “Nordic exploratory networks within the humanities and social sciences”

​​Perspectives from the social sciences and humanities play a significant role in addressing the major sustainability challenges and societal transformations facing the Nordic region in the coming years. Social sciences develop knowledge about how individuals and societies interact in an increasingly complex world. In the Nordic context, close political ties, long-standing cooperation, shared institutions, and coordinated data collection create unique opportunities for collaborative social research that benefits the region’s communities. The humanities are particularly well suited to contributing Nordic added value, as their fields of inquiry are deeply intertwined with the shared cultural, historical, and linguistic heritage of the Nordic countries.

NordForsk invites proposals for research networks within the humanities and social sciences, seeks to facilitate collaboration among researchers with strong potential for synergy across the Nordic region countries. The Call aims to encourage the next generation of Nordic scholars to build new or stronger cross-border research links, thereby strengthening the quality, innovative character, international competitiveness, and societal impact of Nordic research.  It provides an opportunity for early-career researchers to build and lead Nordic networks, support novelty and creativity in research network activities, and promote Nordic added value in research.

The Call intention is to fund 22 networks through this initiative.
Deadline: 15 April 2026
See more details here.

NordForsk Call on “Nordic mobility, exchange, and networking”

The Nordic countries have a unique and long-standing tradition of cooperation on energy, which has created a solid foundation for developing a sustainable and secure energy supply in the region. The green transition is a process of changing our production, our way of thinking, our investments, and our institutions for a sustainable future. Collaborative energy research within the Nordic region can facilitate and create the knowledge base needed for a fast and optimal green transition. Nordic Energy Research wants to shape innovative research and promote research collaboration with exciting perspectives, which can bring added value to the Nordic region. In addition, Nordic Energy Research works actively to establish energy research cooperation between Baltic and Nordic countries which can help bridge the gap between researchers and civil society. This can help increase the public’s understanding of innovative technology.

This Call was launched to strengthen mobility, networks, and long-term collaboration between researchers in energy and to promote research activities that fulfil the above strategy. The Call specific aims: (1) to develop, facilitate, and create frameworks for collaboration and cooperation between research groups at Universities and other organisations performing research in Nordic-Baltic countries; (2) to offer mobility support to PhD students, PostDocs, and researchers, thereby facilitating the creation of long-lasting networks to bring added value to national energy research in the Nordic-Baltic region; (3) to facilitate networks that bring PhD students, PostDocs, and researchers in the Nordic-Baltic region together with innovative industry partners, policymakers, and public and/or consumer representatives, where relevant for their research; and (4) to foster the creation of research networks where PhD students, PostDocs, and researchers can meet across different scientific disciplines and accommodate platforms for collaboration within highly specialised fields. The examples of the Call thematic areas: (i) Frameworks for sustainable energy; (ii) Energy infrastructure; (iii) An inclusive and just energy transition; (iv) A secure and economically and environmentally acceptable energy transition; (v) Energy efficiency and sustainable utilisation of resources; and (vi) Sustainable energy solutions in the Arctic.

For this Call, a total budget of 13 MNOK is available for Nordic proposals and 4.3 MNOK for Nordic-Baltic proposals (with maximum of 4.3 MNOK provided per project for the entire project duration period of up to 4 years).
Deadline: 12 May 2026
See more details here.

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