News

The 2008 R&D statistics for the Nordic countries show that the R&D expenditure has increased considerably compared to 2005, though to a different extent.  Norway had the largest increase amounting to 12 per cent on average per year.  In Iceland the corresponding increase was 11 per cent, in Denmark 8 per cent, and in Finland and Sweden 6 per cent. Norway still ranks lowest among the Nordic countries in R&D expenditure as a percentage of the GDP.

Please note that the deadline for applications to the Research Fund is 1 June 2010 for projects starting in 2011. Rules and guidelines for applicants and application forms will be available at least 6 weeks before the deadline.

The Rules and Guidelines for the Icelandic Research Fund for Graduate Students for 2010 are now available HERE. Deadline for applications is 15 March 2010.

The NORBAL database with statistics on awarded doctoral degrees and doctoral students in the Nordic and Baltic countries is now updated with data for 2008.  RANNIS gathers data on Icelanders completing their doctoral degrees in Iceland and abroad, as well as statistics on doctoral degree students.

Opportunity for Humanities researchers to contribute to debate on challenges facing Humanities Research in Europe Humanities in the European Research Area (HERA) is organising a workshop in Berlin, Germany on 14-15 December.  HERA is a partnership of a growing number of (inter)national Humanities funding agencies across Europe. The main objective of HERA is to firmly establish the Humanities in the European Research Area and to seriously engage the Humanities in the Framework Programmes of the European Commission.

Research and development expenditure in Iceland as a share of Gross Domestic Product is relatively high compared to other countries. This share was almost 2,7% in 2007, accordin to a survey conducted by Rannis.

NORIA-net seminar on Good Nordic Practices in Peer Review will be held in Helsinki on Friday 30
October 2009. Online registration for the seminar is now available.

The Icelandic Research Fund announces an open call. The deadline is 1 October 2009.

The Minister of Education, Science and Culture has appointed a new Board for the Icelandic Research Fund (cf. art. 4 from the Act on Public Support for Scientific Research No. 3/2003).

The Science and Technology Policy Council in Iceland (STPC) recently granted funding for 3 research programs. The funding of Centers of Excellence and Research Clusters was a decision by the government in 2007. Funding will be provided for up to seven years with max. 80 m.kr. each year. The grants are subjected to review after three years.

The selection procedure followed two steps. The first step was an open call for proposals. STPC considered all proposals and granted ten proposals 1. m. kr. each to write a more detailed proposal that were submitted in October 2008. The latter part consisted of a detailed review of the ten proposals with international contribution.