SPIRE - Seed money
The Strategic Programme for International Research (SPIRE) is considered seed funding to initiate and develop new international research collaborations as a foundation for project proposals for external funding to the Research Council of Norway (NFR), NordForsk, and other external funding sources (but not Horizon Europe).
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Strategic Program for International Research Collaboration (SPIRE)
Who can apply:
- Academic staff (combined positions with a research component), researchers (codes: 1109, 1110, 1183 - with a PhD), and postdoctoral fellows at the University of Bergen (UiB).
- Academic staff must hold at least a 50% position at UiB.
- Postdoctoral fellows must hold a 100% position at UiB and must have employment at UiB for the next two years to be eligible to apply.
Categories for funding applications:
You can apply for SPIRE funding in the following two categories:
- SPIRE funds for international research collaboration.
The support is considered seed funding to initiate and develop new international research collaborations as a foundation for project proposals.
- Compensation/refund for work done in relation to a specific application to the Research Council of Norway (NFR), NordForsk, and other external funding sources (but not Horizon Europe) by academic staff in tenure-track positions (combined positions with a research component), researchers (codes: 1109, 1110, 1183 - with a PhD), and postdoctoral fellows.
Note: The funds are allocated to the Department/unit, not to the researcher. - Compensation/refund for internal and/or external postdocs and research assistants who assist UiB researchers with proposal writing. The use of external consultants with whom UiB has agreements with may also be considered.
- Travel and meeting costs related to partner search.
- Compensation/refund for work done in relation to a specific application to the Research Council of Norway (NFR), NordForsk, and other external funding sources (but not Horizon Europe) by academic staff in tenure-track positions (combined positions with a research component), researchers (codes: 1109, 1110, 1183 - with a PhD), and postdoctoral fellows.
Note: All compensation/refund must first be approved and supported by the head of the Department before applying for funds for this purpose.
- SPIRE - Guest Researchers
These funds are intended to cover costs (travel, accommodation, meals, transport) for inviting a foreign guest researcher for a stay at UiB for 1-3 months. There are no restrictions on countries or collaboration partners.- Guest researchers must hold at least a postdoctoral level position (funds cannot be applied for to invite PhD candidates).
- A maximum of NOK 15,000 can be granted per month per application. Additionally, funding for covering the travel expenses of the visiting researcher can be applied for.
Note: SPIRE funds cannot be paid directly as salary or stipend to the visiting researcher.
Application process
- The application deadline for SPIRE funds will be in 2025.
- A new application round may be opened during autumn 2024 (which are administered by the faculties).
- The faculties must send FIA an overview of 2024 SPIRE allocations to FIA by September 1, 2024, and November 30, 2024, for any new allocations from an autumn 2024 call. The overviews should be submitted to FIA via ePhorte.
- The deadline for using SPIRE funds granted in 2024 is November 30, 2025. Unused funds should be returned to FIA.
