Consultancy support for application and interview preparation for external funding
The University of Bergen (UiB) works systematically to strengthen external research funding from sources such as the EU and the Research Council of Norway. This involves both increasing the number of applications submitted and improving their quality to achieve higher success rates. To support researchers and staff in this effort, UiB offers favourable framework conditions for the purchase of qualified consultancy services in the pre‑award phase, including support with proposal development and interview training.
Main content
The University of Bergen has entered into a framework agreement with six suppliers to supplement internal administrative resources in providing pre-award assistance and training related to research funding. The agreement applies from 1st September 2025 - 31st August 2027.
Services are split into eight categories (see below). Four groups cover 'pre-award' (application phase) services for specific funding programmes. A further four categories cover training to support researchers to prepare successful funding applications.
In addition, UiB has also entered into a separate framework agreement with suppliers for graphic services, which may be relevant for the preparation of applications. More information about this can be found here. This framework agreement is managed by the Communications Department.
All pre-award services for EU-programmes can be co-financed through PES support.
Categories and companies
Services
| Supplier |
A1 Pre-award consultancy: European Research Council (ERC) Starting/Consolidator/Advanced/Synergy Grant; Proof-of-Concept
| DreamINNg srl Innovayt Norge AS PNO Innovation GmbH Trend 2000 Ltd |
A2 Pre-award consultancy: Marie-Sklodovska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks, Postdoctoral Fellowships, other
| Innovayt Norge AS PNO Innovation GmbH Trend 2000 Ltd |
A3 Pre-award consultancy: Collaborative research and innovation actions Actions type RIA, IA, CSA under Pillar 1, 2, and cross-cutting work programs (incl. Missions, COST, RI) European Partnerships Non-Horizon Europe funding schemes | DreamINNg srl Innovayt Norge AS PNO Innovation GmbH Trend 2000 Ltd |
A4 Pre-award consultancy: Funding schemes of the Research Council of Norway (RCN) FRIPRO The National Centres of Excellence (“SFF”) The Centre for Research-based Innovation (“SFI”) or other Center schemes Other RCN schemes | DreamINNg srl Innovayt Norge AS Trend 2000 Ltd |
B1 Training for ERC applications all ERC schemes
| Trend 2000 Ltd, Yellow Research BV |
B2 Training Marie-Sklodovska-Curie Actions (MSCA) all MSCA schemes
| PNO Innovation GmbH Trend 2000 Ltd |
B3 Grant funding interview training & support Various support services for interview preparation, e.g. for ERC applications | DreamINNg srl Innovayt Norge AS PNO Innovation GmbH SpeakLab AS |
B4 General training in academic grant writing | Trend 2000 Ltd |
How to order?
Support within any of the eight categories must be purchased from one of the suppliers included in the framework agreement. Services may only be purchased from other providers if all listed suppliers have confirmed that they are unable to meet your request.
Services outside categories A1–B4 are not covered by the framework agreement and must follow regular routines for purchases of services.
You may choose freely among suppliers within each category. However, as assignments should be overall distributed evenly, you are encouraged to consider which supplier is best suited for each assignment rather than routinely using the same provider.
When ordering services on behalf of a department or faculty, select a supplier approved for the relevant category. Orders are placed by completing the call-off order form, including a brief description of the assignment and a maximum budget. Once the supplier has confirmed availability and agreed on the conditions, contact your purchaser (“innkjøper”) so that the purchase order can be registered, approved, and issued.
Especially when using PES funding - which is capped - VAT must be taken into account. For non-Norwegian suppliers, please inform the purchaser so that the VAT-code is set to 3T in Unit4ERP. Teaching and training services (here B1-B4) are VAT‑exempt. Please notify the purchaser so they can set the VAT code to 0, and the supplier will invoice without VAT. For orders combining consultancy and training, only the training component is VAT‑exempt.
Note: Pre‑award consultancy services are charged at hourly rates. Courses and training are priced per course. Research advisers at the departments and central contact persons can inform about prices.
Follow-up of the framework agreement for external finanancing support
If the quality of any services ordered and provided under the framework agreement fail to meet expected standard or is felt to be of poor quality, please take this up with your supplier in the first instance. If this does not resolve the issue, please contact the administrator of the framework agreement. This can be done via the Contract Catalogue (contract register of UiB) – reference ANSK-25-0495. Please choose “register deviation”, fill in with information on the specific problem, and return.
Companies/suppliers
(UiB network only)
Administrative contact
Corina Freifrau Von Rolf (Division of Research and Innovation)
Kitty A. Tverrå (Financial Services)
Åshild Nylund (Communications; design services)
