Call for Research Proposals in Medical AI
Trond Mohn Reserach Foundation (TMF), Helse Bergen and the Faculty of Medicine have allocated 46 million* NOK in a joint effort to strengthen the use of AI in medical research in Bergen. Apply before 15 October at 12:00 (noon).
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Background and Aims
We are facing significant societal changes where investment in medical and health-related research and innovation is becoming increasingly important. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the transformative technologies shaping modern healthcare and medical research. A research-driven approach to determining which types of medical AI should be developed and implemented is essential to ensure high quality and evidence-based decision-making. To unlock this potential, we need more research that uses AI as a tool to address key medical questions—enhancing diagnostic accuracy, streamlining treatment pathways, and supporting clinical decisions in ways that were previously not possible.
The vision of the Trond Mohn Research Foundation (TMF) is to make a substantial contribution to the development of Norwegian research environments aiming to reach the highest international level in cooperation with Norwegian research institutions, in this case the Faculty of Medicine, UiB (MED UiB) and Helse Bergen (HB).
TMF has allocated up to NOK 23 million for this research cooperation with UiB and Helse Bergen providing a matching amount of funding (see appendix B).
Purpose of the Initiative
This joint initiative between TMF, MED UiB, and HB aims to intensify and strengthen the use of AI in medical research in Bergen.
To further support this endeavour, a new Center for Medical Artificial Intelligence, hosted by the Faculty of Medicine, UiB, was recently established as a collaborative effort between key actors in medical research in Bergen. The aim of the center is to strengthen research and development within medical AI in Bergen and to enable new and more effective treatments that benefit patients. Successful project proposals will be affiliated with the Center for Medical Artificial Intelligence, and it is expected that they will contribute to the scientific and strategic development of the center
Thematic Scope
This initiative is primarily aimed at research environments that have already implemented AI in their research.
The funding will support research that applies AI to address medical and health-related questions, with a focus on prevention, early diagnosis, and patient treatment. To strengthen collaboration between basic and clinical medical research environments, all project proposals must demonstrate collaborative efforts between Helse Bergen and the Faculty of Medicine and must have a clear translational profile.
Eligibility and Requirements
In addition to the thematic focus outlined above, proposals must meet the following requirements:
- The funding supports research conducted at Helse Bergen and the Faculty of Medicine.
- Projects must be anchored in an established research environment.
- Projects must be collaborative efforts between Helse Bergen and the Faculty of Medicine.
- The project must be led by one dedicated Principal Investigator (PI) of high academic standing or demonstrating a strong scientific trajectory
- We encourage younger researchers to apply to this program. In cases where applications are assessed to be of equal scientific quality, preference will be given to applicants in the early or mid-stages of their academic career.
- At the time of submission, the PI must hold a permanent main position at either the Faculty of Medicine or Helse Bergen.
- The research must apply AI to address medical and health-related research questions, focusing on prevention, diagnostics, and treatment.
- Projects must be tied to research groups that already use AI to strengthen medical research.
- Successful project proposals must become affiliated with the Center for Medical Artificial Intelligence.
Funding Framework
Each project may be awarded funding for a period of three to four years. The maximum TMF contribution per project is NOK 6 million, and the minimum contribution per project is NOK 3 million.
All funding from TMF must be matched by contributions of approximately equal value from the participating institution(s). The inclusion of relevant national and international research partners is strongly encouraged and expected.
For further information: Please consult Appendices A to C.
*correction: in an earlier version we announced that 69 million NOK were allocated. Correct is 46 million NOK. (7 October 2025)
Appendix A – How to apply for funding under this program
There will be a two-step application process as follows:
Step 1: Pre-qualification
Step 1 will be organized and implemented jointly by UiB and Helse Bergen. Eligible proposals will be evaluated by an external international expert panel appointed jointly by the Faculty of Medicine, UiB and Helse Bergen.
The evaluation criteria listed in Appendix C will be the basis for evaluation of proposals in both Step 1 and Step 2. The step 1 expert panel will select a minimum of five and a maximum of seven proposals to be conveyed to Step 2.
Step 1 Proposals must be written in English and contain the following:
- The research plan (download the template for the project descripton) (link updated 26.09)
- The budget sheet (download the template for the budget). (link updated 26.09)
- A short CV (max 3 pages) and list of publications since 2019 for the project leader.
- A commitment letter from the host institution describing the nature and the level of its contribution to the project and its willingness to host the project. The letter must be signed at departmental level at MED UiB and clinic level at HB.
- In cases where institutions other than the host institution are expected to contribute with resources to the project, a letter signed at the appropriate level of the contributing institution should be included. The letter should describe the nature of the resources to be committed and confirm institutional support of the proposal and its budget.
The application deadline for Step 1 proposals is 15 October 2025 at 12:00 (noon). Please upload all required documents using the following link: First stage submission for Research Proposals in Medical AI
Questions regarding Step 1 and required documentation can be directed to Ramune Midttveit at MED UiB (Ramune.Midttveit@uib.no). Confirmation of receipt will be sent by email. Please note that proposals submitted after the deadline or that do not meet the formal requirements will not be evaluated.
Following the Step 1 evaluation, PIs of successful proposals will receive an invitation from TMF with information on how to proceed with the Step 2 applications.
Step 2 Final
Step 2 – final - will be organized and implemented by TMF. Eligible Step 2 proposals will be evaluated by an international panel of experts appointed by TMF. The expert panel will make recommendations to the TMF board. Depending on the expert´s quality assessments and recommendations, TMF may grant a maximum of 23 MNOK to research projects under this program.
Applications must be written in English and contain the following:
- The project description (template to be provided by TMF)
- The budget sheet (template to be provided by TMF)
- A commitment letter from the host institution describing the nature and level of its contribution to the project and its willingness to host the project. The letter must be signed at the appropriate institutional level.
- In cases where institutions other than the host institution will contribute with resources to the project, a letter signed at the appropriate level of the contributing institution should be included. The letter should describe the nature of the resources to be committed and confirm institutional support of the proposal and its budget.
Please note: any documents / information not specifically asked for, will not be made available to evaluators.
How to submit Step 2 proposals:
Application deadline for Step 2 proposals is 01.04.2026 at 12:00 (noon). One copy of the proposal and the required attachments, compiled into one (1) PDF file, is to be submitted to grants@mohnfoundation.no. Receipt of submitted applications will be confirmed by email.
For questions about Step 2 proposal preparations please contact
- Anja Hegen: phone +47 464 69 416, ah@mohnfoundation.no
- Oddveig Åsheim: phone +47 416 63 164, oa@mohnfoundation.no
- Linn Knudsen: phone +47 404 98 272, lk@mohnfoundation.no
Appendix B – Project funding and project grant agreements
It is a prerequisite for funding that any TMF contribution is matched by resources (in-kind and fresh) from the participating institutions at about the same level. The overall budget of each project should allow for the establishment of a research team and for collaborative and/or cross-disciplinary research to take place.
Each project may be granted TMF funding for either three or four years. The maximum contribution from TMF is 6 million NOK (for projects lasting 4 years) or 4,5 million NOK (for projects lasting 3 years). The minimum grant for any project is 3 million NOK.
Matching resources from the host institution may include salaries, consumables, equipment, overhead related to positions funded by TMF and participating institutions and "leiestedskostnader" (e.g., the use of labs / equipment).
Funding from the foundation may not be put towards overhead and/or other expenses not directly incurred by the project. For this program, TMF funding may not cover the salary nor "frikjøp” of the project leader (PI). Exceptions may be made for PIs in clinical positions.
In the event a grant application is successful, a project grant agreement will be entered into by TMF and the host institution, in which their respective responsibilities will be detailed in full.
In conjunction with the grant agreement, consortium agreements between the collaborating institutions must be put in place as well as an agreement ensuring the project's affiliation to Center for Medical Artificial Intelligence and access to the relevant research infrastructures / data.
Appendix C – Evaluation criteria
The basic reference for the evaluation is as follows:
| Assessment Criteria | Description |
| Scientific quality | Originality of the overall aim relative to the state-of-the-art in the field, relevance of scope and ambitions, strength of the theoretical and methodological approach |
| Significance | The extent to which the chosen objective and approach may lead to progress beyond the current state-of-the-ar |
| Feasibility | How may the proposed research activities contribute to realization of the described goals and the subject area. The extent to which the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses are appropriate for the aims of the proposed research. |
| Environment and consortium | The extent to which the available resources, the institutional commitments, and any other unique features, will contribute towards the success of the proposed research. The quality of the consortium (incl. complementarity / balance). Extent of uniqueness of expertise on the proposal topic. |
| Investigators | The extent to which the investigators’ experience, track record, training, preliminary data and/or past progress may contribute towards the success of the project. |
| Scientific leadership | The extent to which the need for strategic leadership is addressed. Plans for recruitment of young research talents and building collaborative capacity. |
| Innovation and translation | The suitability of the described approach towards translation and innovation.
Is there an identifiable potential to improve methods, the utilization of equipment/data and /or clinical practice? |
| International cooperation | The extent and quality of the international cooperation activities set out for the project.
|
| National cooperation | The extent to which the project will make use of national research expertise and help to promote national network building. |
| Value added | How the proposed project may contribute to:
|
| Dissemination and outreach | Plans for scholarly publication, dissemination, and other communication activities.
Plans for increased and improved communication with local stakeholders, users (including patients) and the public, as well as end-users. |
Please note: The reply to this invitation involves the recording and processing of personal data (such as name, address and CV). Such data will be processed pursuant to Norwegian law. The questions and any personal data requested are required to evaluate the application in accordance with the specifications of the call for proposals and will be processed solely for that purpose by TMF: the review process requires that personal information given in the proposal must be made available to external reviewers. All such experts are required to sign and adhere to a declaration of confidentiality in this regard.