Project Establishment Support (PES)
The PES scheme by the Research Council of Norway is designed to relieve the cost burden related to the preparation of project proposals to Horizon Europe.
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We are implementing a new system for PES for 2025-27 - the page will be updated continously.
˷ͧƻ administers an three-year framework grant from the Research Council of Norway (RCN) to cover ˷ͧƻ’s Project Establishment Support (PES). Researchers cannot directly apply to the RCN for these funds, but must inform their department about their plans and submit an *. The faculty and units have their own procedures for this. Acopy of the authorization form should be sent to the Local contact pointfor the relevant funding program.
PES-Project establishment funding (PES)
- Researchers whoare in the process of writing an application related to Horizon Europe (HEU) may use PES money up to a certain cap defined by the type of proposal. Please see the appliccable PES rates below.
- The Department/unit willadvancethese funds.
- Faculties/Departments will be reimburesed for their spending based on the Horizon Europe applications that are registered as sent Unit4.
- Note: PES support will only be reimbursedif the submitted project proposal is formally approved (“eligible”) by the European Commission.
PES grants cover expenses in relation to activities that help strengthening proposals to Horizon Europe-related proposals, e.g.:
- Travel, accomodation and meeting costs.
- Procurement of external assistance and consultation, e.g. for proposal writing support and graphicservices.Ordering externalconsultation must bedoneby a purchaser at your institute.˷ͧƻ has signed a framework agreementfor pre-award services
- Compensation/refund for work done in relation to a specific Horizon Europe-application.
- Cost of partner search/establishment of project consortium.
- Search in patent databases.
to HEU applicants forgrant application reviewor formentoring andconcept development. If you need free consultation, please contact the local contact point for the relevant program. They will ensure that the Research Council identifies a suitable PNO consultant for your application.
PES grant sums 2025
Program / category | Role | PES Grant sum (NOK) |
Collaborative (one-stage proposals)RIA;IA; MSCA-DN; CSA; EIC w/3 or more partners* | Coordinator | 100.000 |
Collaborative (two-stage proposals)** | Coordinator | 100.000 |
ERC SyG | Coordinator | 75.000 |
European Partnerships***, EIC w/ less than 3 partners* | Coordinator | 50.000 |
MSCA-SE; COST | Coordinator | 35.000 |
Collaborative- all project typesand pilars (one-stage or second stage of two-stage proposals) RIA, IA, CSA, COST, MSCA DN/COFUND/SE, ERC SyG, EIC, etc.) | Partner* | 20.000 |
ERC AdG/ CoG/ StG | Coordinator | 65.000 |
ERC 2. stage (interview) | Coordinator | 30.000 |
MSCA PF | Coordinator | 20.000 |
*beneficiary partner, notassosciated partners
** 50.000 NOK per stage, unused funds from stage one may be used in stage two
***eligible partnerships are listed on the RCN website:
PES - bonus funding by the RCN
PES for Africa
The RCN supports Norwegian coordinators of certain types of collaborative projects with extra bonus PES-funds if the project has beneficiary partners from African countries. ˷ͧƻ may apply for the extra bonus amount from the RCN directly:
European Defence Fund (EDF)
Norwegian actors who are beneficiaries in applications to the EDF may apply for PES funding directly from the RCN: