The University of Oslo’s Growth House has announced the allocation of 1.7 million NOK to 19 qualifying research projects from its autumn seed‑funding call. Five research groups will receive 200,000 NOK each, while 14 projects will receive 50,000 NOK each to help mature early‑phase ideas.
The projects funded include initiatives aimed at developing treatments for solid tumours, resistant fungal infections, blood cancer and inflammatory conditions, and one project will test a new type of fish feed. The innovation unit received 44 qualified applications in this round. Applications for the larger seed grants were evaluated by a panel that included representatives from Aleap, ShareLab in Oslo Science Park, Oslo Cancer Cluster Incubator, SINTEF and SPARK Social Innovation at the University of Oslo. All recipients come from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine. This is the fifth year the call has been run; Innovation Director Hilde Nebb noted that even small grants such as 50,000 NOK can be enough to begin maturing an early innovation idea.