NTNUs Global South Initiative is announcing seed funds with the aim of increasing visibility and attractiveness of knowledge collaboration with higher education and research institutions in the Global South.

The call opens for student organisations that focus on knowledge-based collaboration with Low and Lower Middle Income Countries (LLMIC)¹ in the identified thematic areas of the Global South Initiative:  

• Just climate transition and renewable energy  
• Global Health – Public Health and Health System strengthening  
• Global development and social justice  
• Biodiversity and environmental sciences  

In addition, cross-cutting fields of interest for partners in the Global South may be included. 

There is up to 200,000 NOK available for this call, and we will award a maximum of 50,000 NOK to each seed funding project.

Application deadline 21 October 2026, 3:00 pm.

Who can apply?

Any student organization at NTNU registered with the Brønnøysundregister with a scientific and interdisciplinary focus may apply collectively for this funding.  The person submitting the application must be the project leader for the seed funding project. In addition to the Leader, a deputy leader should also be identified in the application, and both should be current students at NTNU and members of the student organisation.

Timeframe: The project can be started as soon as project is approved and the funds must be used no later than December 2027.

What can you apply for?

You can apply for funds for scientific and interdisciplinary activities that will contribute to raising awareness of an interest for collaboration with partners in the Global South, mobility to institutions in Low and Low Middle-Income Countries (LLMIC) countries that NTNU has existing Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with and master research on topics that focus on the Global South. Applicants are encouraged to partner with students organisations in the Global South. Activities that may be included in the seed funding project will typically be workshops, seminars, exhibitions, artistic performance, and inviting guests/potential collaborators. All projects should be planned for at least 1-2 events during the project period which are open for both students and staff at NTNU. Funds cannot be applied for salaries and should be used for activities only. Each project can be in the range of 25,000 NOK to 50,000 NOK. There is no requirement for self-financing or additional funding from other sources. 

Application requirements

The project must contribute to realizing the goals of the Global South Initiative.

These are:

• Further reinforce NTNUs partnerships with institutions in LMICs and ensure inter-disciplinary breadth and scale in such partnerships
• Actively participate in policies/ priorities for global knowledge collaborations in national and international arenas
• Make collaboration with LMICs a priority within NTNUs strategy for internationalization
• Increase visibility of NTNUs partnerships with partners in LMIC and foster more robust and sustainable engagement.

More details on the goals and justification for the Initiative: Rektor’s decision to establish the Initiative, Report of the Working Group on Global South partnerships

• A budget for 2026-2027 showing how the funds will be used.
• Examples of ongoing research, innovation and educational collaboration activity relevant to NTNU Global South Initiative that have already been conducted/planned by the student organization.
• Plan for implementation, including ethics and a brief account of efforts made to limit travel activity (cf. NTNU's travel guidelines)
• The application must submitted using the application form below. You can write the application in Norwegian or English. 

Fill out the online application form 

Application deadline 21 October 2026, 15:00 (CET).
Decision on allocation is expected in mid December.

Questions can be directed to Elin Yli Dvergsdal, Secretariat for Global South Initiative
E-mail: elin.y.dvergsdal@ntnu.no

Evaluation criteria

• Relevance to the goals of the Global South Initiative
• Scientific relevance and ambitions
• Feasibility

Applications will be assessed by the Internal Advisory Board of the Global South Initiative. Final prioritization and allocation will be approved by Prorector Monica Rolfsen in discussion with Committee for Outreach and Social Responsibility (SAFU) based on the evaluation criteria, but the need for thematic and disciplinary variation will be taken into account.