Young CAS Grant 2027–2029 in Norway: NOK 750,000 Research Grant for Early-Career Researchers — Applications Open

The Centre for Advanced Study (CAS) at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has opened applications for the Young CAS Grant for August 2027 to June 2029, offering an opportunity for young researchers to establish and lead an international research project while developing their research leadership experience and professional network.

The programme is designed around residential, collaborative research rather than a conventional individual fellowship. Successful applicants become the Principal Investigator (PI) of a Young CAS project and assemble an international team of researchers around a research question that fits CAS’s focus on excellent, fundamental and curiosity-driven research.

For the 2027–2029 programme, CAS will select two Young CAS projects. Each selected project can receive up to NOK 750,000 over two years, alongside office facilities, accommodation support and administrative assistance connected with the programme.

Application deadline: 19 November 2026

Young CAS Grant 2027–2029 at a Glance

The Young CAS Grant is intended for early-career researchers who have completed a PhD and are building their research careers.

Key details include:

• Opportunity: Young CAS Grant
• Host institution: Centre for Advanced Study (CAS), The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
• Location: Oslo, Norway
• Programme period: August 2027 to June 2029
• Number of projects selected: Two
• Funding: Up to NOK 750,000 per project over two years
• Research model: Collaborative and residential research
• Research disciplines: Researchers from all disciplines are encouraged to apply
• Research leadership: The applicant serves as Principal Investigator
• Application system: UNIFOR electronic application system
• Application language: English
• Application format: Required documents must be submitted as PDF files
• Application deadline: 19 November 2026 at 23:59
• Selection decision: February 2027

What Is the Young CAS Grant?

The Young CAS Grant is a collaborative initiative involving the Centre for Advanced Study (CAS) and the Young Academy of Norway (AYF), with support from the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (DNVA).

Rather than simply providing an individual researcher with funding, the programme gives the successful applicant an opportunity to design, organise and lead a research project involving a group of researchers.

The applicant becomes the project’s PI and is responsible for developing the research programme, selecting researchers to participate, organising workshops and leading the group’s research activities during the residential period at CAS.

This structure is intended to give young researchers practical experience in research leadership while also helping them expand their international academic networks.

CAS describes its broader mission as supporting excellent, curiosity-driven, blue-sky research. Its Young CAS programme specifically provides talented young scholars with facilities and uninterrupted time for research.

How Much Funding Does the Young CAS Grant Provide?

Each successful Young CAS project receives up to NOK 750,000 over the two-year programme period.

The funding is divided broadly into two components:

1. Workshop funding

Up to NOK 250,000 is available for organising three intensive workshops.

These workshops form an important part of the collaborative structure of the programme and are intended to bring researchers together to develop the project’s research objectives.

2. Research-stay funding

Up to NOK 500,000 is available for the two-month research stay at CAS.

The funding can cover eligible costs associated with the gatherings and research stay, including:

• Travel
• Accommodation
• Food expenses
• Documentable teaching replacement costs for participating fellows

The grant is therefore structured around activities that allow researchers to meet, collaborate and spend dedicated time developing the project rather than simply providing unrestricted individual research funding.

What Does the Two-Year Programme Involve?

The Young CAS Grant runs from August 2027 through June 2029 and is organised across two academic years.

Year One: August 2027 to June 2028

During the first year, the PI will organise two workshops:

1. One workshop at CAS in Oslo.
2. One workshop at the PI’s home institution.

Holding one workshop at the home institution allows the researcher to maintain connections with their existing research environment while also bringing the Young CAS project into the wider academic community.

Year Two: August 2028 to June 2029

During the second year, the research group will gather at CAS for a two-month research stay.

The third and final workshop will also take place at CAS. There is also an opportunity to host one day and dinner at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

The PI is expected to lead the group throughout the entire two-month residential research period.

What Support Does CAS Provide?

The Young CAS Grant provides more than financial support.

Throughout the project period, CAS provides assistance designed to make the research activities possible.

Successful projects receive:

• Assistance with planning and organising the three workshops
• Office facilities for the research stay
• Four well-equipped office spaces allocated to each Young CAS project
• Seminar rooms equipped for meetings and video conferencing
• IT services
• Library services
• Accommodation within walking distance of CAS for researchers who are not based in the Oslo area
• Accessible facilities, including ramps and elevators

The programme is specifically designed around group-based research. CAS recommends that at least three of the four designated office spaces should be used consistently during the research stay.

Who Can Apply for the Young CAS Grant?

The eligibility requirements are specific.

Applicants must satisfy the following main conditions:

Completed PhD

The applicant must have completed a PhD by the application deadline.

Age requirement

The applicant must be below 40 years of age at the application deadline.

CAS provides extensions to the age limit for certain circumstances, including:

• Statutory leaves of absence
• Compulsory military or civilian service
• Continuous full-time and/or part-time sick leave amounting to at least eight weeks of full-time absence

There is no age limit for the other researchers participating in the project.

Full-time academic employment

Applicants must hold a full-time academic position at one of CAS’s partner institutions at the application deadline and throughout the project period.

The position does not necessarily have to be permanent.

Researchers may also change their affiliation between CAS partner institutions, subject to the programme requirements.

Support from the home institution

The application must be supported by the applicant’s head of department.

The supporting institution must confirm, among other things, that the researcher will retain their salary and be released from other obligations during periods when they are undertaking activities associated with the Young CAS Grant.

Temporary academic positions

Researchers employed on temporary contracts can also qualify.

However, their employment contract must cover at least the first year of the programme.

Applicants whose employment situation for the second year is uncertain may still apply. Continued participation in the second year would require re-employment at one of CAS’s partner institutions and a new letter of support submitted at least two months before the second year begins.

Do Applicants Need Previous Project Leadership Experience?

Previous project leadership experience is preferred but not mandatory.

This is significant because the programme itself is intended to help young researchers gain experience as research leaders.

The successful PI will gain practical experience in:

• Developing a collaborative research programme
• Selecting and coordinating researchers
• Organising international workshops
• Managing research activities
• Leading a residential research group
• Building international academic connections
• Developing a research project toward future funding opportunities

What Kind of Research Projects Does CAS Accept?

The proposed project must fit the broader mission of CAS.

Young CAS projects should focus on excellent basic and curiosity-driven research.

Applicants are encouraged to propose research that:

• Challenges established assumptions or given truths
• Addresses significant research questions
• Has the potential to advance the research frontier
• Has a strong theoretical or conceptual foundation
• Can benefit from collaborative international research
• Can make effective use of the workshops and residential research period

Researchers from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.

However, applicants should understand the nature of the CAS facilities and programme. Laboratory-based research cannot be conducted at CAS itself.

Projects involving laboratory work, fieldwork or data collection may still apply if the Young CAS project is intended to develop the theoretical aspects of the research.

Can Laboratory or Field Research Projects Apply?

Yes, but there is an important limitation.

CAS does not provide facilities for conducting laboratory-based research during the residential stay.

Projects involving:

• Laboratory work
• Fieldwork
• Data collection

may still be considered where these activities support a broader project focused on theoretical research.

Applicants therefore need to design the project around what can realistically be accomplished during the CAS residency.

International Collaboration Is an Important Part of the Programme

The Young CAS Grant is structured to encourage researchers to build an international research group.

Applicants must provide a list of 3–6 researchers whom they intend to invite as fellows.

The proposed participants should preferably include researchers from outside the applicant’s home institution and/or researchers based abroad.

CAS also recommends inviting fellows who can participate actively in the workshops and remain at CAS throughout the two-month research stay.

The application should explain why the proposed group has been assembled and how each researcher’s expertise contributes to the feasibility of the project.

What Documents Are Required?

Applicants need to prepare several documents before submitting their application.

1. Project description

The project description can be no more than four pages, excluding references.

The document must begin with approximately 400 words written for readers outside the applicant’s specific research field.

The remainder can address specialists in the relevant field.

The project description should cover:

• The hypotheses and/or research questions
• The project’s purpose and objectives
• How the project fits CAS’s mission
• The theoretical framework
• The methodology
• The most important existing research in the area
• The project’s contribution to the research frontier
• Expected outcomes during and after the grant period
• The added value of participating in the Young CAS Grant Programme

The references are limited to one page.

2. Project activity plan

Applicants must submit a one-page implementation plan explaining how the activities will be organised during the programme.

The plan should demonstrate how the applicant will:

• Lead the project
• Achieve its research objectives
• Organise the workshops
• Use the research stay
• Coordinate the different project activities

3. List of proposed researchers

Applicants must provide a list of 3–6 researchers they plan to invite.

The list should include:

• Academic title
• Area or areas of expertise
• Institutional affiliation
• Explanation of why the group has been composed in that way
• Explanation of how the participants contribute to the feasibility of the project

Letters of intent from proposed participants are not required.

4. Budget

Applicants must submit a budget draft accompanied by the necessary explanations of expenses.

CAS provides a budget template for applicants.

5. Ethical self-assessment

A brief ethical self-assessment of no more than half a page is required.

The applicant must certify that they are familiar with the relevant ethical guidelines.

6. CV and publication list

Applicants must provide a CV containing a publication list.

The CV should be no more than four pages in total and should use the required template.

7. Letter of support

A letter of support is required from the head of the relevant section at the applicant’s home institution.

The letter must cover the August 2027–June 2029 period and explain:

• How the grant will support the applicant’s career opportunities
• How the project will benefit the department or institute
• The applicant’s employment period if they hold a temporary position
• Confirmation that the applicant will retain their salary
• Confirmation that the applicant will be exempt from other obligations during periods of Young CAS Grant activities
• Confirmation that the home institution will host the second gathering during the first year

What About Research Ethics and Regulatory Approval?

Applicants whose research requires approval from a relevant authority need to account for this in their application.

Depending on the nature of the research, this could include approval from:

• The Norwegian Data Protection Authority
• Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics
• Another appropriate regulatory or ethical body

Where pre-approval is required, applicants must confirm that the necessary approval will be obtained before the project begins.

How Will Applications Be Evaluated?

Applications will be assessed by a panel of generalists.

This makes the requirement for a clear opening explanation particularly relevant. Applicants need to make the project understandable beyond their narrow research speciality.

The selection process considers:

• Scientific quality
• The applicant’s academic merits
• Alignment between the proposed project and CAS’s mission
• Compliance with the formal requirements of the call

A selection committee involving representatives from CAS, the CAS Board of Directors and the Young Academy of Norway will prepare a shortlist.

The CAS Board of Directors will ultimately select the two Young CAS Grant projects.

The selection decision is expected in February 2027.

What Should Applicants Pay Attention to When Preparing Their Proposal?

A strong application needs to do more than describe an interesting research topic.

The proposal should show why the Young CAS structure is particularly useful for achieving the project’s objectives.

Applicants should therefore clearly connect:

Research question → research team → workshops → residential stay → expected outcomes → career development

The application should make it easy for evaluators to understand:

1. What problem the project addresses.
2. Why the problem deserves further investigation.
3. What the proposed research group will contribute.
4. Why an international and collaborative approach is appropriate.
5. What will be achieved during the two-year period.
6. Why the CAS environment is useful to the project.
7. How participation will strengthen the applicant’s development as a research leader.

CAS specifically asks applicants to explain how the programme’s gatherings, research stay and networking opportunities will contribute to achieving the research objectives and advancing the applicant’s career.

What Happens During the Two-Month Research Stay?

The residential component is one of the defining features of the Young CAS Grant.

The PI is expected to be present and lead the group throughout the full two-month stay.

CAS expects the project to function as a collaborative research environment rather than a situation where the PI works independently at the Centre.

Researchers who stay for four weeks or more, including the PI, are considered fellows. Researchers who stay for less than four weeks may participate as affiliated researchers when office space permits.

Important Programme Scheduling Information

Applicants should also take CAS’s annual closure periods into account when planning workshops and the residential research period.

CAS is closed:

• Between 1 July and 14 August
• During Easter week
• During the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, when administrative support is unavailable

These dates should be considered when preparing the implementation plan.

Can the Grant Be Used to Write Other Funding Applications?

The workshops and residential research stay should not be used primarily for writing applications.

However, CAS says it is an advantage if the project can be developed with the possibility of seeking future support from other research funding organisations.

Examples mentioned by CAS include the Research Council of Norway and the European Research Council (ERC).

This means applicants can demonstrate how the Young CAS project may form the foundation for future research development without making grant-writing the central purpose of the programme.

How to Apply for the Young CAS Grant

Applications must be submitted electronically through the UNIFOR application system.

All required documents must:

• Be written in English
• Be prepared according to the relevant templates where applicable
• Be saved as PDF files
• Be uploaded through the electronic application system
• Be submitted before the deadline

The application system closes after the deadline, and late applications cannot be processed.

The deadline is:

19 November 2026 at 23:59

Applicants should therefore avoid waiting until the final hours to upload their documents.

Click HERE for application.

Young CAS Grant Deadline

The application deadline for the Young CAS Grant 2027–2029 is 19 November 2026 at 23:59.

Applicants should ensure that their complete application has been submitted electronically before the UNIFOR system closes. Late submissions cannot be processed.

Why This Opportunity May Be Relevant to Early-Career Researchers

The Young CAS Grant combines several elements that are often difficult for researchers to access at the beginning of an academic career.

Instead of focusing only on individual research funding, the programme gives the selected researcher an opportunity to develop as a research leader and project organiser.

The successful PI will have to coordinate researchers, organise workshops, manage a research programme and lead a residential research group.

The programme also creates an environment in which researchers from different institutions and countries can work together around a common research question.

For researchers who already have a clear research direction and meet the PhD, age and employment requirements, the programme provides a structured way to develop an international collaborative project.

Important Eligibility Reminder for International Applicants

The Young CAS Grant should not be confused with an unrestricted international scholarship open to anyone worldwide.

Although CAS encourages researchers from all academic disciplines, applicants must meet the programme’s employment requirement: they must hold a full-time academic position at one of CAS’s partner institutions at the relevant time.

Therefore, nationality or country of residence alone does not determine eligibility.

An applicant from outside Norway may qualify if they meet the stated requirements, including the requirement concerning a full-time position at a CAS partner institution. Conversely, being from an eligible country does not by itself make someone eligible if they do not satisfy the institutional employment requirement.

Final Thoughts

The Young CAS Grant 2027–2029 is structured as a research leadership opportunity for early-career academics who have completed a PhD and are ready to develop a collaborative research project.

The selected researchers will not simply receive funding for individual research. They will lead a research group, organise three workshops, bring together researchers with complementary expertise and spend two months conducting collaborative research at the Centre for Advanced Study in Oslo.

CAS will select two projects, with each receiving up to NOK 750,000 over the two-year programme period, together with research facilities and administrative support.

Researchers interested in applying should pay close attention to the eligibility conditions, particularly the under-40 age requirement, completed PhD, full-time academic position at a CAS partner institution and institutional letter of support.

The application deadline is 19 November 2026 at 23:59, and applications must be submitted electronically through UNIFOR