To be eligible for funding from Forte, a research project must be of high scientific quality, societal relevance and feasibility. Applications are assessed against Forte’s requirements and general assessment criteria or a condensed version of these for less extensive grant types. In some cases, applications are also assesed against grant-specific assessment criteria, which will be set out in the information on the call’s web page.

Requirements

All applications must meet the following requirements in order to receive funding. The extent to which these requirements are met is part of the overall assessment of the review panel.

  • Relevance to Forte
    The research must be relevant in relation to Forte’s areas and the focus of the call.
  • Sex and gender perspective
    A sex and gender perspective must be taken into account, if applicable.
  • Ethical considerations
    The research must be conducted in an ethical manner, and any ethical issues must be addressed in an appropriate way.

General assessment criteria

The extent to which the criteria are met is part of the overall assessment of the review panel. The various criteria are given equal weighting in the assessment, unless stated otherwise in the call text.

Scientific quality

  • Purpose, research questions, theoretical framework and background
    The clarity and coherence in the description and justification of the purpose of the research, research questions, theoretical framework and background, including how well grounded it is in previous research.
  • Study design, material and methods
    The clarity and coherence in the description and justification of the research’s design, empirical material and methods for data collection and analysis, as well as the appropriateness of these in relation to the purpose of the research and research questions.
  • Originality
    The potential of the research to contribute to the research front, for example by developing new knowledge, new methods, theories and/or data.
  • Multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary approach
    The relevance of a multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary approach to the scientific quality, if applicable.

Societal relevance and utilisation

  • Relevance to the wider community
    The importance of the research to current societal challenges and how the research will help address these.
  • Benefit to the wider community
    The short and/or long-term benefit of the research to the wider community, and how this is intended to be promoted.
  • Collaboration with the wider community
    The clarity and coherence in the description and justification of the plan for collaboration with the actors affected by the research, if applicable.
  • Communication of research results
    The reasonableness and appropriateness of planned communications for all relevant audiences.

Feasibility

  • Work plan
    The clarity and reasonableness of the work plan for conducting the research.
  • Competence
    The competence and skills of the participants in relation to the needs for conducting the research.
  • Budgets and staffing
    The reasonableness of budgeted costs and participants’ planned activities for conducting the research.