Student Entrepreneurship Grant (STUD-ENT)

• Recent graduates from Norwegian universities and university colleges who aspire to start their own company based on the knowledge they gained during their studies.
• The company must have a team of students. The team must have a project manager who meets the requirements below. Together, the students must own at least 80 per cent of the company.
• The project manager must either be currently studying or have completed their studies no more than 12 months before the application deadline. Eligible studies include a master’s programme, a six-year professional degree programme or a doctoral degree programme.
• Project manager currently studying for:
  • Master's level: submit the Master's thesis before the project starts
  • professional degree level: have completed at least four years before the project starts
  • PhD level: provide confirmation from the degree-awarding institution that the STUD-ENT project can be carried out alongside your studies. You must also provide written confirmation from the institution that you own the intellectual property rights to the project (for example, a waiver or licence).

The scheme aims to allocate 40 per cent of its funding to projects led by women.

You must have a company with an organisation number to apply for the scheme. At the time of application, you may apply as a sole proprietorship (ENK) or a limited company (AS) registered in the Register of Business Enterprises. Before the project starts, the company must be registered as a limited company (AS) that meets the target group criteria and the requirements of the State aid rules under GBER Article 22.

The grant is intended for young students who have had limited opportunities to build networks and raise capital. Executive master's students and mature students can apply for our other startup funding schemes.

STUD-ENT supports innovative startups with proven market acceptance and strong growth potential. Projects with both longer and shorter routes to market may be eligible for funding.

Innovative idea

By an innovative idea, we mean that you have identified a need or problem in a market that does not currently have a satisfactory solution. You must demonstrate a sound understanding of how the market works and describe the products or services currently available. You must also make a strong case for how your business idea solves the problem more effectively and explain how the new solution will be positioned in the market. You must describe this in a competitor analysis.

Documented market acceptance

We consider market acceptance to be documented if customers, users, investors or business partners confirm that the problem you have identified is worth solving.

We consider market acceptance to be documented when customers, users, investors or business partners are willing to contribute resources to the project's further development. These resources may include development partnerships, access to test groups or testing facilities, advance payments or invested capital. You must provide evidence of their interest through letters of intent or similar documents and attach these agreements to your application.

Strong growth potential 

We consider your business to have significant growth potential when you can explain how you plan to commercialise your solution. This means showing how the product or service will contribute to a profitable business model with national or international potential. You must demonstrate a good understanding of the market and the customer groups you want to reach. You must also be able to describe the size of the market and how you expect to reach it.

Projects that have not yet demonstrated market acceptance can apply to us for Startup grant 1.

The project should include activities related to:

• further develop the product or service in close collaboration with customers, users or other partners. The activities must aim to increase the TRL from its current level.
• ensure that the technology/solution being developed meets genuine customer needs. The activities must aim to raise the BRL from its current level.
• strengthen the core team's overall ability to deliver. Examples include taking part in accelerator programmes, networking events or trade fairs.
• make your company investor-ready. Attracting private capital is crucial for companies to succeed. We will therefore give weight to sound strategies for securing access to capital, as well as activities to develop and implement these strategies.

• The maximum grant per company is NOK 1 million.
• The grant awarded must not exceed the amount necessary to carry out the project.
• The grant may cover up to 100 per cent of approved costs. There is therefore no requirement for self-financing. In line with our other startup funding schemes, there must be a clear objective to make the company investment-ready during the project period.

We pay 50 per cent of the grant in advance when the project starts. Once 50 per cent of the project has been completed, you must submit an evaluation and accounts to us before we pay a further 30 per cent. We pay the remaining 20 per cent once the project has been completed and we have approved the final report and the audited project accounts from an auditor or authorised accountant.

• The market and its potential are clearly described. You have defined your target audience and know how to adapt your solution to meet customer needs.
• The need or problem to be addressed must be clearly described, and market acceptance must be documented.
• The project receiving support must be innovative and have the potential to create significant value in Norway.
• You must be able to communicate your idea and what makes the project unique in an initial outline of a scalable business model.
• The applicant has described potential competitors and alternative products in the market.
• The applicant can demonstrate relevant expertise or experience for the project, and that the core team has the ability to deliver.
• The applicant must describe the project objectives and how they will be achieved.
• The project must aim to attract smart capital and active ownership, with plans and activities to support this.
• Projects that receive funding must be able to help develop the culture of entrepreneurship at the educational institution.
• Projects with a clear positive impact on the environment and/or society will be prioritised.

Your application must include a project with clearly defined activities that help achieve the objectives for technology development (TRL) and business development (BRL). The budget must only include costs necessary to carry out the planned activities.

Read more about our grant criteria and what we look for in an application.

Documents you must include with your application

• Documentation of market acceptance
• Collaboration agreement with the educational institution
• Agreement with a commercial mentor
• Operating budget for 3–5 years

We require you to have entered into a collaboration agreement with your educational institution and a commercial mentor. You must attach these agreements to your application.

Collaboration agreement with the educational institution and academic mentor

The agreement must confirm that the educational institution supports the project and set out how it will contribute during the project period to help make the project a success.

The agreement must include the name and contact details of an employee at the educational institution who will act as an academic mentor. The academic mentor must be affiliated with an academic community relevant to the project, where this connection helps reduce technological or other critical risks in the project.

The agreement must also explain the other ways in which the educational institution will support the project. This support may, for example, include access to laboratory facilities, testing equipment, office space, etc.

The agreement must also show that the students commit to sharing their experiences and lessons learned with the educational institution during and after the project.

Template for a collaboration agreement with an educational institution

Commercial mentor

The project must engage at least one commercial mentor from the business community, such as an industry expert, serial entrepreneur or investor. The mentor must complement the core team with relevant industry and market experience. They should also understand the project's critical tasks and help strengthen its ability to deliver.

Suggested template for an agreement with a commercial mentor

We use Business Readiness Level (BRL) and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) when assessing projects and applications. Before you start writing your application, we encourage you to watch this short introductory video: A management tool for technology development. We also recommend the course Your customers decide whether you have a good business idea.

We offer a range of other online courses you can take at your convenience.

Get in touch with kundesupport@innovasjonnorge.no