Project Funding

Financing of Barents cooperation

Various financial mechanisms are available to support multilateral project cooperation in the Barents region. The most important funding sources are the national and regional budgets of the Barents countries, various EU Programmes and the Nordic Council of Ministers. In addition to this, International Financial Institutions offer financing for investment projects in the region. The main financing sources for Barents cooperation projects are listed below. More information on each financing instrument is available by clicking the links provided.

Report of the BEAC Ad Hoc Working Group on Financial Mechanism Study - Financing of Barents Cooperation (2015)

Download the Full Matrix on the Funding Sources for Barents Cooperation Projects.

Open calls

NEFCO/NCM: Nordic-Russian environment and climate programme calls for project proposals
A new call of proposals for the Nordic-Russian Programme for Environment and Climate Co-operation will be launched in the beginning of next year.

Kolarctic CBC Programme
4th Call for Proposals for micro-projects will be launched in February 2020.

Northern Periphery and the Arctic Preparatory Project Call
Constantly ongoing call

See all calls

Regional Councils

Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS)

Financing Instrument: Project Support Facility (PSF)
Themes/Priorities: Regional identity, Sustainable and prosperous region, Safe and secure region
Geographical Coverage: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: The project must cover at least three CBSS Member States. Lead partner must be from CBSS Member State.
Grant size and co-financing rate: EUR 10,000 - 50,000 / 10%
Link: www.cbss.org

Arctic Council

Financing Instrument: Project Support Instrument (PSI)
Themes/Priorities: Pollution prevention, abatment and elimination
Geographical Coverage: Arctic Region
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Financing from the PSI can only be provided for projects, which have been approved by the Artic Council and are action/investment-oriented.
Link: www.nefco.org

Nordic Council of Ministers

Financing Instrument: The Arctic Cooperation Programme
Themes/Priorities: People, Sustainable economic development, Environment, nature and climate, Education and skills enhancement
Geographical Coverage: Arctic Region
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Lead partner needs to be Nordic; 3 Nordic partners required. In special cases, if the project involves a third participant from (North-West) Russia, Canada and/or the USA this requirement may be lowered to two Nordic countries.
Grant size and co-financing rate: EUR 10,000 - 50,000 / 10%
Link: The Arctic Cooperation Programme

Financing Instrument: Journalists' Co-operation Programme
Themes/Priorities: Journalism in modern democracy, neighborly relations between Nordic countries and North-West Russia
Geographical Coverage: Nordic countries and Northwest Russia
Link: Journalists' Co-operation Programme

Financing Instrument: The NGO Programme
Themes/Priorities: Social and health, Culture, Environment, Development of democracy
Geographical Coverage: Nordic countries and Northwest Russia
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: At least 1 Nordic, 1 Estonian/Latvian/Lithuanian/Polish and 1 Northwest Russian/Belarussian partner
Grant size and co-financing rate: Max. 500 000 DKK/project/year
Link: The NGO Programme

Financing Instrument: Thematic Programme for Environment and Climate
Themes/Priorities: Environment and climate
Geographical Coverage: Nordic countries: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Åland; Russian regions: Arkhangelsk, Kaliningrad, Komi, Nenets Leningrad, Murmansk, Pskov, Karelia, St. Petersburg
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Lead partner must be a legal entity from a Nordic country; at least 2 Nordic and 1 Russian partner
Grant size and co-financing rate: 30 000 - 200 000 EUR; Russian partners (except NGO's) need to co-finance 30%
Link: Thematic Programme for Environment and Climate

Financing Instrument: Thematic Programme for Health Promotion and Prevention
Themes/Priorities: Health issues with a cross-border impact on the Nordic countries and North-West Russia
Geographical Coverage: Nordic countries: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Åland; Russian regions: Arkhangelsk, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Pskov, Karelia, St. Petersburg
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Lead partner must be a legal entity from a Nordic country; at least 2 Nordic and 1 Russian partner
Grant size and co-financing rate: Russian partners (except NGO's) need to co finance 30%
Link: Health Promotion and Prevention

Financing Instrument: The Open Call Programme
Themes/Priorities: Various themes: establishment of networks, exchange of experiences
Geographical Coverage: Nordic countries: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Åland; Russian regions: Arkhangelsk, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Pskov, Karelia, St. Petersburg
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Lead partner must be a legal entity from a Nordic country; at least 2 Nordic and 1 Russian partner
Grant size and co-financing rate: Russian partners (except NGO's) need to co finance 30%
Link: The Open Call Programme

Financing Instrument: NORDBUK Grant Programme
Themes/Priorities: Strengthening youth and children's participation and influence in political processes, organizing capabilitites and Nordic identity
Geographical Coverage: Nordic countries; North-West Russian and Baltic partners accepted
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Either 3 equal Nordic partners or 2 equal Nordic partners of which 1 from Åland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland or the North Calotte (Nordland, Troms and Finnmark , Norrbotten and Lapland).
Grant size and co-financing rate: €7,500 to €25,000; at least 15% of total budget needs to be funded from another source
Link: NORDBUK

Financing Instrument: Mobility Programme
Themes/Priorities: Enhance cultural and artistic collaboration in the Nordic and Baltic countries by supporting traveling, networking and residential activities. 3 different mobility programmes.
Geographical Coverage: Nordic region and Baltic states.
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Residents of Nordic or Baltic states, but don’t need to be nationals. Professional artists, residency organisations and people involved in cultural sphere. 3 mobility programmes have different criteria.
Grant size and co-financing rate: Grant varies.
Link: Mobility Programme

Financing Instrument: The Research and Education Programme
Themes/Priorities: Education and research (students and institutions)
Geographical Coverage: Nordic countries and Northwest Russia
Requirement for (Lead) Partnership: All Nordic higher education institutions that are defined as such in their respective countries. Eligible partner institutions in Russia are fully accredited higher educational institutions, limited to certain types of institutions. For further information about eligibility criteria for Russian institutions: Research cooperation and Educational cooperation.
Grant size and co-financing rate: Research cooperation: Max. NOK 3 million. The own contribution of Russian participants may include in-kind funding.
Educational cooperation: Max. EUR 50 000. Nordic institutions should provide minimum 30 % own contribution (in kind or cash). Russian participation in projects must be funded with own contribution (in kind or cash).
Link: The Research and Education Programme

Financing Instrument: Culture and Art programme
Themes/Priorities: Nordic cooperation within art and culture
Geographical Coverage: Nordic countries; partners can be from other countries
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Each project should include parties from at least three countries, of which at least two should be Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and/or the Faroe Islands, Greenland and the Åland Islands). The lead partner can be also Russian.
Grant size and co-financing rate: Up to 7,000 EUR with full financing, up to 40,000 EUR with at least 30% co-financing, up to 100,000 EUR with at least 50 % co-financing
Link: Culture and Art programme

Northern Dimension

Financing Instrument: Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership
Themes/Priorities: Environmental window: Wastewater treatment, municipal and agricultural solid waste management and energy efficiency. Nuclear window: Spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management
Geographical Coverage: North-West Russia and Belarus
Grant size and co-financing rate: Size of grant varies
Link: www.ndep.org

Financing Instrument: Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being
Themes/Priorities: To reduce the spread of major communicable diseases and prevent life-style related non-communicable diseases; to enhance peoples’ levels of social well-being and to promote healthy and socially rewarding lifestyles.
Geographical Coverage: Northern Dimension area
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: See Chapter IV, Financial Rules
Grant size and co-financing rate: Decided on case-by-case basis
Link: www.ndphs.org

Financing Instrument: Northern Dimension Partnership on Transport and Logistics (NDPTL)
Themes/Priorities: Improvement of major transport connections and logistics
Geographical Coverage: Northern Dimension area
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: One or more NDPTL Member State and/or international organisations, joint undertakings or public or private undertakings, with the agreement of the NDPTL Member State(s) concerned.
Grant size and co-financing rate: EUR 140,000 - 500,000 / Minimum 50%
Link: www.ndptl.org

Financing Instrument: Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture
Themes/Priorities: Culture and creative industries
Geographical Coverage: Northern Dimension area
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Lead partner should have partners from as many ND area countries as possible, should be able to successfully carry out and report the project; prospects of project continuation after the grant.
Grant size and co-financing rate: No funds for 2016-2017
Link: www.ndpculture.org

EU ENI CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMMES

Financing Instrument: The Kolarctic CBC Programme
Themes/Priorities: Priority axis 1: Viability of arctic economy, nature and environment. Priority axis 2. Fluent mobility of people, goods and knowledge. Thematic objectives (4): Business and SME development. Environmental .
Geographical Coverage: Core regions: Lapland, Norrbotten, Finnmark, Troms, Nordland, Murmansk Oblast, Archangelsk Oblast, Nenets Autonomous District. Adjoining regions: Oulu, Västerbotten, Karelia, Komi
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Each project should have at least one partner from the participating Member State (Finland or Sweden) and one from the participating partner country (Russia). Bilateral projects between Russia and Norway.
Grant size and co-financing rate: Community funding (50%) and National co-financing (50%), total 90% and own contribution 10%; Large Infrastructure Projects (LIPs): Community contribution (EU) 50%, Finnish or Russian State co-financing 50%. Norwegian co-financing possible with Norwegian partners. Own contribution minimum 10%.
Link: www.kolarctic.info

Financing Instrument: The Karelia CBC Programme
Themes/Priorities: Business and SME development, Culture, Environment, Border management and security
Geographical Coverage: Core regions: Kainuu, North-Karelia and Oulu Region from Finland and Republic of Karelia from Russia
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Minimum requirement for the partnerships: one partner from Russia and one partner from Finland (from programme area)
Grant size and co-financing rate: Limits for the size of grant defined in each call for proposal's guidelines. Minimum requirement for the applicants co-financing 10%
Link: www.kareliacbc.fi

EU Interreg Programmes

Financing Instrument: The Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme (NPA)
Themes/Priorities: Promoting innovations and entrepreneurship, Renewable energy and energy efficiency, Cultural and natural heritage.
Geographical Coverage: Finland, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, the UK (Scotland and Northern Ireland), the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland (ambition to involve Russian and Canadian partners on a project-by-project basis).
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: At least 3 partners from 3 different NPA countries, of which at least one EU Member State. Lead Partner may only be from EU MS, Norway or Iceland.
Grant size and co-financing rate: EUR 250,000 - 2 million (total budget), Co-financing rate in EU Member States - at least 35%, Norway - up to 50%
Link: www.interreg-npa.eu

Financing Instrument: Interreg Baltic Sea Region
Themes/Priorities: Innovation, Efficient management of natural resources, Sustainable transport, Institutional capacity for macro-regional cooperation
Geographical Coverage: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and northern parts of Germany as well as Norway, Belarus and the North-Western District of Russia
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: At least 3 partners from 3 different BSR countries per project. Lead Partner may only be from EU MS located in BSR or Norway.
Grant size and co-financing rate: No formal limits. Approx. EUR 300,000 - 4 million; Denmark, Finland, Germany, Sweden at least 25%; Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland at least 15%; Norway up to 50%
Link: http://eu.baltic.net/

Financing Instrument: Interreg North
Themes/Priorities: Research and innovation, Entrepreneurship, Culture and environment, Joint labour markets
Geographical Coverage: Finland, Sweden and Norway
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: At least partners from 2 programme area countries, of which one EU Member State. Lead Partner normally from Finland or Sweden.
Grant size and co-financing rate: No formal limits. Normally max. EUR 1 million (total budget). Co-financing rate in EU MS at least 35%, in Norway up to 50%.
Link: www.interregnord.com

OTHER EU PROGRAMMES

Financing Instrument: Erasmus+: Aktiv Ungdom
Themes/Priorities: Improving capacities of the youth in order to be full participants of the society. Active citizenship. Intercultural dialogue.
Geographical Coverage: 33 programme countries (28 EU countries + Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Turkey and Macedonia). 22 neighbour countries (incl. Russia) which can work as partner countries.
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: All kinds of organisations can apply, within the programme countries. Programmes on youth sector must have at least two cooperation partners from different programme countries. In intersectoral cooperation there has to be three partners.
Grant size and co-financing rate: Max. 150 000 € /year.
Link: www.aktivungdom.eu/english/

National Financing Institutions

Swedish Institute

Themes/Priorities: Environment and energy, Social issues and health, Civil safety and security, Innovation and regional development
Geographical Coverage: Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus. Georgia and Moldova (higher education).
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Swedish lead beneficiary. A minimum of three partners and three participating countries.
Grant size and co-financing rate: Approx. EUR 1,000 - 47,000 (SEK 10,000 - 440,000) / 10%
Link: eng.si.se

Norwegian Barents Secretariat

Themes/Priorities: Culture, Youth, Education, Industrial and commercial development, Sports, Indigenous Peoples, Environment, Media and Civil Society
Geographical Coverage: Northern Norway and Northwestern Russia. The NBS finances Norwegian-Russian project activities implemented in the Barents Region.
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Norwegian-Russian Barents projects, or to Norwegian & Russian participation in multilateral projects in the region. The applicant must be Norwegian.
Grant size and co-financing rate: Case by case (from very small to quite large contributions).
Link: www.barents.no

International Financial Institutions

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development*

Themes/Priorities: Support of diversification, Innovation, Regional development, Private sector growth
Geographical Coverage: 34 countries including all CIS countries
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Not tied
Grant size and co-financing rate: EUR 5-200 million / 35% applicant participation rate
Link: www.erdb.com

*Due to the EU sanctions in place, new projects in Russia are, for the time being, unlikely to be undertaken.

European Investment Bank (EIB)*

Themes/Priorities: The EIB's lending priorities are set by four main Public Policy goals: i) fostering innovation ii) improving SME/mid-cap financing conditions iii) building an efficient EU infrastructure and iv) protecting the environment and climate.
Geographical Coverage: The EIB is active in all EU Member States and outside of the EU in the countries eligible for EIB financing under the EU's External Lending Mandate.
Grant size and co-financing rate: EIB finances up to 50% of project investment costs.
Link: www.eib.org

*Due to the EU sanctions in place, new projects in Russia are, for the time being, unlikely to be undertaken.

Nordic Investment Bank*

Themes/Priorities: Sustainable growth, Environment, Promoting competitiveness
Geographical Coverage: Nordic and Baltic member countries and the selected focus countries.
Grant size and co-financing rate: Minimum EUR 10 million / Minimum 50%
Link: www.nib.int

*Due to the EU sanctions in place, new projects in Russia are, for the time being, unlikely to be undertaken.

Vneshecombank - Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (VEB)

Themes/Priorities: Projects, innovation substitution, infrastructure development
Geographical Coverage: Russia
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: Available here.
Grant size and co-financing rate: Conformity with VEB principles and main lines; project total cost is more than RUB 2 billion;
VEB’s minimum participation share is RUB 1 billion.
Link: www.veb.ru/en

The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation

Financing Instrument: Investment Fund
Themes/Priorities: Positive environmental impacts
Geographical Coverage: Eastern Europe, focus on Armenia, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia and Ukraine.
Grant size and co-financing rate: EUR 1-5 million
Link: www.nefco.org

Financing Instrument: Baltic Sea Action Plan Fund
Themes/Priorities: To help restore the ecological status of the Baltic Sea
Geographical Coverage: Finland, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Belarus
Grant size and co-financing rate: EUR 50,000 - 900,000
Link: www.nefco.com

Financing Instrument: Nordic Project Fund
Themes/Priorities: Strengthening Nordic SMEs by financing feasibility studies for internationalisation regarding green growth, climate and renewable energy
Geographical Coverage: Nordic small and medium-sized entreprises
Grant size and co-financing rate: Maximum 40% of the feasibility study budget and to a maximum amount of EUR 50,000
Link: www.nopef.com

Financing Instrument: Barents Hot Spots Facility
Themes/Priorities: To promote project development at the environmental “Hot Spots” in the Russian Barents (Euro-Arctic) Region
Geographical Coverage: North-West Russia
Grant size and co-financing rate: Case by case (from very small to quite large contributions)
Link: www.nefco.org

Financing Instrument: Nordic Environmental Development Fund
Themes/Priorities: The Revolving Facility for Cleaner Production investments provides loans directly to enterprises implementing cleaner production programmes, as well as to municipal utilities for the financing of eco-efficient measures mainly within the water, wastewater or heating sector. The Energy Savings Credit Facility support a range of small municipal energy-efficiency measures in the social sector.
Requirements for (Lead) Partnership: A) Cleaner Production Facility (CPF): companies ; B) Energy Saving Credits (ESC): municipalities
Geographical Coverage: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus
Grant size and co-financing rate: A) CPF: maximum EUR 500,000 B) ESC: RUB 9.5 million and UAH 3 million
Link: www.nefco.org

Project Funding

Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS)

Arctic Council

Nordic Council of Ministers

Swedish Institute

Norwegian Barents Secretariat

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development*

European Investment Bank (EIB)*

Nordic Investment Bank*

Vneshecombank - Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (VEB)

The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation

Project funding in Barents

Internship at the IBS