Falch questions Horizon Europe’s research quality compared with ERC and Fripro – Professor Torberg Falch, a society‑economics professor and board member at NTNU, argues that Horizon Europe places heavy weight on innovation and policy relevance, which dilutes the focus on scientific excellence and may lead to weaker results than those from ERC or Fripro programmes[1].
NTNU leads in Horizon funding but trails far behind UiO in Fripro grants – NTNU secured the highest share of EU Horizon Europe external funds among Norwegian universities, yet in 2025 it received only NOK 145.6 million from Fripro, while the University of Oslo obtained NOK 467.7 million, more than three times as much[1].
Horizon projects are deficit‑funded, forcing NTNU to cover 20 % of costs – The EU finances up to 80 % of a Horizon project’s budget; the remaining expenses are borne by the host institution, meaning NTNU must allocate internal resources that strain its finances, especially under tighter budgets[1].
Falch warns that over‑reliance on Horizon could damage NTNU’s reputation – He contends that prioritising Horizon Europe may reduce the university’s standing in quality‑driven competitions and suggests a strategic shift toward ERC and Fripro, where only research quality is assessed[1].
Pro‑rector Hernes defends Horizon participation as essential for international collaboration – Toril A. Nagelhus Hernes says Horizon Europe provides access to leading European research networks, accounting for roughly 20 % of NTNU’s externally funded research portfolio and about NOK 500 million in 2025, supporting both capacity and relevance[1].
2025 funding reforms removed incentives for external EU income, signaling a policy tilt – Changes to university financing eliminated performance indicators tied to external EU grants while retaining teaching metrics, reflecting a governmental preference for quality‑focused programmes like ERC and Fripro over Horizon Europe[1].