Upcoming call from NordForsk: Apply for funding for exploratory networks within the social sciences and humanities

In January 2026, the Joint Committee for Nordic Research Councils in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NOS-HS) under NordForsk will launch a new call aimed at promoting collaboration between early-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences.

A number of small wooden blocks with a human icon on them and and lines between the signaling networks. On a light blue background.

The call, entitled Exploratory Networks within Social Sciences and Humanities, will open in January 2026.

Its purpose is to support the establishment of Nordic research networks in the humanities and social sciences, where researchers enjoy a high degree of academic freedom to explore and develop themes, topics and activities based on their own curiosity-driven research ideas. NOS-HS expects to fund up to 22 networks under the call.

New peer-review model

As a new feature, the call will apply Distributed Peer Review (DPR) as part of the peer-review process. This means that applicants themselves will take part as reviewers, as part of testing new approaches to peer review.

NOS-HS, which is responsible for the call, is a collaboration between the research funding organisations in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland.

Follow updates on NordForsk’s website, where the call will be published in January 2026.