Romanian researchers will get non-reimbursable funding worth some EUR 20 million via the program 'Research in priority sectors', for which an agreement was recently signed by the Education Ministry and the European Funds Ministry.

Romania will thus be able to attract funding via the financial mechanism of the European Economic Area. The direct beneficiaries of the funding will be national research institutes, as well as private partners, which fall under the small and medium enterprises category.

Funding will come from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein and can be used for social and human sciences, renewable energy, health and healthy food, as well as environmental protection and management. Norway is the main contributor to the funding package, with 97 percent contribution.

Between 2004 and 2009, Romania benefited from EUR 100 million in grants via the same mechanism, for environment protection, sustainable production, health and child care, among others.

editor@romania-insider.com