The board of Helse Sør-Øst RHF has selected three thematic areas for prioritisation for the 2026 call, totalling NOK 10 million (cf. board case 025-2025). The application process for these funds will be carried out and awarded in conjunction with the process for ordinary regional research funding applications (see description of application processing in Helse Sør-Øst).
Steering documents
The strategic objective for the earmarked funds is to support research within specific thematic areas of particular importance to future development of the specialist healthcare services. The prioritisation is made on the basis of relevant strategic plans and steering documents for the region, e.g.:
- Regional development plan 2040 Helse Sør-Øst
- Strategy for patient safety and quality improvement in Helse Sør-Øst
- Regional strategy plan for the technology area
- Regional strategy plan for mental health care and interdisciplinary specialised drug addiction treatment
- Commissioning document for Helse Sør-Øst RHF 2025
At an overarching level, the Health Personnel Commission's report and the National Health and Collaboration Plan are used as the basis for the prioritisation.
Special requirements for applications within prioritised areas
Project applications for prioritised research funds are expected to show a clear connection to these strategic documents and should include activities within one of the prioritised areas. It is not sufficient that the thematic area is only partly included as an element in the application.
Please note! User participation is mandatory in projects within prioritised areas.
The project manager must indicate which area the application applies to by selecting the correct option in the application form
Prioritised thematic areas
Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
The prioritity within the area of quality improvement and patient safety should include research aimed at increasing knowledge about the quality, safety, and security of health services so that patients are not exposed to unnecessary risk or harm as a result of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
The prioritisation is directed towards:
- Research focused on user experiences and good, relevant patient data as central information sources. Projects focusing on simulations and/or synthetic data are not included in the prioritisation.
- Research related to unwanted variation, specifically research based on data from quality registers.
- Research of quality improvement and patient safety related to women's health, diversity, equitable health services, and migration health.
There is a particular need for increased research activity related to interaction between different levels, such as the doctor/patient relationship and between specialist health services and municipal health services.
Decentralised services and seamless patient pathways
The future healthcare service must increasingly be developed with a decentralised service structure, where patients will more often receive health care at home or in their local area, either through digital or ambulatory/outpatient services.
The prioritisation is directed towards:
- Research on decentralised services.
- Research related to health personnel-saving measures
- Clinical studies that facilitate decentralised participation.
Digitalisation
The Regional Development Plan 2040 and the Health Personnel Commission's report point to the need for the implementation of new technology to maintain a sustainable health service.
The prioritisation is directed towards:
- Research on new technological solutions and innovative, data-driven work processes for efficiency and health personnel-saving measures.
- Research on various home-based solutions, welfare technology, and sensors that enable extended follow-up and active participation in one's own health for residents.
- Research on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in specialist health services. In this area, it will be possible to apply for funding for projects that use large-scale health data for the implementation of personalised medicine.
Projects involving the implementation of new digital solutions are expected to adhere to the principles of universal design. In essence, this means ensuring that all users, regardless of their individual circumstances, can use these solutions effectively.
Read the announcement of research funding from Helse Sør-Øst RHF for 2026.