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In general about support schemes
Tradesmen have the opportunity to apply for a number of support schemes. They can public or private support schemes, as well as national or regional. Altinn has made an overview of public support schemes, where you can apply based on purpose and industry.
You can read more about SkatteFunn below. SkatteFunn is an public support scheme managed by The Research Council of Norway and The Norwegian Tax Administration.
Since its establishment in 2002, the SkatteFunn-scheme has grown to become the largest public support scheme for research and development (FoU) in the industry. It expects to distribute about NOK 4 billion in 2018,according to The Norwegian Tax Administration.
Who can apply for SkatteFUNN:
- Every company taxable to Norway can receive support regardless of industry, type of company and size, and if the idea is meant to generate new or improved products, services or production-processes.
- There are no limitations or demands for theme as long as its restricted and objective-oriented in a way that it differs from the normal operation.
- The Research Council of Norway assess if the project meets the demands for funding.
What you can apply for:
- Small and medium-sized businesses can get 20% of their project expenses covered, while larger businesses can get 18%. You can receive support for a project up to 3 years.
- The support is to cover the costs of research and development, and has to be limited to the running operation and commercialization phase.
- There are some rules in further detail about how to work out the labour costs, and all costs has to be directly linked to the project. Non-paid work is not considered.
- The upper limit for costs per year is NOK 25 million for FoU, carried out by the company itself and NOK 50 million for the purchase of an external approved FoU. When both are applicable, the maximum frame for the enterprise is NOK 50 million. The same framework applies if the company has several approved projects.
- If there are more companies collaborating on the same project, they must apply for each their part of their project.
- If the enterprise receives other public support for business activities, there are rules for the upper limit of aid. Projects in the "Industrial Research" category can receive more than projects in the "Experimental Development" category. Both categories get more if they are small or medium-sized enterprises, or two companies cooperate on the project.
- "Industrial research" means that new knowledge or skills are acquired to develop new products, services or processes.
- "Experimental development" means using existing knowledge or skills to develop significantly better products, services or processes.
How to apply for SkatteFunn:
- The company apply to the Research Council to approve the project according to specific rules. Information about what the application should contain can be found on the website www.skattefunn.no
- The application must be sent by September 1st for guaranteed treatment by the end of the year. Support can then be received for the same year, and include costs for the whole year.
- Enterprises with an approved Tax Fund project shall report progress and actual costs to the Research Council by 31 March each year and at the end of the project.
- Participants in the project must keep time lists and all costs are documented in a project account that an external auditor will review and certify in connection with the company's annual tax report.
- The aid is granted in the form of a reduction in tax payable. If the company is in deficit, the money will be paid in connection with the tax settlement.
- If the project is delayed, it may be requested to extend the support period. Should the idea prove unsuccessful, it is not required to refund received support.
- According to user surveys, companies that have applied for SkatteFUNN report that they find it easy to apply for support.
