Adolf Øiens Fond for Næringsutvikling is a Trondheim-based foundation that combines business development, education, and broad public-benefit support, with a strong local mandate for projects that create ripple effects for the city and region. Its giving ranges from startup and seed-stage support for founders and innovation projects to scholarships for economics students, plus periodic grants for arts, culture, elder services, and other community-serving initiatives. The fund is especially distinctive for backing both entrepreneurial talent and traditional civic institutions in Trondheim, often through board-led, place-based allocations rather than an open national grant program.
Focus Areas
Startup and Innovation SupportEntrepreneurship and Business DevelopmentEconomics and Business Education ScholarshipsTrondheim Arts and Music ProjectsElder Services and Quality of LifeLocal Faith and Community Institutions
Giving Approach
Mixed giving model: annual board decisions for major programs, periodic or rolling awards for some student stipends, and invite-only or non-solicited support for certain categories. Grant sizes vary widely, from smaller scholarship-style awards to larger startup and seed investments, with some programs distributed only once every year or every two years.
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How to approach this funder
Focus applications on Trondheim or the surrounding region and clearly show local impact. Check the specific program calendar: some opportunities are annual, some are biennial, and some are rolling; the 2026 Etablererstipendet deadline is 9 August 2026, while other programs may have no unsolicited application route or require waiting for board-announced calls.
Notable grantees:
• Proventure Seed
• Såkorn 1 Midt
• GNIST Capital AS
• Trondhjems Kunstforening
• Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Adolf Øiens Fond for Næringsutvikling that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Aug 9, 2026Award: $100K – $600K
Etablererstipendet
entrepreneurshipinnovationbusiness development+1 more
Who can apply: Company or key owners must be resident in Trondheim and surrounding areas. The enterprise must be founded by people with a master's degree in economics and/or technology, primarily from NTNU. The business concept must have potential to create positive ripple effects in the Trondheim region. Applicants must provide an organization number.
economics educationhigher educationresearch+2 more
Who can apply: Applications are routed through NTNU Handelshøyskolen. Recipients must be connected to Trondheim and surrounding areas so the support is expected to create local ripple effects. Eligible recipients include the school, faculty, research, students, alumni and emeriti.
Deadline: Applications are accepted continuously; 2026 deadlines will be published when set.
Who can apply: Applicants must have a connection to Trondheim and surrounding areas. All applicants must provide an organization number. The foundation supports measures that improve life for older adults and go beyond public responsibility.
Deadline: Søknadsfrister for 2026 will be published when set.
Who can apply: Recipients must have sufficient connection to Trondheim and surrounding areas for the grant to have local ripple effects. Named recipients include Røde Kors, Det Kongelige Norske Videnskabers Selskab i Trondheim, Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum, Trondhjems Kunstforening, Svenska Kyrkan, and Sanitetsforeningen. Other organizations may apply. All applicants must provide an organization number.
Deadline: Søknadsfrister for 2026 will be published when set.
Who can apply: Recipients must have sufficient connection to Trondheim and surrounding areas for the award to have ripple effects. The program is intended for arts and culture projects, including study purposes for young artists and presentation concerts for pianists. The board makes decisions every second year.
Deadline: Søknadsfrister for 2026 will be published when set.
Who can apply: Mottakere må ha tilknytning til Trondheim og omegn. Alle søkere må oppgi organisasjonsnummer. Fondet har også flere navngitte mottakere som prioriteres (f.eks. Røde Kors, Trondhjems Kunstforening m.fl.).
Deadline: Styret fatter vedtak én gang i året. Utdelinger for 2026 vil kunngjøres etter vedtak i styret (ingen konkret dato oppgitt).
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.