Laerdal Foundation receives applications all year round for financial support for organisations and initiatives working to saving lives at birth in low resource areas and in acute medicine. Each year 20 projects are supported financially and with other technical and operational guidance. The support will be focused on practically oriented projects helping achieve the UN Sustainability Goal no 3 (that in 2015 replaced the previous MDGs 4 and 5), aiming at

1. Reducing infant and child mortality by 2/3 from 2010 to 2030
2. Reducing maternal deaths by 2/3 from 2010 to 2030

In considering applications for projects in developing countries, the Board will be prioritizing projects that beyond a local impact have the potential to document long-term practical value, and stimulate developments also in other regions/countries through the publication of results in peer-reviewed journals.  Please note that projects to strengthen a local health system, will not qualify.

For Project grants and Saving Lives at Birth programs, the application deadline is 1 April and 1 October each year.  For Center Support, Program Support and the Bjørn Lind stipend, the application deadline is 1 April each year. A reply with feedback and outcome should normally be expected within eight weeks from the application deadline.

Grants are awarded in five different categories:

1. Project Support
2. Saving Lives at Birth in Low-Resource Settings
3. Center Support
4. Program Support
5. Bjørn Lind Stipend

The Board expects to fund up to 20 projects per year, with up to USD 50,000.- per award.Higher amounts than this may be awarded to regional initiatives, or particular educational or collaborative initiatives. If the total expenses for one project should exceed that amount, the Board will also include in its consideration other possible sources of financial support.

Interested candidates can download the application form from the official website.

The Laerdal Foundation for Acute Medicine was established in 1980 to provide financial support to practically oriented research and development in acute medicine. The Laerdal Foundation wishes to contribute to an understanding of practical needs within both of these areas. In recent years there has also been an added focus on projects related to saving lives at birth in low-resource settings. Until now the Laerdal Foundation has provided financial support to about 1600 projects totalling about NOK 300 mill (USD 37 mill).