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Here's how to apply for funding

In our step-by-step overview, we tell you how to apply for and receive funding from Vinnova for your innovation project.

This web page has been machine translated. If there are any uncertainties, please refer to the Swedish text.

This is how it works

  • Vinnova finances research and innovation projects that can benefit society. We do this through various offers, which we call calls for proposals. To understand what Vinnova finances, you can read about which project have received funding from us before.

    Vinnova finances research and innovation projects that can benefit society. We do this through various offers, which we call calls for proposals. To understand what Vinnova finances, you can read about which project have received funding from us before.

    This is financed by Vinnova

    Vinnova finances research and innovation projects that might not become reality without state aid. It can be anything from developing climate-smart alternatives to meat to seeing how robots can help the elderly. We can also finance preliminary studies for project in research and innovation, and provide support to small and medium-sized companies. Read about what we have funded so far, to see what type of project we support.

    Search among project we have previously financed

    Some good project examples

    Who can get funding?

    We only provide funding to organizations, and often we want several parties to collaborate on the project. Private individuals never receive funding from us, and neither do organizations with financial difficulties.

    This is how we finance project

    Vinnova finances research and innovation through various calls for proposals. A call for proposals is a kind of framework for what earmarked money should go to. In the call for proposals we also specify which types of organizations can apply funding.

    Even if your project fits within the scope of the call for proposals, there is no guarantee that you will receive funding. The competition is often fierce and we cannot provide funding to everyone who applies. If we decide to finance your project, we never act as advisors or partners.

    We usually do not finance the entire project

    We usually do not finance all your costs. Therefore, you must ensure that you have other funds that can cover part of the costs. What we finance depends on several things, for example what you are going to do, the size of the organization and the type of activities you carry out. The organizations in the project often receive different amounts funding. How much each organization gets is stated in the decision.

    Rules for state aid

    For competitive reasons, there are rules for state aid. They govern, among other things, what we are allowed to finance and how much funding we are allowed to provide.

    The rules for state aid

    What costs can we finance?

    The costs you can get funding for are called eligible costs. Which costs are eligible depends on what you do in the project, but the cost must always be in the organization's accounting during the project period. Read the call text to see what applies to you.

    There are also additional eligibility requirements and conditions for our funding. We explain them in our guide on eligible costs and in our general terms and conditions, § 6.1.

    Here you will find Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding and a guide to eligible costs

    This is financed by Vinnova

    Vinnova finances research and innovation projects that might not become reality without state aid. It can be anything from developing climate-smart alternatives to meat to seeing how robots can help the elderly. We can also finance preliminary studies for project in research and innovation, and provide support to small and medium-sized companies. Read about what we have funded so far, to see what type of project we support.

    Search among project we have previously financed

    Some good project examples

    Who can get funding?

    We only provide funding to organizations, and often we want several parties to collaborate on the project. Private individuals never receive funding from us, and neither do organizations with financial difficulties.

    This is how we finance project

    Vinnova finances research and innovation through various calls for proposals. A call for proposals is a kind of framework for what earmarked money should go to. In the call for proposals we also specify which types of organizations can apply funding.

    Even if your project fits within the scope of the call for proposals, there is no guarantee that you will receive funding. The competition is often fierce and we cannot provide funding to everyone who applies. If we decide to finance your project, we never act as advisors or partners.

    We usually do not finance the entire project

    We usually do not finance all your costs. Therefore, you must ensure that you have other funds that can cover part of the costs. What we finance depends on several things, for example what you are going to do, the size of the organization and the type of activities you carry out. The organizations in the project often receive different amounts funding. How much each organization gets is stated in the decision.

    Rules for state aid

    For competitive reasons, there are rules for state aid. They govern, among other things, what we are allowed to finance and how much funding we are allowed to provide.

    The rules for state aid

    What costs can we finance?

    The costs you can get funding for are called eligible costs. Which costs are eligible depends on what you do in the project, but the cost must always be in the organization's accounting during the project period. Read the call text to see what applies to you.

    There are also additional eligibility requirements and conditions for our funding. We explain them in our guide on eligible costs and in our general terms and conditions, § 6.1.

    Here you will find Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding and a guide to eligible costs

  • Look regularly for offers, or calls for proposals as we also call them. Then there is a greater chance that you will find funding for your project. If you find a call for proposals that you think is suitable, you submit your proposal electronically. Read the text in the call for proposals carefully, so that you don't miss anything that must be included.

    Look regularly for offers, or calls for proposals as we also call them. Then there is a greater chance that you will find funding for your project. If you find a call for proposals that you think is suitable, you submit your proposal electronically. Read the text in the call for proposals carefully, so that you don't miss anything that must be included.

    Find the right funding

    The first step to get funding is to search among our calls for proposals, to see if any of them can suit your project. The calls for proposals have different purposes and are aimed at different target groups. Each call for proposals contains a number of conditions that you must meet, so that we can assess whether we should finance the project.

    Find the right funding

    Things to think about before applying

    It can take a lot of time to apply for funding. You often have to collaborate with other organizations, so you need to plan time to find collaboration partners. You also need to have a dialogue with them about the project and different parts of proposal.

    Our calls for proposals are only open for proposal for a limited time, and when the application period expires, it is no longer possible to submit your proposal. Therefore, you need to start with proposal well in advance.

    When the application period has expired, you may only supplement proposal if we request it.

    Read the call text carefully

    Most applications must contain approximately the same things, but the requirements in the calls for proposals and which attachments you must attach may vary. It is therefore important to read the call text carefully, so that your proposal contains everything it should. Keep an extra eye on:

    • Formal eligibility requirements – in each offer there are a number of formal eligibility requirements that must be met. Examples of formal eligibility requirements could be that the company must not be the elderly for more than 5 years, that the project must have at least 3 parties or that the project manager must be employed by the coordinator.
    • Assessment criteria – this is what we assess, so make sure you have described everything we ask for in your proposal.

    Then you apply

    To apply funding, you fill in a web-based form in our e-service for applications. A proposal usually consists of a form and various attachments, but what we ask for depends on which call for proposals it applies to. We only assess applications that contain everything they should, so make sure you follow our instructions carefully.

    Log in to Vinnova's e-services

    This is how you fill in proposal

    Privacy in applications

    All registered applications become public documents. According to the principle of openness, the public has the right to request the applications that come to us - even applications that are rejected or withdrawn.

    Before we hand out a proposal we review it for confidentiality, which means that our programme manager assesses each individual case. We do not disclose information about inventions, research results or business and operating conditions, if we judge that someone may suffer harm from it.

    When you apply, you can state that your proposal contains information that should be classified as confidential. In this way, you help our programme manager in the assessment.

    Find the right funding

    The first step to get funding is to search among our calls for proposals, to see if any of them can suit your project. The calls for proposals have different purposes and are aimed at different target groups. Each call for proposals contains a number of conditions that you must meet, so that we can assess whether we should finance the project.

    Find the right funding

    Things to think about before applying

    It can take a lot of time to apply for funding. You often have to collaborate with other organizations, so you need to plan time to find collaboration partners. You also need to have a dialogue with them about the project and different parts of proposal.

    Our calls for proposals are only open for proposal for a limited time, and when the application period expires, it is no longer possible to submit your proposal. Therefore, you need to start with proposal well in advance.

    When the application period has expired, you may only supplement proposal if we request it.

    Read the call text carefully

    Most applications must contain approximately the same things, but the requirements in the calls for proposals and which attachments you must attach may vary. It is therefore important to read the call text carefully, so that your proposal contains everything it should. Keep an extra eye on:

    • Formal eligibility requirements – in each offer there are a number of formal eligibility requirements that must be met. Examples of formal eligibility requirements could be that the company must not be the elderly for more than 5 years, that the project must have at least 3 parties or that the project manager must be employed by the coordinator.
    • Assessment criteria – this is what we assess, so make sure you have described everything we ask for in your proposal.

    Then you apply

    To apply funding, you fill in a web-based form in our e-service for applications. A proposal usually consists of a form and various attachments, but what we ask for depends on which call for proposals it applies to. We only assess applications that contain everything they should, so make sure you follow our instructions carefully.

    Log in to Vinnova's e-services

    This is how you fill in proposal

    Privacy in applications

    All registered applications become public documents. According to the principle of openness, the public has the right to request the applications that come to us - even applications that are rejected or withdrawn.

    Before we hand out a proposal we review it for confidentiality, which means that our programme manager assesses each individual case. We do not disclose information about inventions, research results or business and operating conditions, if we judge that someone may suffer harm from it.

    When you apply, you can state that your proposal contains information that should be classified as confidential. In this way, you help our programme manager in the assessment.

  • When we assess the applications that come to us, we look at how feasible the idea is, how much potential it has and which actors will implement the project. We do not assess applications that are incomplete or do not meet our formal eligibility requirements.

    When we assess the applications that come to us, we look at how feasible the idea is, how much potential it has and which actors will implement the project. We do not assess applications that are incomplete or do not meet our formal eligibility requirements.

    This is how we assess the applications

    Once we have received the applications, we review them, and discard any applications that are incomplete or that do not meet our eligibility requirements. The applications that are correct and complete are distributed between different evaluator. Most often, we use specially appointed evaluator to ensure that our investments are of the highest possible quality. All evaluator are knowledgeable in the specific field to which proposal applies.

    When the evaluators have gone through the applications, we have an assessment meeting with the evaluators and Vinnova's programme manager. At the meeting, we discuss the applications, and the evaluators recommend which applications should be granted. In some cases, we call the applicant for an interview before we make a decision. Then Vinnova makes decisions about who gets funding, and what percentage of the costs we cover for each organization.

    When will the decision come?

    How long the process takes depends, among other things, on how many people apply. You will find information about when you can expect a decision during important dates in the call text. All granted project are presented on our website.

    We assess these criteria

    When we assess applications, we always look at three main criteria:

    • Potential. We analyze what effects and what value we can expect from the project, and what significance it will have for society if the project reaches its objective.
    • Actors. We assess the participants' ability to carry out the project, and achieve the desired results and effects.
    • Feasibility. We look at how realistic and credible the project plan is, both to implement the project and to achieve the desired results.

    We describe what the criteria mean for each call for proposals in the call text.

    No guarantees for funding

    On average, 30 percent of all applicants receive funding, so the competition is fierce. This means that you may be rejected, even though you meet all the criteria. It is not possible to appeal the decision, but anyone who is rejected is welcome to apply again at the next application opportunity or to another call for proposals.

    This is how we assess the applications

    Once we have received the applications, we review them, and discard any applications that are incomplete or that do not meet our eligibility requirements. The applications that are correct and complete are distributed between different evaluator. Most often, we use specially appointed evaluator to ensure that our investments are of the highest possible quality. All evaluator are knowledgeable in the specific field to which proposal applies.

    When the evaluators have gone through the applications, we have an assessment meeting with the evaluators and Vinnova's programme manager. At the meeting, we discuss the applications, and the evaluators recommend which applications should be granted. In some cases, we call the applicant for an interview before we make a decision. Then Vinnova makes decisions about who gets funding, and what percentage of the costs we cover for each organization.

    When will the decision come?

    How long the process takes depends, among other things, on how many people apply. You will find information about when you can expect a decision during important dates in the call text. All granted project are presented on our website.

    We assess these criteria

    When we assess applications, we always look at three main criteria:

    • Potential. We analyze what effects and what value we can expect from the project, and what significance it will have for society if the project reaches its objective.
    • Actors. We assess the participants' ability to carry out the project, and achieve the desired results and effects.
    • Feasibility. We look at how realistic and credible the project plan is, both to implement the project and to achieve the desired results.

    We describe what the criteria mean for each call for proposals in the call text.

    No guarantees for funding

    On average, 30 percent of all applicants receive funding, so the competition is fierce. This means that you may be rejected, even though you meet all the criteria. It is not possible to appeal the decision, but anyone who is rejected is welcome to apply again at the next application opportunity or to another call for proposals.

  • If we decide to finance your project, we will email you the decision. In order to receive funding from us, you need to implement the project as you have described and follow our term. During the project period, you must also report to us how the project is going, and any changes you make to the project.

    If we decide to finance your project, we will email you the decision. In order to receive funding from us, you need to implement the project as you have described and follow our term. During the project period, you must also report to us how the project is going, and any changes you make to the project.

    The decision on funding

    The decision contains information about who receives funding and how much each beneficiary receives. For each beneficiary, an amount and a maximum aid intensityare specified. The amount is the maximum funding you can receive, regardless of how high your costs are. The maximum support level is the share of your costs that we can finance, expressed as a percentage. If you have lower costs than budgeted, it is usually the maximum support level that determines the final grant amount. The amount may then be lower than what is stated in the decision.

    Vinnova often pays out money in advance. If you received more money than you are entitled to, you must pay back the excess.

    The decision also states during which time period we can finance your costs and when various reports must be submitted.

    Our term

    We have general terms and conditions that apply to all project we finance. For certain calls for proposals and project, we also have special conditions, which only apply to them.

    Our general terms and conditions mean, among other things, that you must

    • carry out the project according to the project description you submitted in proposal
    • write an agreement, if you are several parties
    • report your costs and how the project is going
    • provide information about the project, even after it has ended.

    If you do not comply with the conditions, Vinnova has the right to cancel the financing. Then you may also be liable for repayment for funding that we have already paid out.

    Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding

    Read our guide to understand which costs you are allowed to cover, and how they are calculated.

    Guide to eligible costs (pdf)

    In our agreement guide, we describe what you should think about when you write your agreement between the parties in the project.

    Contract guide (pdf)

    What help can we get from Vinnova?

    You must be able to run the project independently, but you are always welcome to contact the manager at Vinnova if you have questions about the financing.

    Submit reports regularly

    All project submit reports to us on how things are going, so we can see that you are carrying out the project as you described in your proposal. If you fail in the reporting or in the way you carry out the project, we will not pay out any money.

    The project manager submits all reports in our e-service, and other project parties must ensure that the project manager has all the information needed to do so. How often you must report is stated in the decision, and we send an email to the project manager two weeks before the next report.

    This is how you report

    The project manager submits all reports via our project management e-service after the decision is complete. The decision contains information about when you must submit the various reports. Which reports it is varies between different calls for proposals, but often we want these reports in:

    Start report – your first report confirming that the project is ready to start. Among other things, the report must contain a bank or plusgiro for payments and a project summary. All project parties must also submit a document we call Participant's approval. In the initial report, you also indicate which global sustainability goals in Agenda 2030 to which the results of the project are expected to contribute.

    Guide for Participant's approval (pdf)

    Participant's approval form (dotx)

    Agenda 2030 classification in start report Guide.pdf

    Status report – a continuous reconciliation, usually every six months, so that we can see how the project is progressing. Among other things, you must report how you compare to the project description and submit a cost report for each party. Feel free to enter Vinnova's e-services to see what the reports should contain.

    Final report – a summary report that should give an overall picture of how you carried out the project, and what the result was. Here you also submit a total cost statement. According to our general terms and conditions certain beneficiary must attach an auditor's certificate to the final report. Use our template and instructions for the auditor's declaration

    Instruction and template auditor's certificate

    Read more about who needs to attach auditor's certificate

    Follow-up report – a report for the calls for proposals where we want to follow up the project results in the longer term.

    We check that all reports are received before we pay out the grant. If you need to complete the report, you will only receive the payment after we have registered your completion.

    Use the correct template for your attachments

    Two programme have special templates that you should use for the report's attachments. You can find the templates on the program page.

    Templates for Challenge-driven innovation

    Templates for Vehicle Strategic research and Innovation (FFI)

    Notify changes

    It is important that you inform us of changes during the project, so that we can decide on continued funding. For example, you must notify us if you change project manager or are delayed.

    Use the Request for change function in Vinnova's e-services.

    If someone in the project has financial problems, it is important that you contact your programme manager immediately, because Vinnova is not allowed to pay out money to organizations with financial difficulties.

    The final contribution may be lower

    Sometimes the final contribution can be lower than the maximum amount stated in the decision. This is because the right to funding is calculated for each organization, and that we only finance a certain percentage of your costs. If your costs are lower, the contribution will also be lower.

    If the actual costs are lower than the budgeted costs, you are therefore not always entitled to the amount in the decision. Then it is instead the maximum level of support in the decision that determines how much funding each organization receives, which means that you may have to pay money back to us.

    Vinnova reviews the accounting

    Vinnova sometimes carries out on-site audits, even up to 10 years after the decision. Then you need to help us produce the documents that our accountants need to look at. You will not be compensated for the time you spend on this.

    The decision on funding

    The decision contains information about who receives funding and how much each beneficiary receives. For each beneficiary, an amount and a maximum aid intensityare specified. The amount is the maximum funding you can receive, regardless of how high your costs are. The maximum support level is the share of your costs that we can finance, expressed as a percentage. If you have lower costs than budgeted, it is usually the maximum support level that determines the final grant amount. The amount may then be lower than what is stated in the decision.

    Vinnova often pays out money in advance. If you received more money than you are entitled to, you must pay back the excess.

    The decision also states during which time period we can finance your costs and when various reports must be submitted.

    Our term

    We have general terms and conditions that apply to all project we finance. For certain calls for proposals and project, we also have special conditions, which only apply to them.

    Our general terms and conditions mean, among other things, that you must

    • carry out the project according to the project description you submitted in proposal
    • write an agreement, if you are several parties
    • report your costs and how the project is going
    • provide information about the project, even after it has ended.

    If you do not comply with the conditions, Vinnova has the right to cancel the financing. Then you may also be liable for repayment for funding that we have already paid out.

    Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding

    Read our guide to understand which costs you are allowed to cover, and how they are calculated.

    Guide to eligible costs (pdf)

    In our agreement guide, we describe what you should think about when you write your agreement between the parties in the project.

    Contract guide (pdf)

    What help can we get from Vinnova?

    You must be able to run the project independently, but you are always welcome to contact the manager at Vinnova if you have questions about the financing.

    Submit reports regularly

    All project submit reports to us on how things are going, so we can see that you are carrying out the project as you described in your proposal. If you fail in the reporting or in the way you carry out the project, we will not pay out any money.

    The project manager submits all reports in our e-service, and other project parties must ensure that the project manager has all the information needed to do so. How often you must report is stated in the decision, and we send an email to the project manager two weeks before the next report.

    This is how you report

    The project manager submits all reports via our project management e-service after the decision is complete. The decision contains information about when you must submit the various reports. Which reports it is varies between different calls for proposals, but often we want these reports in:

    Start report – your first report confirming that the project is ready to start. Among other things, the report must contain a bank or plusgiro for payments and a project summary. All project parties must also submit a document we call Participant's approval. In the initial report, you also indicate which global sustainability goals in Agenda 2030 to which the results of the project are expected to contribute.

    Guide for Participant's approval (pdf)

    Participant's approval form (dotx)

    Agenda 2030 classification in start report Guide.pdf

    Status report – a continuous reconciliation, usually every six months, so that we can see how the project is progressing. Among other things, you must report how you compare to the project description and submit a cost report for each party. Feel free to enter Vinnova's e-services to see what the reports should contain.

    Final report – a summary report that should give an overall picture of how you carried out the project, and what the result was. Here you also submit a total cost statement. According to our general terms and conditions certain beneficiary must attach an auditor's certificate to the final report. Use our template and instructions for the auditor's declaration

    Instruction and template auditor's certificate

    Read more about who needs to attach auditor's certificate

    Follow-up report – a report for the calls for proposals where we want to follow up the project results in the longer term.

    We check that all reports are received before we pay out the grant. If you need to complete the report, you will only receive the payment after we have registered your completion.

    Use the correct template for your attachments

    Two programme have special templates that you should use for the report's attachments. You can find the templates on the program page.

    Templates for Challenge-driven innovation

    Templates for Vehicle Strategic research and Innovation (FFI)

    Notify changes

    It is important that you inform us of changes during the project, so that we can decide on continued funding. For example, you must notify us if you change project manager or are delayed.

    Use the Request for change function in Vinnova's e-services.

    If someone in the project has financial problems, it is important that you contact your programme manager immediately, because Vinnova is not allowed to pay out money to organizations with financial difficulties.

    The final contribution may be lower

    Sometimes the final contribution can be lower than the maximum amount stated in the decision. This is because the right to funding is calculated for each organization, and that we only finance a certain percentage of your costs. If your costs are lower, the contribution will also be lower.

    If the actual costs are lower than the budgeted costs, you are therefore not always entitled to the amount in the decision. Then it is instead the maximum level of support in the decision that determines how much funding each organization receives, which means that you may have to pay money back to us.

    Vinnova reviews the accounting

    Vinnova sometimes carries out on-site audits, even up to 10 years after the decision. Then you need to help us produce the documents that our accountants need to look at. You will not be compensated for the time you spend on this.

  • Vinnova follows up the project we finance, because we want to see what effects our investment has in society and for Sweden. We also want to see how we can develop our investments, to make the greatest possible benefit. We follow up the projects both while they are in progress and after they are finished.

    Vinnova follows up the project we finance, because we want to see what effects our investment has in society and for Sweden. We also want to see how we can develop our investments, to make the greatest possible benefit. We follow up the projects both while they are in progress and after they are finished.

    We want to see the results of our effort

    We usually follow up the project we finance to be able to analyze our own activities and see what value our investments have for society. We both want to see direct results and learn from the implementation of the project. To see direct results we can, for example, measure new or improved products and services, new patents, publications, new hires, changed behaviors or increased turnover.

    We follow up the projects through evaluations and impact analyses, and for longer project we sometimes also do half-term evaluations. At our program conferences, we also gather lessons learned and exchange experiences.

    Sometimes we send out surveys to the participants in the project we follow up. By answering the surveys, you help us make our offers better. As we develop our activities more good ideas can become reality.

    Sometimes the government commissions us to follow up on specific investments.

    Guide for impact measurement of innovation projects

    This guide is a guideline for designing and following up results and effects of innovation projects.

    The guide is aimed at you who run an innovation project with funding from Vinnova or another financier.

    In the guide, you will learn the basics of effect measurement, so you do not need to be an expert in follow-up or evaluation. For those who already have some prior knowledge, the guide serves as a good refresher and in the last chapter there are tips for in-depth reading.

    The guide should function as a support for defining results and effects, setting realistic objective and designing the project so that you can follow up and disseminate the results and effects that the project contributed to. It has been developed during the winter of 2022 by Ramboll Management Consulting on behalf of Vinnova.

    Good examples of results

    Do you want to see examples of successful project where we see benefit in society? Our inspiration articles highlight particularly successful project.

    Inspiration for innovation

    Do you want to know more about how we work with innovation?

    This is how we promote innovation

    Results of our investments

    We want to see the results of our effort

    We usually follow up the project we finance to be able to analyze our own activities and see what value our investments have for society. We both want to see direct results and learn from the implementation of the project. To see direct results we can, for example, measure new or improved products and services, new patents, publications, new hires, changed behaviors or increased turnover.

    We follow up the projects through evaluations and impact analyses, and for longer project we sometimes also do half-term evaluations. At our program conferences, we also gather lessons learned and exchange experiences.

    Sometimes we send out surveys to the participants in the project we follow up. By answering the surveys, you help us make our offers better. As we develop our activities more good ideas can become reality.

    Sometimes the government commissions us to follow up on specific investments.

    Guide for impact measurement of innovation projects

    This guide is a guideline for designing and following up results and effects of innovation projects.

    The guide is aimed at you who run an innovation project with funding from Vinnova or another financier.

    In the guide, you will learn the basics of effect measurement, so you do not need to be an expert in follow-up or evaluation. For those who already have some prior knowledge, the guide serves as a good refresher and in the last chapter there are tips for in-depth reading.

    The guide should function as a support for defining results and effects, setting realistic objective and designing the project so that you can follow up and disseminate the results and effects that the project contributed to. It has been developed during the winter of 2022 by Ramboll Management Consulting on behalf of Vinnova.

    Good examples of results

    Do you want to see examples of successful project where we see benefit in society? Our inspiration articles highlight particularly successful project.

    Inspiration for innovation

    Do you want to know more about how we work with innovation?

    This is how we promote innovation

    Results of our investments

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Last updated 20 December 2024

Page manager: Magdalena Jenkinson