Strategic innovation program Drive Sweden: Innovations for a sustainable, digitized and automated transport system for people and goods

Drive Sweden is a national coalition for Sweden to take a leading role in using digital technology to create a more sustainable road transport system. This is done by addressing system issues necessary to enable and benefit from shared, connected and automated mobility and transport.

In this call for proposals we are building on the strength of the Drive Sweden strategic innovation program: that actors in the value chain collaborate to bring about system changes. The aim is to develop and test new solutions in shared, connected and automated mobility that address system barriers or opportunities. What we want to achieve is more efficient, safe and accessible road transport systems using digital technology.

Examples of areas that Drive Sweden considers important to focus on related to shared, connected and automated mobility and transportation:

• Business models
• Digital infrastructure
• Data sharing
• Behaviors
• Community planning
• Changes in regulations, policies or other decision-making processes

Project should be of the character:

• Project duration of a maximum of two years and requested grant funds of a maximum of three million SEK.
• Vinnova intends to grant project with at least 50% co-financing.
• The total grant budget for the call for proposals is approximately SEK 20 million.
• All project require a constellation of actors consisting of at least three parties, where a needs owner has a central role in the project.

We address business, the public sector, academia and interest groups.

Access final reports and documentation from previous project and events

Drive Swedens's vision is for Sweden to take a leading role in using digital technology to create more sustainable road transport systems. The program has an impact logic that guides the work, with long-term impact goals:

• Apply new digital technology to make the use of vehicles, street space and road infrastructure more efficient.
• Increased traffic safety at the system level, using digital technology or digital services.
• Contribute to the climate transition through digital solutions that reduce the impact on the climate, environment and human health.
• Improved accessibility to mobility and transportation for individuals, businesses and at the community level.
• Strengthen the Swedish automotive and ICT industry and broaden the mobility market with new actors.

proposal should clearly state how the project's objective contributes to the program's long-term impact goals and vision.

The call for proposals seeks collaborative projects that are deemed necessary for connected, shared or automated mobility and transport solutions to be used and contribute to the above benefits. Therefore, we see a clear need for project with a broader systems perspective where actors need to collaborate, test and drive development to increase the pace of innovation in the area.

In addition to new technology, changes and development are required in, among other things, business models, value chains, working methods, methods, digital infrastructure, regulations, decision-making processes and behaviors. The projects should create the conditions for change at the system level by investigating and addressing barriers and opportunities in these areas. It is therefore of great importance that the projects clearly account for the current state of knowledge in the area (state-of-the-art) and that the project proposals clearly contribute something significantly new, i.e. how the solution differs from already existing solutions. We also want the solution to meet a real need or demand in the market and that the business idea is scalable.

Contribute to a sustainable system transformation

Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and system transformation. To implement sustainable system transformation, Vinnova has chosen to base itself on the UN's global sustainability goals, defined in the 2030 Agenda. There, Vinnova prioritizes two perspectives: gender equality and climate change. All initiatives and project Vinnova finances are assessed based on how they contribute to these perspectives.

Vinnova therefore always follows up and assesses:

• whether women and men participate in the project on an equal footing, receive contributions and have influence and power over the project.
• how well the project analyzes and decides whether there are sex or gender aspects that are relevant to the project's problem formulation, solutions and effects.
• how well the project contributes to the climate transition with a focus on a more efficient use of vehicles and transport infrastructure, as well as reduced burden on the environment, ecological impact and human health.

Gender-equal innovation – what it means for those seeking funding from us

Agenda 2030 as a driver for innovation

Social inclusion

A basic principle for sustainable development, according to Agenda 2030, is that no one should be left behind ('leave no one behind'). In order for new solutions to benefit everyone, it is crucial to ensure social inclusion in the project. Applicant should therefore describe how social inclusion will be taken into account both in the planning and implementation of the project. Social inclusion means that the project actively considers and includes term, conditions and needs of different groups in society such as gender, age, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, as well as socio-economic and geographical factors.

This the offer is aimed at different groups of actors who collaborate around challenges and opportunities to bring about systemic changes within the road transport system. The offer is aimed at project constellations:

• with three or more parties;
• with partners in business, the public sector, academia and/or interest groups;
• with the ability to collaborate across sector boundaries and between different actors;
• which are tailored to the problem the project intends to solve and represent the value chain;
• where stakeholders are involved in the development work and have a central role in the project.

A need owner refers to a party who has a need for and benefits from the project results and who can implement, manage and disseminate the results after the end of the project.

Foreign actors may be relevant and possibly necessary to include as project partners in the project. If these actors do not have a branch or establishment in Sweden, they cannot receive support from Vinnova in this call for proposals.

Vinnova works for gender-equal social development. This means that applicant must take gender equality into account when designing their projects, for example regarding;

• Selection of project manager and composition of project group or project participants.
• Division of labor, power and influence in the project such as for sub-project managers and participation in the steering group.
• Involvement of target group.

This the offer funds research and development activities that create the conditions for system change, necessary to enable shared, connected or automated mobility in the road transport system.

The research and development issues that are considered capable of creating systemic change may include, for example, but are not limited to:

• Development or testing of new services, methods, value chains or business models.
• Mapping or development of scenarios or roadmaps.
• Preparatory projects for system demonstrations or supplementary issues for ongoing demonstration and collaboration projects.
• Use and application of new technology.
• Platforms for knowledge exchange and learning.
• Coordination of Swedish actors' needs within, for example, regulatory development, standardization or other developments decided in international or Swedish bodies.
• Digital infrastructure deemed necessary for shared, connected or automated mobility in the road transport system.
• Behavioral, acceptance and user issues.

The call for proposals does not fund:

• Product development
• Marketing
• Commercialization
• Project that has TRL level above 7

What costs can be financed?

Vinnova's funding is covered by state aid rules. The rules govern what types of costs we can finance. These are called eligible costs.

In this the call for proposals these types of costs are eligible:

• Personnel costs: Salaries, social security contributions and other personnel costs
• Equipment, land and buildings: Instruments, equipment and rent for premises other than regular business premises
• Consulting and licensing costs: Consulting services, knowledge and patents purchased or licensed from an external party. Consulting costs may not exceed 20 percent of a project party's budget. If consulting services are to be used, this must be clearly described and justified in proposal. The proportion of consulting costs and the justification will be taken into account when your proposal is assessed.
• Other direct costs: For example, materials, supplies and travel necessary to carry out the project.
• Indirect costs (overhead): Costs that are not incurred as an immediate consequence of but can be related to the project, such as regular premises and cleaning.
  Indirect costs may constitute a maximum of 30 percent of personnel costs.

For more detailed information about which costs Vinnova can finance, see Instructions for eligible costs

What eligibility requirements apply to costs financed by Vinnova?

For a cost to be eligible, it must be necessary for the activities of the project. Project costs must also be properly accounted for and reported separately from the organization's other costs. An organization may not claim someone else's costs as its own.

For more detailed information on which eligibility requirements, limitations and exceptions apply, see Instructions for eligible costs

The state aid rules also govern how much of the costs Vinnova can finance. This is determined individually for each organization. Vinnova therefore differentiates between how much funding the project can receive and how much each participant can receive.

How much funding can the project receive?

Vinnova's funding can constitute a maximum of 50 percent of the total project budget. The total grant the project can receive is a maximum of 3 million SEK.

In this call for proposals a total of approximately 20 million SEK is available for the project partners that are granted support.

How much funding each participant can receive depends mainly on:

• what activities the party will carry out in the project
• party size and activities

In this the call for proposals Vinnova provides support for industrial research or experimental development.

What is industrial research and experimental development?

Industrial research can be simply described as seeking new knowledge through planned research or critical analysis to develop or significantly improve products, processes or services.

Experimental development can be simply described as combining, shaping and using existing knowledge to develop new or improved products, processes or services.

For a full definition, see funding bases and levels

How much of the costs can we finance?

The size of the organization and type of activity determines how large a proportion of the costs we can finance, i.e. the maximum level of support.

Bonus Basics
If the project is covered by any of these bonus bases, we can finance a higher proportion of the costs according to the table:

• Actual cooperation: Some level of cooperation between small and larger companies, between companies in two different European countries or between research organisations and companies
• Dissemination of results: Extensive dissemination through, for example, conferences or open databases.
• Other bonus basis

For full information on these bonus bases, see funding Bases and Support Levels

We grant funding in accordance with Article 25 of the EU Commission's General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).

Not state aid

How much funding can a participant receive?

In this the call for proposals we also provide support to organisations that do not engage in economic activities. This means that they do not offer a service or product on a market. This usually includes universities and university colleges, research institutes and other organisations.

We can finance up to 100 percent of such an organization's costs.

How do you determine whether an organization is engaged in economic activities?

An organization that offers any kind of service or product on a market is considered to be conducting economic activities and cannot be granted this form of support. It does not matter how the organization is financed, whether it is public or private, or whether it has a profit motive. It also does not matter what legal form the business has. For example, whether it is a limited liability company, a trading company, an economic association, a non-profit association or a foundation.

If you are unsure whether an organization in your project is conducting economic activities, contact call manager. However, the organization is responsible for assessing whether it is conducting economic activities.

De minimis support ( support of minor importance)

How much funding can a participant receive?

In this the call for proposals we can also provide de minimis support, also known as support of minor importance. We can finance up to 100 percent of a project party's costs.

An organization can receive a maximum of 300,000 euros over a three-year period in this form of support, regardless of the funder and project. This means that if the same organization has received support of lesser importance in other project from other funders in the past, it will affect how large the support can be in this the call for proposals.

Submit a certificate of de minimis support when you submit proposal. This is required for us to be able to grant this support.

Certificates of de minimis support can be found on this page

We grant funding in accordance with the EU Commission Regulation (2023/2831) on de minimis support.

In order for Vinnova to take a position on and assess your proposal it must meet certain formal eligibility requirements. If the requirements are not met, proposal will be rejected immediately.

Eligibility requirements on organizational form of project partners

• All project partners must be legal entities. Vinnova does not grant funding to individual companies.
• The project partners who plan to receive support from Vinnova in this call for proposals must be Swedish legal entities and conduct activities in Sweden.

Eligibility requirements for project

• The project manager must be employed by one of the project parties.
• The project may not begin before proposal is submitted.
• The constellation of actors consists of at least three parties.
• A project party's costs for external consulting services may not exceed 20 percent of the project party's budget. All consulting services used in the project must be justified.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal must follow the instructions given in section 9.
• The project description may be a maximum of 10 pages in 11-point font size, excluding the cover page, summary and table of contents.
• Proposal must contain all requested attachments, see mandatory attachments in section 9.
• Applications must be submitted no later than 2:00 PM on the last day of application via Vinnova's e-services.

What is assessed?

Potential (Weighted 30 percent)

• How well does proposal describe the potential to contribute to one or more of Drive Swedens's impact goals? See section 2.
• To what extent does proposal show that the solution meets a need or demand in the market and that the business idea is scalable?
• How well does the project address the systems perspective and how does the project idea relate to system barriers?
• How well is the current state of knowledge (state-of-the-art) in the area described and is it clear that the project proposal will contribute something significantly new or in what way does the idea differ from already existing innovations or solutions on the market?

Actors (weighted 30 percent)

• Does the consortium have the combined expertise needed to implement the project and a documented ability to drive innovation and create change in collaborative projects?
• How well the project team is composed based on the issue the project intends to solve, as well as:
  - To what extent are the actors who are expected to have direct use of the project's results (need owners) and the actors who can translate the results (implement, scale up and manage) into desired effects involved?
  - To what extent do the central the actors in the value chain participate, which is needed for systemic changes to occur?
• How well it is described how the actors will collaborate in the project. Does proposal reflect the actor constellation's ability to collaborate across sector boundaries and between different actors?
• In the event that consulting services are to be used, what proportion is comprised of consulting costs and how well is this described and justified in proposal?

Feasibility (weighted 30 percent)

• How well does proposal describe how the project will be implemented? What is the quality regarding time and resourced work packages, division of responsibilities, budget?
• How well are the methods and approaches used in the project described and how the project plans to involve users of the project's solutions? How accessible is the data to be used in the project and is it of the right quality?
• Are there potential obstacles or risks that hinder the team's ability or possibility to complete the project, and is there a credible plan for how this will be handled?
• Is there a well-thought-out strategy for realizing the potential and for disseminating and utilizing results?

Gender equality (weighted 10 percent)

• How well is the project assessed to contribute to increased gender equality?
• How well composed is the project team in terms of gender distribution. And how well is power and influence distributed between women and men in the project team?
• How well has gender equality been integrated into the project plan?

How are applications assessed?

The decision process looks like this:

1. Proposal are submitted via Vinnova's e-services.
2. Applications that meet the formal requirements will be assessed against specified assessment criteria by specially appointed evaluator.
3. This results in a combined recommendation for funding of the applications. The assessment takes place in competition between the applications received.
4. Vinnova then makes the final decision on which project will be financed.
5. Decision will be notified to applicant.

Vinnova also assesses organizations' finances

Innan Vinnova decides on funding a comprehensive assessment is also made of the organizational and financial status of those receiving funding. Vinnova uses information from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet.

For Vinnova to grant funding, the following applies:

• Organizations seeking funding for personnel costs must be registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency.
• Organizations must not be insolvent, undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring. They must also not have unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• Limited liability companies must not have used up half or more of their share capital.

Once Vinnova has assessed all applications, a decision will be sent where proposal is either approved or rejected. The decision states how much funding each party in the project will be granted. The decision cannot be appealed.

What happens if you are granted funding?

If your proposal is approved, you must follow Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding. The terms and conditions include the following:

• That you will sign a special document in which you approve your participation and commit to carrying out the project
• That you report how things are going, your costs and achieved results to Vinnova regularly during the project period
• If you are multiple parties, you must agree on your mutual rights and obligations in the project in an agreement. It can take time to get a project agreement in place, so it is a good idea to get this in place before the project starts.
• How the results will be used and how scientific publication will take place.

Se Vinnovas general terms and conditions for funding

Since the call for proposals is part of a strategic innovation program, these special conditions also apply:

Disseminating and discussing project results is one of Drive Swedens's most important activities. We are a knowledge hub and our website has visitors from all over the world. Project videos, reports and presentations are widely distributed.

• When information about the project is shared or project results are published, it must always be stated that the work was carried out within the strategic innovation program Drive Sweden, a joint effort by Vinnova, Formas and the Swedish Energy Agency.
• When a project has been approved, you will be asked to submit information as a basis for the Drive Swedens website and internal project communication, in accordance with our templates.
• At least one participant will represent the project at Drive Swedens conferences and other activities. Assume that at least two activities will be carried out.
• A public final report according to the Drive Sweden template should be sent to programoffice@drivesweden.net and attached to the final report to Vinnova, and you are expected to make a shorter recorded oral presentation of the final result, to the Drive Swedens website.
• All images and photos used must be approved for publication.

We may also decide to add supplementary special conditions for individual project. In such cases, they will be stated in the decision.

Could you have to pay back funding?

If you do not follow Vinnova's term, you may be required to repay the loan. This also applies if you have been granted funding incorrectly or for an amount that is too high.

To apply funding, you fill out a proposal in Vinnova's e-service. Proposal contains questions about the project, participating project partners and budget.

You must also attach these mandatory attachments to proposal:

• Project descriptionaccording to template. The project description is limited to a maximum of 10 pages in 11-point font size, excluding the cover page, summary and table of contents.
• CV attachment, according to template containing relevant CVs for project manager and all key personnel. Maximum 1 page per person in 11 point font size.
• Certificate of de minimis support according to template, only mandatory in cases where organizations are applying for de minimis support.
• Final report from previously funded project only mandatory if proposal is based on previously funded project.

Proposal should only contain the mandatory annexes, except for applications based on previously funded project where a preliminary or final report on goal achievement can be submitted. All mandatory annexes should follow the structure found in the respective template.

Start proposal well in advance

Keep in mind that it takes time to make a proposal. Filling out templates can take several days, as it is based on the analyses you will do.

I Vinnovas e-service allows you to start filling in information and then continue at a later time. You can also assign permissions to others who you want to contribute to proposal. When proposal is complete, mark it as complete.

You can unlock proposal and make changes at any time, right up until the last application date. If you unlock proposal, you must then mark it as ready for it to be registered when the call for proposals closes.

2025-01-28

Change in section 6 under the heading "What applies for proposal to be assessed?", Eligibility requirements for organizational form of project partners, point 2:

The project partners who plan to receive support from Vinnova in this call for proposals must be Swedish legal entities and conduct activities in Sweden.