Groundbreaking and scalable technology solutions in 2024

With the call for proposals we want to support Swedish companies that alone or in collaboration develop innovative solutions with very high, preferably disruptive, potential within the following technical focus areas:

• Artificial intelligence
• Immersive technology
• Quantum technology
• Synthetic Biology

We welcome project applications in all areas of need and application.

The technical maturity of the solutions must in the applied projects start at the lowest level 3 on the TRL scale (Technology Readiness Level) and at their end must not have been developed further than TRL 7. We thus provide funding for the development of prototypes, demonstrators and early versions. Vinnova uses the same definition of technical maturity level or TRL as the EU.
Read more about the scale here

The call for proposals is addressed to single applicant companies or to consortia of participants in which at least one company must be included. Universities, university colleges, research institutes and other relevant organizations can participate.

As the competition between the applicant projects is judged to be very fierce, we would like to emphasize that the call for proposals is aimed at project with solutions that can clearly demonstrate a very high potential.

The call for proposals is an effort from Vinnova's area Digital transformation. Applicant to this call for proposals cannot simultaneously apply to Vinnova's call for proposals Emerging technology solutions that address project in earlier stages of development.

Funding: Project can apply for a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 2 million kroner, our support can constitute a maximum of 70 percent of the project's total eligible costs. Companies can apply for a maximum of 60 percent aid intensity depending on their size.

Preliminary budget for the call for proposals is SEK 25 million.

We are facing a number of major technological shifts that will radically change the way we live, work and interact with each other. The possibilities with these technology shifts for Swedish growth, renewal of our business life and for solutions to the important social challenges of our time are very large.

The aim of this call is therefore to strengthen Swedish development of new products and services with very high, preferably disruptive, potential which is based on the possibilities of precisely these technological shifts. With the call for proposals we want to support that technology solutions reach a higher technical and business maturity in early stages where other funding is difficult to obtain.

The solutions must be based on innovation in the following technical focus areas, which are described in more detail further on in the call text:

• Artificial intelligence
• Immersive technology
• Quantum technology
• Synthetic Biology

Types of project that can search

In the projects applied for, the technical maturity of the solutions must start at the lowest level 3 on the TRL scale and must not have developed further than TRL 7 at the end of the project. We therefore provide funding to project that have an early proof of concept and that lead to development of prototypes, demonstrators and early versions, as well as to investigate market and production conditions before and during the development work.

Since funding is granted to a maximum of SEK 2 million and the project duration is 12 months, we do not target very time- and capital-demanding project, as our funding would not contribute to clear progress. The call for proposals is also not aimed at incremental improvement and development of already existing products or systems, the projects must develop their own scalable potential.

The call for proposals is not limited to specific areas of need and application. We therefore welcome applications within, for example, industry, electronics, life science, sustainability, but also digital services, trade and media as well as entertainment. In order to receive funding, however, the projects need to have a significant level of technical innovation of their own.

Other calls for proposals

This call for proposals, Pioneering and scalable technology solutions, is open at the same time as Vinnova's other call for proposals Emerging technology solutions in quantum technology and synthetic biology 2024. The difference between them is that the latter targets research-intensive technology solutions that are in an earlier development phase where only a basic technology concept has been formulated (TRL 2).

In this the call for proposals it is instead required that the projects are at a higher level of maturity, where at the very least there is already an early proof-of-concept for the project's groundbreaking potential (TRL 3), which in Emerging technology solutions are instead themselves the target. In addition, the level of support is markedly lower in this the call for proposals, Groundbreaking and scalable technology solutions.

Technical focus areas

The call for proposals is aimed at companies that want to develop technology solutions with high potential in the following technology areas. We address both project that can capitalize on the technology's great application potential in itself or on the strong demand for enabling technology in our own technology area.

Artificial intelligence

By the field of AI, we mean technology and services that enable computers and systems to simulate human intelligence, learn, adapt and make decisions on their own. Applicant project can develop completely new solutions in the field, but can also partially build on externally developed resources such as the leading generative AI models.

All project that fit this theme need to have AI as a central building block in their solution and at the same time have their own strong level of technical innovation.

Immersive technology

Immersive technology, also known as extended reality, includes technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality. Immersive technology creates an immersive experience by, for example, combining digital and physical worlds, which gives the user the opportunity to interact with and experience a simulated environment.

Project for all types of hardware and software solutions enabling new and better immersive technology with very high potential, including digital platforms and services, can apply.

Quantum technology

Quantum technology refers here to the following themes:

• Quantum computers, Quantum calculations (Quantum Computing)
• Quantum simulation (sometimes counted in Quantum Computing)
• Quantum communication (incl. encryption)
• Quantum sensors (incl. detection and metrology)

Quantum technology has potential to benefit society and almost every industry. Some of the most promising application areas are health and life science, energy, finance, cyber security and energy efficiency improvements. These industries can benefit from quantum technology thanks to the exponential increase in computing power and secure communication capabilities. In healthcare and life sciences, quantum technology can play a revolutionary role in advancing precision health and medicine. Applications such as quantum microscopy, quantum spectroscopy and quantum computing can improve disease prediction, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Here we welcome applications that address applications with very high potential within increased and accelerated utilization, new or better methods, solutions and components.

Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is an emerging field of research and innovation in the bioeconomy that draws on research in biology, chemistry, computer science and engineering to design and build complex biological systems with functions that do not exist in nature. The technology makes it possible to construct completely new living organisms and to modify already existing creatures, plants or other biological material so that they acquire new or improved properties.

Here we welcome applications that address applications with very high potential in the field.

Two central sustainability perspectives

In addition to the above, Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and community development. Genom Agenda 2030, the countries of the world have agreed on a global agreement and understanding of what characterizes sustainable development. Through our efforts, we contribute to the global commitment to reach the goals.

In Inom Agenda 2030, Vinnova has specifically identified climate and gender equality as two central sustainability perspectives to which our funded investments should contribute positively. Project financed by Vinnova are therefore expected to take special account of the climate and gender equality aspects.

One aspect that Vinnova follows up and assesses is whether both women and men share in the grant in an equal way, participate in and have influence over the project. See section 7 under the actor criterion.

Another aspect involves analyzing and deciding whether there are gender or gender aspects that are relevant in connection with the project's problem area, solutions and utilization. This question is mandatory for all applicant and can be found under the heading " Project tasks" in Vinnova's e-service. In this call for proposals the question is the basis for assessment.

Results from research and innovation that are made freely available increase the opportunity for more people to contribute to solutions to societal challenges. The call for proposals should contribute to more results being made freely available to everyone and scientific publication should take place with open access.

Read more about our work to contribute to the goals of Agenda 2030
Read more about what our work for equal innovation means for those of you who seek funding from us

The call for proposals is addressed to single applicant companies or to consortia of participants in which at least one company must be included. Universities, university colleges, research institutes and other relevant organizations can participate.

Small, medium-sized and even large companies can thus apply. This also applies to start-up companies and startups. Read more about how high aid intensity that different types of companies can apply for in the section "How much funding do we provide?" below. The projects may include foreign partners. However, Vinnova only grantsfunding to Swedish organizations.

Participant seeking funding must be a Swedish legal entity. In this respect, a foreign organization that has a branch or place of business in Sweden is equated with a Swedish legal person. The costs in the project must be attributable to the branch's or operating location's activities.

Activities for which funding can be applied for

It is possible to apply for funding for activities that are part of research and innovation projects with a focus that meets the call's aim according to section 2.

Examples of eligible activities:

• Investigation of technical and design conditions.
• Development of prototypes or demonstration versions of products or services. This may also include pilot work, testing and validation.
• Research and development of production methods.
• Planning and conducting studies or tests to verify an innovation.
• Investigation of market conditions such as identifying customers, customer needs, possible collaboration partners and competitors.

We do not finance routine or recurring changes to existing products, services, manufacturing methods or manufacturing processes. Neither are educational efforts, courses, marketing, sales, ongoing operations, quality assurance, certification, investment in equipment and tools, and intellectual property strategies and protection.

Eligible costs

Our funding takes place through funding. Funding for organizations that carry out economic activities is covered by rules on state aid. The rules govern, among other things, which types of costs and what proportion of them may be covered by funding.

You will find information on eligible costs in the document "Instructions for Vinnova's term on eligible costs 2023". In section 2, the general prerequisites for a cost to be eligible for support are described, and in section 4, a detailed description of each type of cost is given. You can find the document under the heading Eligible costs on the website Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding.

Vinnova's funding can amount to between SEK 1 and 2 million per project. It can amount to a maximum of 70 percent of the project's total eligible costs.

Funding to parties that carry out economic activities is granted according to § 9 of the regulation 2015:208 on state aid for research and development and innovation. This means support for research and development projects. This is described in article 25 of the EU Commission's Block Exemption Regulation number 651/2014, known as GBER.

Both regulation 2015:208 and GBER are described more on the website about State aid to economic activities. There are also links to the regulations themselves.

Funding to companies will preferably be granted for Industrial research, but in individual cases also for Experimental development.

In this call for proposals the following term applies for maximum aid intensity to individual beneficiary:

• Small companies are companies with 1-49 employees and a turnover of a maximum of EUR 10 million. They can have a maximum of 60 percent of their costs covered by funding in this call for proposals.
• Medium-sized companies are companies with 50-249 employees and a maximum turnover of EUR 50 million. Their funding can amount to a maximum of 50 percent of the costs in this call for proposals.
• Large companies have more than 250 employees and a turnover of more than EUR 50 million. For them, a maximum of 40 percent in funding applies in this call for proposals.

Note that the call's support levels do not utilize GBER's maximum support levels, which in some exceptional cases may be higher.

Se Kapitel 1, Article 2 of the GBER for definitions:

• Item 85 for Industrial research.
• Item 86 for Experimental Development.

All details about support levels for different purposes and organization types can be found in a table in the document "Support levels, definitions and more for funding according to Vinnova" on the website State aid to economic activities. There you will also find the GBER regulation.

Non- state aid is granted to parties that do not carry out economic activities, for example universities and university colleges, research institutes and public activities. Their maximum aid intensity is 100 percent. Funding is then granted with support of regulation 2009:1101 with instructions for the Agency for innovation system.

The total grant budget is provisionally SEK 25 million for this call for proposals.

We will only assess applications that meet the following formal eligibility requirements:

• At least one company must be participant
• All project parties must be legal entities.
• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• The project described in proposal must not have started before proposal is submitted.
• The same project must not have simultaneously applied to Vinnova's call for proposals Emerging technology solutions.
• funding sought is between SEK 1 and 2 million.
• Proposal must follow all instructions and contain all appendices according to section 9.

What do we assess?

Proposal must be in line with the call's aim as described in section 2 and assessed according to the criteria below. In addition to an individual assessment of each project, Vinnova strives to also achieve a certain spread of approved project when it comes to technology and application areas as well as different types of solutions.

Potential (weight 40 percent)

• The solution's future commercial potential and/or potential for societal benefit.
• The project's level of technical innovation and thus its ability to develop Swedish competence in an important area of innovation.
• The project's potential to contribute to increased gender equality and the global goals in Agenda 2030, as well as minimize the negative effects.

Actors (weight 30 percent)

• The competence, credibility and ability of the project parties to implement the project.
• The ability of the project parties to be able to utilize and/or commercialize the project results.
• How well the team's key personnel are composed with regard to gender distribution, as well as the distribution of power and influence between women and men.

Feasibility (weight 30 percent)

• The effectiveness and realism of the project plan in relation to set objective, methods, activities and budget.
• How well risks and critical success factors are described and managed in the implementation of the project.
• How credible the plan is in terms of taking the project results forward towards successful implementation after the end of the project.

How do we judge?

The applications will be assessed in competition and the assessment is based on the electronic proposal submitted via Vinnova's e-service.

Every proposal that contains sufficient information to be assessed and that meets all formal eligibility requirements (see section 6, Formal eligibility requirements), and the thematic fit of the call (see section 2, Technical focus areas) is evaluated by at least three appointed evaluator.

The project that are judged to best meet the criteria go further in the selection process and possibly be invited to an interview. Interviews are planned to take place digitally between April 15 and 19, 2024. We will contact the project to be interviewed between approximately 11 and 15 April. Please note that we are unable to update you on the status of your application before the final decision is announced.

Schematically, the decision process looks like this:

1. Proposal are submitted via Vinnova's e-service.
2. The applications that meet the formal requirements and the thematic fit of the call will be assessed based on the criteria stated above by Vinnova's appointed evaluator.
3. Selected project are interviewed.
4. The combined assessment results in a recommendation for funding.
5. Vinnova makes an analysis of the portfolio of recommended project.
6. Vinnova makes decisions about which project are to be financed and decisions are communicated to applicant.

To apply funding, you fill in a web-based form in Vinnova's e-service for applications, which you can find via the " Apply here" button below.

There you also upload the following attachments:

• Project description
  May include a maximum of 10 vertical A4 pages with single-column 12-point text. The project description must follow the template found further down on this web page.
• CV attachment
  Relevanta CV for the project manager and all key people. The attachment is expected to include at least one CV per participant. Varje CV may be a maximum of 1 A4 page with 12-point text. The CV attachment must follow the template found further down on this web page.

Only requested pages and attachments will be assessed. References to web pages will not be considered.

Keep in mind that it takes time to make a proposal. You can start filling in information, save and continue at a later time. When proposal is ready, you mark it as ready. You can unlock proposal and make changes at any time, right up until the last application date.

Mark proposal ready in good time before the call for proposals closes.

When the call for proposals has closed and proposal has been registered with Vinnova, a confirmation will be sent out by e-mail to you who are responsible for the user account, project manager and company signatory or head of department. It may take a few hours before you receive the email.

If you have not received a confirmation by e-mail within 24 hours after the call for proposals has closed, please contact us.

When the application period has expired, completion of proposal can only take place upon request from us.