Future prototypes for a sustainable forest value chain

Vinnova's effort Future Prototypes for a Sustainable Forest Value Chain offers funding for project to use exploratory methods to develop future prototypes. The work will be carried out in a creative process in dialogue with industrial actors from the forest value chain and others who can contribute to the work.

The goal of the initiative is to develop prototypes that visualize possible futures. The intention is to provoke reactions, engage and inspire innovation and change. The prototypes are also intended to contribute inspiration to future Vinnova initiatives.

The future prototype can be a physical object, a digital simulation or a physical or virtual environment. It should be demonstrated in a real or virtual environment and used for interaction with different actors and affected groups. The project should also be able to showcase its prototype at an exhibition organized by Vinnova.

The actor constellation must consist of at least one participant with design and visualization expertise who collaborates with one or more actors within the forest value chain. Vinnova can grant up to SEK 700,000 per project.

Background to the offer

The demand for forest raw materials is currently high and new applications are emerging that could further increase demand. The new raw material needs are often linked to the fossil-free transition and the production of bio-based materials, products, fuels and chemicals.

In order for forest raw materials to be sufficient for all different purposes, there is a need to drive development towards increased resource efficiency and circular use. Furthermore, there is a need for innovation that contributes to the longer-term use of forest raw materials and the sequestration of carbon dioxide for a longer period of time.

The possibilities for extracting forest raw materials may be limited by legislation that may entail eligibility requirements for the restoration of ecosystems, habitats and habitats as well as the reduction of emissions from land use, the preservation of carbon sinks and the sustainable use of natural resources.

In summary, there are major challenges linked to raw material availability, the environment and biodiversity. In addition, there is a need to protect the interests of industry, forest owners and other groups.

Aim with the offer

Against this background, we want to contribute to the development of future prototypes that can illustrate possible solutions and new courses of action. The goal is to promote resource-efficient use and circular flows to enable a fossil-free transition to be combined with development within planetary boundaries. This means accelerating the transition, where ecosystems and biodiversity in the forest are in balance and carbon dioxide is stored.

The projects that are funded must develop a prototype that is inspired by one or more of the four future scenarios described in the appendix “Future scenarios”. The appendix can be downloaded from the call's website.

The idea is that the future prototypes will visualize possible futures, new solutions and action options. The prototypes will be presented in a real or virtual environment within the project period and used for interaction with various actors and affected groups. The aim is to arouse reactions, inspire and provide new directions for action in the forest value chain.

The future prototypes can be a physical object, a digital simulation, a physical or virtual environment. The prototypes that are developed are also intended to contribute to future Vinnova initiatives.

Contribute to a sustainable system transformation

Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and system transformation. To implement sustainable system transformation, we have chosen to base ourselves 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 we finance are assessed based on how they contribute to these perspectives.

We therefore always follow up and assess this:

• If 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 takes a position on 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 climate change with a focus on sustainable transformation of forest-based value chains and on the aspects described above in section 2.

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

Agenda 2030 as a driver for innovation

The actor constellation shall consist of at least one participant. The project party or parties shall have the ability to lead design processes and experience in designing and building physical or digital prototypes. Actors from the forest value chain shall be involved in the project. These do not have to be project parties but can be part of a reference group. It is an advantage if relevant actors from other sectors can contribute to the process.

What costs can we finance?

Our funding is subject to 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 a third party. Costs for consulting services from third parties may not exceed 20 percent of a project party's budget.
• Other direct costs: For example, materials, supplies and travel necessary to carry out the project.
• Indirect costs (overhead): Costs that are not incurred as a direct result of but can be related to the project, for example regular premises and cleaning. Indirect costs may constitute a maximum of 30 percent of personnel costs. Universities, university colleges and certain research organizations and government agencies have higher maximum limits depending on the type of activities.

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

What eligibility requirements apply to costs we finance?

For a cost to be eligible, it must be:

• necessary for the activities in the project
• recorded correctly and separately from the organization's other costs.

An organization may also 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 we can finance. This is determined individually for each organization. We therefore differentiate between how much funding the project can receive, and how much each participant can receive.

How much funding can the project receive?

A project can receive funding of up to SEK 700,000.

How much funding can a participant receive?

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 we provide funding using the following funding criteria.

• Research and development projects within the experimental development category in accordance with paragraph 9 Vinnova's support scheme and article 25 GBER.
• Support of minor importance (de minimis) in accordance with Section 2 of Vinnova's support scheme and the de minimis regulation. Before de minimis support can be granted, a certificate of support of minor importance must be submitted to Vinnova. This is done in connection with proposal.
• Non- state aid in accordance with Vinnova's instructions. Organizations that do not conduct economic activities can be granted non- state aid. This generally includes universities and university colleges, research institutes and other organizations that do not offer any form of service or product on a market. An organization that applies for Non- state aid is ultimately responsible for the assessment that it does not conduct economic activities.

In order for us 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 parties

• All project partners must be legal entities. Natural persons or individual companies cannot participate as project partners.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden.

Eligibility requirements for the project

• The project manager must be employed by the coordinating party in the project.
• The project may not begin before proposal is submitted.
• Costs for consulting services from outside parties may constitute a maximum of 20 percent of a project party's budget.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal must contain the annexes Project Description and CV according to the templates provided on the call's website and according to the mandatory eligibility requirements described in section 9.
• Applications must be marked ready no later than 13:59 on the last day of application via Vinnova's e-service. Once the application period has expired, proposal can only be supplemented upon request from Vinnova.

What do we assess?

Potential (weighted 40 percent)

• The prototype's novelty value and potential to inspire innovation and change.
• The potential importance of the prototype for sustainable transition and competitiveness.
• The project's potential to reach out and influence actors in the forest value chain.
• How well the project is assessed to contribute to increased gender equality.

Actors (weighted 30 percent)

• Composition of project parties and possible reference group.
• The competence, experience and commitment of the project manager and other key personnel in time.
• The stakeholder constellation's expertise and previous experience in sustainability, design, visualization and creating prototypes.
• How well the project team is composed in terms of gender distribution. As well as how well power and influence are distributed between women and men in the project team.

Feasibility (weighted 30 percent)

• How well the approach and methodology have been designed to implement the project.
• How realistic the plan and budget are for developing, building and demonstrating the prototype within the project time.
• How well the demonstration of the prototype has been designed and planned.
• How well actors in the forest value chain and other stakeholders are involved in the implementation.
• How well gender equality aspects have been integrated into the project plan.

How do we assess?

The project selection is handled by Vinnova in a process where applications that meet the formal requirements in section 6 compete with each other for the call's budget.

Applications that meet the formal requirements according to section 6 are assessed in relation to the above assessment criteria by experts. The evaluators are appointed by Vinnova and work under a duty of confidentiality and professional secrecy. The assessment is based on the electronic proposal submitted via Vinnova's e-service (see section 9).

In the assessment, the greatest importance will be placed on the criterion Potential which is weighted by 40 percent, while the criteria Actors and Feasibility are weighted by 30 percent each.

The external assessors' combined evaluation results in a recommendation to Vinnova. Based on the assessors' recommendation and Vinnova's assessment of financial status (see below), we make decisions about which applications are granted funding and which are rejected.

We also assess financial status

Before deciding on funding we also conduct a comprehensive assessment of the organizational and financial status of those receiving funding. We use information we obtain from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet.

In order for us to grant funding, this 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.
• If requested, SMEs must be able to demonstrate that they have the financial means to implement the project according to their budget in proposal. They cannot use public funding or their own funds intended for other project to cover project costs in this call for proposals.

When the selection process is complete and Vinnova has made a decision to either grant or reject proposal, Vinnova will notify the coordinating project party of the decision. In the decision, we state how much funding each party in the project will be granted. Our decision cannot be appealed.

What happens if you are granted funding?

If we grant your proposal, you must follow our general terms and conditions for funding. The terms include, among other things:

• 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 us regularly during the project period.

See our general terms and conditions and get help understanding and fulfilling them

You also need to follow the special conditions that apply to this the call for proposals:

• Project agreement is not required in this project.
• The project must be represented by at least one participant at the conferences and other activities convened by Vinnova. The costs of such participation are eligible for support.

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 our term, you may be required to repay the amount. 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 our e-service. Proposal contains questions about the project, participating project partners and budget.

You must also attach the following mandatory attachments to proposal:

• Project description, maximum 8 pages with 12 point font size according to the template on the call page.
• CV attachment containing relevant CVs for project manager and all key personnel according to the template on the call page. Maximum one page per person.

If de minimis support is sought (de minimis support), a de minimis support certificate form must also be attached.
Information and form for a certificate of minor support can be downloaded here

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.

In our e-service you can start filling in the details and then continue at a later time. You can also distribute permissions to others who you want to contribute to proposal. When proposal is complete, mark it as done.

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.

Under the heading Funded project in the link below, there are examples of previously funded future prototypes.

Designing future sustainable solutions within the mobility or food system