Demo announcement - SME focus

A call for proposals within the strategic innovation program Innovair. Innovair is part of Vinnova's, the Energy Agency's and Forma's joint effort on strategic innovation programs. The purpose of the investment in strategic innovation programs is to create the conditions for international competitiveness and sustainable solutions to global societal challenges.

More information about the program

In order to create synergies and stimulate further collaboration within Swedish industrial research, Vinnova, Formas and the Swedish Energy Agency have created a number of Strategiska Innovationsprogram (SIP). One of these is Innovair, which is Sweden's strategic innovation program for aviation and represents the entire aeronautical innovation system.

The purpose of the call for proposals is to strengthen the international competitiveness of the Swedish aviation industry and enable Swedish participation in both national and international demonstrator programs.

The offer is aimed at Swedish companies in the aviation industry and research organisations. Swedish companies also mean foreign organizations that have a branch or place of business in Sweden where the activities in the project are carried out. In addition the call for proposals must also contribute to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the university, university college and institutes, through participation in the projects, being able to participate in.

The call for proposals is also expected to contribute to faster introduction of demonstrated technology into future aircraft and aircraft engines or new functions in systems.

The consortium must contain at least two parties, of which at least one is an SME.

The projects must be coordinated by an SME or large company and conducted in cooperation where other SMEs or research organizations such as universities, university college or research institutes may be included.

Vinnova's budget for the call for proposals is approximately SEK 20 million. Industry is expected to contribute the corresponding part.

Within the aviation industry, technology verification is required in various types of demonstrator projects, which are very costly. For many aerospace companies, there is no other way to demonstrate their technology than by participating in demonstrator projects. This is crucial for the companies' business positioning because a successful participation in a demonstrator shows that the companies can deliver a safe (demonstrated) technical solution to a future product development project, which has documented great potential to lead to business.

The call for proposals focuses on this demonstration phase and is expected to contribute to new competitive, environmentally friendly and safe technology in new products and systems for aircraft. The call for proposals is also expected to strengthen the role of Swedish actors in international contexts and raise the competence of suppliers to the aviation industry, including small and medium-sized companies but also at institutes, universities and university colleges.

Background

In relation to its population, Sweden has a unique position with complete ability to develop new aircraft based on a long tradition where all actors in the aviation sector contribute to this whole. This is of significant security interest for Sweden, but also industrially important as large export contracts have been added in recent years with spillover effects to other areas as a result. The Swedish aviation industry has also had great export success as a subsystem supplier, not least in the latest aircraft and aircraft engine models.

The comprehensive development capability found in Sweden is a bridge builder for industrial collaborations and contributes to the Swedish aviation industry having a natural role in international collaborations. In order to face tougher international competition, it is important that this development capacity can be maintained and that the Swedish aviation industry can participate in future international development collaborations and demonstrator programs. Internationally, civil aviation is predicted to continue intensive growth over the next few decades and the market is estimated by Aerospace Technology Institute i UK to be worth over SEK 50,000 billion until 2050.

The European Commission presented the Fit for 55 climate package in July 2021. It is the Union's most comprehensive effort ever to speed up the climate transition and it must contribute to reducing emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. The package contains concrete legislative proposals that together form a plan for how the EU will achieve the climate goals and become the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050. If increased flying is to be possible while aviation must meet these stringent climate requirements, aviation faces a great global need for innovative technologies. With the right technology, the Swedish aviation industry can take part in future growth and at the same time contribute to significantly reducing the aviation sector's climate impact.

The European organization Advisory Council for Aviation Research and Innovation in Europe ( ACARE) sets common research goals for the European aviation industry and its actors. In 2022 came the vision "Fly the Green Deal” which defines ACARE's long-term growth-, environmental and safety goals.

ACARE defines in these documents three main areas of importance for Europe from an aviation perspective, namely:

1. Climate neutral flight in 2050.
2. Citizens' needs for sustainability, education and skilled work.
3. Develop the tools for global leadership and competitiveness.

Innovair mainly focuses on initiatives that contribute to areas one and three, for example growth, environment and safety. The program reflects efforts outlined in the National Aviation Research and Innovation Agendas (NRIA Flyg 2013, NRIA Flyg 2016 and NRIA 2020). The agendas show, in accordance with previous research agendas, that demonstrator programs are very important to create a complete innovation system and enable positioning for the Swedish aviation industry and its actors. The program is well in line with what is proposed in these research and innovation agendas.

The aerospace industry is unique due to extreme safety requirements which require technology verification in various types of demonstrator projects. Demonstrators are expensive and for many aerospace companies there is no other way to show their level of technology than to participate in collaborations and demonstrators, which is mainly done in collaboration with the major aircraft and engine integrators. If a company cannot demonstrate its technical maturity in a demonstrator project, the business opportunities are very small.

What is a demonstrator?

A demonstrator in this context is a larger component, structure, or system, where imagined properties of researched ideas and technology can be tested and validated. The component can consist of various parts of existing and new technology, where the verification is supported by simulation technology; the main thing is that desired functions in newly developed technology can be confirmed. The technology maturity level, Technology Readiness Level (TRL) determines the complexity of the demonstrator.

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First, technologies are developed in a laboratory environment, which raises the technology maturity to TRL 4. Then, technology demonstrations are performed in several stages from TRL 4 up to TRL6, in a representative environment, where the technology is integrated into solutions that mimic the intended application. A representative environment can be, for example, a flight test, structure test, engine test, full-scale rig test or virtual demonstrator.

The increase in technology maturity can also include demonstration of a new production system, introduction of new manufacturing technology, new materials and more.

Aim

The purpose of this call for proposals is to strengthen the Swedish aviation industry's international competitiveness through support for the demonstration phase, which is particularly important for the aviation industry.

In addition, the effort will contribute to SMEs strengthening their role in the supply chain, where large companies can act as locomotives for SMEs as well as universities, university college and institutes, by drawing them into the call for tender's project, but also further into larger demonstration programs.

The effort is also expected to contribute to faster introduction of demonstrated technology into future aircraft and aircraft engines or new functions in systems included in these products. The program can also support and enable strong Swedish participation in international bilateral or multinational demonstration programs.

Results- and impact goals

The call for proposals has the following overall results- and impact goals:

• In the long term, strengthen Sweden as an aviation industrial nation with its own systems supplier capability in the highest international class.
• In the long term, strengthen cooperation with prioritized system suppliers in Europe, the USA and Brazil and thereby contribute to increased Swedish exports.
• Demonstrate competitive, environmentally friendly and safe technology in new products and systems.
• Strengthen Sweden's role in existing and future demonstrators.
• Strengthen the competence of primarily SMEs and larger industry but also at institutes, universities and university colleges.
• Create national spillover effects.
• Demonstrate technology for faster introduction into future aircraft, aircraft engines and their associated systems.

Content and implementation

The call for proposals is expected to result in 3 to 6 project where the application of technologies in some of the following areas is demonstrated:

• Basic aeronautics and comprehensive skills.
• Advanced aircraft structure and manufacturing methods.
• Intelligent onboard systems.
• Propulsion technology.

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 thus expected to take special account of climate and gender equality aspects.

One aspect that Vinnova follows up on and assesses is whether both women and men equally share in the contribution, participate in and have influence over the project. See under the actor criterion for more information.

Another aspect involves analyzing and deciding whether there are gender or gender aspects that are relevant in relation to 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 this call for proposals the question is not the basis for assessment.

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

This call for proposals is aimed at Swedish companies, both small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) and larger companies active in the aviation sector that participate with their technology or that have potential to participate in demonstrator programs.

The coordinating company must involve other actors as project partners in the project in order for them to develop together and strengthen their competitiveness, such as small and medium-sized enterprises, institutes and academia, in order for them to develop together and strengthen their competitiveness.

Funding is only granted to Swedish organisations. Swedish organizations also mean foreign organizations that carry out research, innovation and development activities in the field of aviation and that have a branch or place of business in Sweden. The costs in the project must be attributable to the branch's or establishment's activities.

Activities for which funding can be applied for

Funding can be applied for industrially driven technology development in the aeronautics field at demonstrator level.

Eligible costs

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

The following costs are eligible:

• Personnel costs to the extent that they are processed in the project.
• Costs of equipment, land and buildings to the extent and during the time they are used for the project.
• Costs for consultants and licenses and more.
• Other direct costs.
• Indirect costs.

Read more about government support on Vinnova's website
See also Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding and a guide to the conditions on eligible costs

For this call for proposals:applies

• Maximum funding for a project is SEK 8 million.
• Funding will be granted with a maximum of 50 percent of the project's total
  budgeted eligible costs.

Prerequisites for proposal to be assessed

Only applications that meet the following formal eligibility requirements will be assessed:

• The project parties must be legal entities.
• Participating organizations have a research and development activity in Sweden.
• At least 30 percent of the project's total grant funding must be allocated to SMEs, research institutes or academia.
• Proposal must be designed in accordance with section 9, i.e. with project description and CV according to template.
• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• The coordinator must be a Swedish company in the aviation industry. Swedish companies also mean foreign organizations that have a branch or place of business in Sweden where the activities in the project are carried out.
• The consortium must contain at least two parties, of which at least one is an SME.
• The technology maturity of the project must be indicated with TRL level, at the beginning of the project and expected level at the end.
• Proposal must contain a strategic analysis or competitive analysis.

What is assessed?

The applications will be assessed based on how well the projects contribute to the call's aim and objective. It must be clearly stated in proposal that, in terms of content, it falls within one of the areas according to section 2.

The following assessment criteria apply to the call for proposals:

Potential

• In the long term, strengthen cooperation with prioritized OEMs in Europe, the USA or Brazil and thereby contribute to increased Swedish exports.
• Demonstrate competitive, environmentally friendly and safe technology in new products and systems.
• Strengthen Sweden's role in existing and future demonstrators.
• Strengthen the competence of primarily SMEs and larger industry, but also at institutes, universities and university colleges.
• Demonstrate technology for faster introduction into future aircraft, aircraft engines and their associated systems.
• The project's potential to contribute to increased gender equality.
• The project's potential to contribute positively to the global goals in Agenda 2030, as well as minimize the negative effects.

Actors

• The project team's collective knowledge, competence and ability to carry out the project.
• The project team's prerequisites for disseminating and exploiting the project results for societal or commercial benefit. This includes, among other things, the consortium's plans and commitments to disseminate and utilize the project results. Also how well the project is linked into the applicant organizations' internal strategy, innovation and development processes.
• The project constellation's access to relevant sustainability expertise.
• How well the project team is composed with respect to gender distribution, including the distribution of power and influence between women and men.

Feasibility

• Methodology, approach and realism in project plan and project budget.
• Connection to national and international demonstrators: how the project relates to ongoing or planned demonstrators.
• Connections with other R&I programme: Clarifies connections with relevant national or international R&I programme such as NFFP, other strategic innovation programs, e.g. CleanAviation, SESAR2020 and EDF.
• How well relevant sustainability perspectives have been integrated into the project plan. Relevant sustainability perspectives refer to Agenda 2030 with a particular focus on climate and gender equality.
  
  

How does the assessment process work?

The project applications will be assessed in competition based on the above assessment criteria. The assessment is carried out by specially appointed evaluator. Their assessment constitutes a recommendation on which project can be granted.

This is how you apply

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

There you also upload the following attachments:

• Project report
  At the same time as proposal is sent to Vinnova, the appendix Project Report must also be sent to Innovair via e-mail webmaster@innovair.org
  The project report must be able to be distributed and published freely and must not contain confidential or otherwise sensitive information.
  
• Project description
  It must be on a maximum of 15 A4 pages with 12-point black text. Any pages that exceed the maximum number will not be assessed. It must be written in Swedish or English and must follow the application template.
• CV attachment according to template
  It must contain the relevant CVs for the project manager and for at least one key person from each party in the project team. For these, the name, age, gender, title or function and extent of participation in the project must be stated. Varje CV must be on a maximum of 2 A4 pages with 12-point text.

The attachments must be in pdf format.

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 done. You can fully 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, proposal can only be completed at the request of Vinnova.

Current term and help to understand and fulfill the terms