Impact Innovation: Feasibility studies and projects within Social Actions Areas in the program Metals & Minerals

This call for proposals is carried out within the framework of the program Metals & Minerals, part of Impact Innovation - an initiative of the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas and Vinnova.

The program's mission is "To ensure a sustainable and resilient supply of metals and minerals for the transformation of society". This means increasing and securing access to metals and minerals while at the same time reducing the planetary footprint of extraction and production. The background of the program and which areas of action are central to fulfilling the assignment is described in the program's scope document

The call for proposals is aimed at project that aim to pave the way for innovations in social sustainability and that have potential to contribute to the program's mission. The offer refers to feasibility studies or research projects of the nature of industrial research in one or more of the following areas of effort, which are described in more detail in the program's scope document:

• 2.2.1 Social goals
• 2.2.2 Competence supply
• 2.2.3 Education
• 2.2.8 Internationalization
• 2.2.9 Attractiveness

The areas of action 2.2.4 to 2.2.7 are not covered by this call for proposals because they are covered in the call for proposals Impact Innovation - Regulations and instruments for a sustainable industry

The call for proposals is aimed at consortia consisting of, for example, companies, public organisations, research institutes, universities, university colleges and other relevant actors who have the competence and ability to implement the project. The project participants must be legal entities.

Consortia applying for feasibility studies must consist of at least two project parties.

Consortia applying for research projects must consist of at least three project parties, of which at least one is a research organization.

Maximum funding is SEK 1,000,000 per project and Vinnova's funding may amount to no more than 70 percent of the project's total eligible costs. The latest end date for the project's implementation shall be 30 June 2025.

The projects that are financed are expected to strengthen Sweden's conditions within the program's social intervention areas ("Social Action Areas”). The knowledge produced is expected to increase the understanding of the challenges within some of the program's social intervention areas and improve the opportunities to deal with these challenges. Which social intervention areas are covered by the call for proposals can be seen in section 4.

The offer is aimed at research projects and feasibility studies that will pave the way for innovations in social sustainability.

Feasibility studies are project whose aim is to evaluate a project idea from various aspects, such as technical, commercial, sustainability and implementation. By funding feasibility studies, Metals & Minerals wants to inventory project ideas within some of the program's social intervention areas and at the same time contribute to the production of decision-making material for future research and development projects. The project ideas underlying feasibility studies are expected to have potential to engage a wide range of stakeholders in new or expanded partnerships.

It is not mandatory to have carried out a feasibility study within this call for proposals in order to apply for funding of research and development projects in future calls for proposals within the Metals & Minerals programme.

The call for proposals also includes the implementation of more mature research projects to bring a potential innovation closer to implementation. In order to create the best possible conditions for social innovation, the involvement of actors who are not normally active in the mining and metal industry is needed. Therefore, project proposals that address issues that can engage a broad range of stakeholders in new or expanded partnerships are desired. The partnerships can, for example, contain actors within industry, academia, non-governmental organisations, the public sector and civil society.

Focus on conversion for sustainable development within Impact Innovation

Impact Innovation is to contribute to global competitiveness through transformation for sustainable development in line with the goals of Agenda 2030. For Metals & Minerals, this is expressed through the program's mission which reads "To ensure sustainable and resilient metal and mineral supply for the transformation of society". This means increasing and securing the supply of metals and minerals while reducing the planetary footprint of extraction and production.

One aspect that is followed up and assessed is whether both women and men equally share in the contribution, participate in and have influence over the project. This aspect is assessed in sub-criterion 2 of the assessment criterion Actors.

Another aspect involves analyzing and deciding whether there are gender aspects that are relevant to the project's problem area, solutions and utilization. In the application form under the heading " Project tasks" there is a question about this which is mandatory to answer in all applications. This aspect is included in sub-criterion 6 to the assessment criterion Potential and sub-criterion 4 to the assessment criterion Feasibility.

Our work to contribute to the goals of Agenda 2030

Equal innovation - what it means for you who seek funding from us

Free access to scientific publications and results

Results from research and innovation that are made freely available increase the opportunity for more people to contribute to solutions to societal challenges. This the call for proposals should contribute to making more results freely available to everyone. Therefore, all scientific publication must be open access.

The call for proposals is aimed at consortia consisting of, for example, companies, public organisations, research institutes, universities, university colleges and other relevant actors (legal entities) who have the competence and ability to implement the project.

Consortia seeking funding for feasibility studies must consist of at least two project parties.

Consortia seeking funding for research projects must consist of at least three project parties, of which at least one is a research organization.

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 then be attributable to the branch's or establishment's activities. Foreign actors without a branch or place of business in Sweden can participate in the projects without funding from Vinnova.

This call for proposals refers to feasibility studies and research projects ( basis for support Industrial research) that address one or some of the following social intervention areas according to the program's scope document.

• 2.2.1 Social goals
• 2.2.2 Competence supply
• 2.2.3 Education
• 2.2.8 Internationalization
• 2.2.9 Attractiveness

All project must also fall under Vinnova's definition of "social innovation".

The areas of action 2.2.4 to 2.2.7 are not covered by this call for proposals because they are covered in the call for proposals Impact Innovation - Regulations and instruments for a sustainable industry

Feasibility studies can be simply described as an evaluation and analysis of:

• strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks in an upcoming research and development project.
• what resources are required to implement the project.
• how likely it is that the project will succeed.

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

For full definitions, see Support bases and support levels for funding

The project must be able to be implemented in its entirety with an end date of 30 June 2025 at the latest.

Vinnova's funding is covered by rules on state support. The rules govern both what kind of costs and what proportion of the costs we can finance. This is determined for each organization individually. We therefore distinguish between how much funding the project can receive, and how much each participating participant can receive.

How much funding can the project receive?

Maximum funding is SEK 1,000,000 per project and Vinnova's funding may amount to no more than 70 percent of the project's total eligible cost.

How much funding can a participant receive?

In this the call for proposals we provide support for activities that are covered by the support bases Industrial research and Feasibility study, see Support bases and support levels for funding.

How much funding each participating participant can receive depends mainly on:

• which activities the project party must carry out in the project
• the project party's size and activities

Funding for companies and other organizations that carry out economic activities is covered by rules on state support and is granted in accordance with Article 25 of the European Commission's General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). The rules govern, among other things, which types of costs and what proportion of an organization's eligible costs may be covered by funding.

The document "Support levels, definitions and more for funding according to Vinnova's support scheme" clarifies what applies to various large organizations that carry out economic activities. See Support bases and support levels for funding.

For Industrial research and Feasibility study, the following support levels apply:

*Actual collaboration means a certain level of collaboration between small and large companies, between companies in two different European countries or between research organizations and companies.

Dissemination of results means extensive dissemination through, for example, conferences or open databases.

For full information on these bonus bases, see Support bases and support levels for funding

Hur EU's definition of small and medium-sized enterprises appears in the User guide on the definition of SMEs which you can find here

Each participant is responsible for ensuring that funding received does not exceed the aid intensity permitted according to the rules for state support.

In this the call for proposals we also provide support to organizations that do not carry out economic activities. This generally includes universities and university colleges, research institutes and other organizations that do not offer a service or product on a market.

We can finance up to 100 percent of such organizations' costs.

What costs can we finance?

Our funding may only go to certain types of costs. 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 license costs: Consulting services, knowledge and patents purchased or used under license from an external actor.
• Other direct costs: For example materials, stock items 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, for example regular premises and cleaning. Indirect costs may constitute a maximum of 30 percent of an organization's eligible personnel costs.

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

Which eligibility requirements apply to costs we finance?

For a cost to be eligible for support, 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 also not take up someone else's costs as its own.

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

In order for us to take a position on and assess your proposal it must meet certain basic requirements - so-called formal eligibility requirements. If these eligibility requirements are not met, our evaluator will not handle your proposal.

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

• The project parties are legal entities. Note that a sole proprietorship is not a legal entity.
• The project parties seeking funding from Vinnova are either Swedish legal entities or foreign organizations that have a branch or place of business in Sweden and where the costs in the project are attributable to activitiesof the branch or place of business.
• The constellation of actors in proposal regarding the feasibility study contains at least two project parties at the time of application. Different workplaces in an organization, for example different departments at a university, are counted as one and the same participant when they are part of the same legal entity.
• At the time of application, the actor constellation in proposal for a research project contains at least three project parties, of which at least one is a research organization.
• Proposal is written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal contains all mandatory attachments according to section 9.
• Proposal contains no attachments other than those requested in section 9.
• The appendices are written on provided templates, meet formatting requirements and do not exceed the maximum number of pages according to section 9.
• Declarations of intent from all project parties are attached, are completely filled in and signed by an authorized person. Research organizations must also submit a declaration of intent.

What do we assess?

Potential

1. It appears in a credible way that the project addresses one or more social intervention areas in section 2.2 of the Metals & Minerals scope document that is covered by the call for proposals and falls within Vinnova's definition of social innovation.
2. Proposal concerning a feasibility study clearly motivates why a feasibility study is needed for an upcoming research project.
3. To what extent the project idea can contribute to the program's mission.
4. The project's potential to establish and develop collaborations between relevant actors, especially those that are not normally active in the mining and metal industry.
5. To what extent the project proposal contributes with new knowledge or significant improvement of methods.
6. To what degree the project has potential to contribute to increased gender equality and sustainable social development in accordance with Agenda 2030.

Actors

1. The extent to which proposal credibly demonstrates that the competencies required for successful implementation of the project are available, either directly in the project consortium or as indirectly reachable via, for example, project partners, specified consultants or reference group for the project.
2. How well balanced the project group (the key people) is in terms of gender distribution and the distribution of power and influence between women and men.

Feasibility

1. For feasibility studies: The quality of the feasibility study's expected results as a decision basis for a possible subsequent research project. By that is meant the extent to which the results are deemed to be able to provide answers to the questions about, and if so how, one should proceed with the development.
2. For research projects: To what degree does the project have clear, specific, realistic and measurable objective that are valid, i.e. relevant to the project's ambitions.
3. The quality and relevance of the project's communication plan, methods, work plan, resource allocation, deliverables and budget.
4. How well equality and diversity aspects have been integrated into the project plan.

How do we judge?

The project selection is handled by Vinnova in a process where the applications that meet the formal requirements in section 6 compete with each other for the call's budget. The assessment is based on the electronic proposal submitted via Vinnova's e-service. See section 9.

In general, the selection process can be described as follows:

1. Proposal are submitted via Vinnova's e-service.
2. The applications that meet the formal requirements according to section 6 are evaluated in relation to the assessment criteria above by specially appointed external evaluator. The evaluators are appointed by Vinnova and work under confidentiality and confidentiality. The combined assessment results in a recommendation to Vinnova. The assessment is based on the information found in proposal.
3. Based on the recommendation of the specially appointed assessors, Vinnova makes decisions about which applications are granted funding and which are rejected.
4. Decision is notified by Vinnova to applicant. The program office for Metals & Minerals is informed of the outcome.

When we have assessed all applications, we will send a decision in which we either grant or reject your proposal. In the decision, we state how much funding each party in the project is granted. Our decision cannot be appealed.

What if you are granted funding?

If we grant your proposal you must follow Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding.

The terms include this:

• That you must sign a special document in which you undertake to carry out the project.
• That you must report the project's costs and results to Vinnova regularly during the project.
• That you must agree on what applies to the project in a project agreement (a project agreement is not required for feasibility studies, however).
• That there must be a plan for how the results will be used, and for how any scientific publication will take place.

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:

• The project must be represented by at least one participant at the conferences and other activities organized within the program, approximately on one to two occasions per year.
• For feasibility studies, instead of section 1.4 of General terms and conditions the following applies:
  - Project agreement is not required in this project.

• Instead of clause 7.3 in General terms and conditions the following applies:
  - In information about the project and in every publication of project results, it must be stated that the work was carried out within Metals & Minerals, a programme included in Impact Innovation - an initiative of the Energy Agency, Formas and Vinnova.

We may also decide to add supplementary special conditions for individual project. In that case, they appear in the decision.

Can you have to pay back funding?

If you do not follow our term you may be liable for a refund. This also applies if you have been granted funding incorrectly or with an amount that is too high.

Cooperation with the program office for the Impact Innovation program Metals & Minerals

Cooperation with the Metals & Minerals program office means the following:

• Separate reporting to the program office during project implementation.
• That the project is assigned a contact person at the program office who assists the project and follows it up on behalf of the program.

When your proposal has been registered, we send a confirmation to the person responsible for the user account as well as to the project manager and the signatory for coordinating participant.

If you submit a proposal on the same day as the call for proposals closes, it may take a few hours before you receive a confirmation. Please contact us if you have not received a confirmation within 24 hours after the call for proposals closes.

When the call for proposals is closed, you cannot change anything in proposal. Then you can only supplement if we ask for it.

Who can read your proposal?

Proposal in its entirety can be read by Vinnova's staff and by specially appointed external evaluatorappointed by Vinnova. All work under a duty of confidentiality.

Applications submitted to us become public documents. This means that we must disclose them if they are requested. But we keep confidential information that we judge could mean financial damage to the individual if it is disclosed. Such information can, for example, be information about business and operating conditions, inventions or research results.

This is how we handle public documents and confidentiality