6G - National collaboration projects in research and innovation

Development of 6G has begun, and the technology is expected to improve speed and data processing, seamless connectivity and significantly reduced latency. 6G systems involve various areas of technology, from software and artificial intelligence (AI) to semiconductors and radio communications. A faster wireless system is expected to lead to a range of new data-driven applications and enable increased productivity in many different areas and industries. A secure and robust digital infrastructure is also of great importance to both business and society as a whole.

The government has tasked Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council with strengthening basic research, applied research and innovation within the sixth generation wireless communication system (6G). The aim is to strengthen the position of Swedish research and innovation within wireless communication systems, increase the competitiveness of Swedish companies in the field and strengthen the conditions for Swedish research environments to participate in international research collaboration and gain access to international research infrastructure.

This call for proposals focuses on research and innovation projects and feasibility studies with the goal of developing enabling technologies that strengthen Sweden's ability in the 6G area, and developing next-generation wireless systems.

The call for proposals is aimed at consortia with at least two participants which may include companies, universities, university college, research institutes and other relevant actors. At least one university or university college and at least one company must be included. This is to ensure that the project is scientifically and industrially anchored.

Funding: SEK 2 to 15 million in funding per project, Vinnova's funding can amount to a maximum of 70 percent of the project's total eligible costs.

Project duration: 12 to 36 months.

The call's preliminary budget is SEK 60 million.

Wireless communication plays a crucial role in society and communication networks have become a central part of the critical infrastructure. With increasing eligibility requirements for wireless technology, continued research efforts are also required that strengthen cooperation both nationally and internationally, which is crucial for, among other things, standardization and continuous development.

Development of 6G has begun, and the technology is expected to improve speed and data processing, seamless connectivity and significantly reduced latency. 6G systems involve various areas of technology, from software and artificial intelligence (AI) to semiconductors and radio communications. A faster wireless system is expected to lead to a range of new data-driven applications and enable increased productivity in many different areas and industries. A secure and robust digital infrastructure is also of great importance to both business and society as a whole.

The government has tasked Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council with strengthening basic research, applied research and innovation within the sixth generation wireless communication system (6G). The aim is to strengthen the position of Swedish research and innovation within wireless communication systems, increase the competitiveness of Swedish companies in the field and strengthen the conditions for Swedish research environments to participate in international research collaboration and gain access to international research infrastructure. The investment includes a total of SEK 390 million and the assignment must be finalized in March 2027.

Read about the government mission: Research investment should contribute to the development of 6G

This call for proposals focuses on research and innovation projects and feasibility studies.

The purpose of the project that are financed is that they should strengthen the position of Swedish research and innovation in wireless communication systems and increase the competitiveness of Swedish companies in the field.

The goal is to develop enabling technologies that strengthen Sweden's ability in the 6G area, and to develop next-generation wireless systems.

6G networks are expected to improve speed, data processing, seamless connectivity and significantly reduced latency. It will also be able to offer basic services to all sectors, across different types of networks, and public or private deployment scenarios. A wireless 6G system includes various areas and includes, among other things:

• Technology and network infrastructure
  - Extremely low latency/Delay tolerant latency
  - Network optimization based on AI/ML (Artificiell Intelligens / Machine learning)
  - Platform for wireless services
  - Intermittent connection and communication
  - Edge/Fog computing at scale
  - Shared infrastructure with virtualized layers
  - Spectrum sharing
  - WiFi collaboration between providers and standards
  - Open interface
  - Sub-THz-band
  - Backhaul development with increased cell density
  - Non-terrestrial (satellite) networks
• Standards, policy and regulations
• Ecosystems and economic models
• Applications and Services

The listed technology areas have been identified as important focus areas for the development of the 6G network ecosystem.

Read 6G Global Roadmap Taxonomy Report which you find on this page (purdue.edu)

With this the call for proposals Vinnova particularly wants to contribute to the following result target:

• Increase research and innovation collaboration in the 6G area between Swedish universities, research institutes and companies.
• Strengthen competence development and secure national competence supply in the long term.
• Meet the need for synergies between investments in 6G and other areas required for a strong 6G system.
• Contribute to accelerated development and application of 6G in Sweden.
• Contribute to 6G Sverige as an established FoI collaboration platform.

National research school is not included in the call for proposals

Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council want to return to the question of a national research school within 6G later in 2024. Support can then be sought in a targeted call for proposals.

Civil-military synergies

Vinnova has a government assignment together with the Swedish Armed Forces with the aim of building an innovation program to utilize civil-military synergies in research and development. The mission is to contribute to increasing the military's ability to innovate, strengthen the competitiveness of Swedish companies and increase international connectivity.

Read about the government mission

Project with potential for dual use (so-called dual use) that are granted funds in this call for proposals, and that have stated in their proposal that the knowledge and technology lie at the interface between civil and military innovation, may be given the opportunity for additional funding from the innovation program for civil-military synergies. The projects will be invited to a separate application procedure and a separate assessment, which will have no impact on the assessment of the proposal made in this call for proposals.

Focus on climate and gender equality in all our investments

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 particularly singled out 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 the climate and gender equality aspects. Linked to the development of 6G, it is above all increased energy efficiency and lifetime of components that are the priority.

Our work to contribute to the goals of Agenda 2030

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.

Another aspect involves analyzing and deciding whether there are gender aspects that are relevant to the project's problem area, solutions and utilization.

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 at least two project parties, a university or university college and a company. It ensures that the project is scientifically and industrially anchored. We address you who come from industry, business, academia and institutes.

The 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 able to be linked to the activities at the branch or place of business.

It is possible to apply for funding for activities that are part of research and development 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 demonstrators. 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.
• The creation of components that make up parts of complex systems.
• Research or critical analysis, which aims to acquire new knowledge and new skills to develop new products, processes or services.
• Analysis of the potential of research and development projects aimed at supporting the decision-making process for the project to be a success.
• Evaluation that maps the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and risks of research and development projects.

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.

The length of the projects can be between 12 and 36 months.

Our funding is covered by rules on government 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.

The total grant budget is provisionally SEK 60 million for this call for proposals.

How much funding can the project get?

Vinnova's funding can amount to between SEK 2 and 15 million per project and can maximum amount to 70 percent of the project's total eligible costs.

How much funding can a participant receive?

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

• Which activities the party will carry out in the project.
• Party size and activities.

In this the call for proposals we provide support to industrial research, experimental development or feasibility studies.
For full definitions, see Support bases and support levels for funding.

What percentage of the costs we can finance - that is, the maximum level of support - depends on the size of the organization and the type of activity.

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. I Experimentell's development can be simply described as combining, shaping and using existing knowledge to produce new or improved products, processes or services.

Experimental development refers to acquiring, combining, shaping and using existing scientific, technical, business and other relevant knowledge and skills with the aim of developing new or improved products, processes or services, including digital products, processes or services in any field or in any technology, industry or sector. This may also include activities aimed at conceptual definition, planning and documentation of new products, processes or services.

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.

Not state aid

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.

How do you determine whether an organization carries out 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 takes - that is, 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 carries out financial activities, contact call manager. However, the organization itself is responsible for assessing whether it carries out economic activities.

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 licensing 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 personnel costs.

For more detailed information on which costs we can finance, see our instruction on eligible costs.

What eligibility requirements apply to costs we finance?

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 also not take up someone else's costs as its own.

For more detailed information on which eligibility requirements, limitations and exceptions apply, see our instruction on 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.

Conditions for us to assess proposal:

• The consortium consists of at least two project parties, of which at least one is a Swedish university or university college and at least one company.
• All project parties must be legal entities. In this respect, a foreign organization that has a branch or place of business in Sweden is equated with a Swedish legal person and a Swedish company. The costs in the project must be attributable to the branch's or operating location's activities.
• Funding is not granted to organizations that are insolvent or that are undergoing liquidation or company restructuring, or that have unpaid debts or payment notices with the Swedish Enforcement Agency.
• If the organization is a limited company, half or more of the share capital must not be used up.
• Vinnova takes credit information on all applicant who are not public actors, and funding is not granted to organizations with the lowest credit rating C.
• The organization seeking funding for personnel costs must be registered as an employer with the Tax Agency at the latest when the grant decision is made.
• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• The project described in proposal must not have started before proposal is submitted.
• 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 objective and aim stated in section 2, meet the requirements above and will be assessed according to the criteria below.

In addition to an individual assessment of each proposal Vinnova may apply a portfolio perspective to achieve thematic distribution of the granted projects, regarding aspects such as the technical area and size of project.

Potential

• The project's potential to contribute to the call's overall objectives.
• The quality and relevance of the project based on the chosen focus area.
• The project's technology level related to the international research front.
• The project's potential to disseminate and utilize the results.
• How well the project is judged to contribute to increased gender equality.
• How well the project is judged to contribute positively to the global goals in Agenda 2030, with a particular focus on energy and resource efficiency.

Actors

• The actors' competence and ability to carry out the project and achieve the project goals with regard to the composition and competence of the project group.
• How well the consortium is anchored in Swedish academia and business.
• The project partners' ability to disseminate, utilize, and further develop the knowledge generated in the project, both within their own organizations and outside the consortium.
• To what extent does the project group have access to relevant competence in sustainability.
• How well composed the project team is in terms of gender distribution. As well as how well power and influence are distributed evenly between women and men in the project team.

Feasibility

• The realism of the project plan in relation to set objective, methods, activities and budget.
• The participation and relevance of the specified project parties in the project's various work packages and activities.
• How well the project structure contributes to the utilization and dissemination of the results, both within the own organizations and outside the consortium.
• How well risks are described and managed in the implementation of the project.
• How well aspects relating to gender equality and climate have been integrated into the project plan.

How do we judge?

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

Schematically, the decision-making process looks as follows:

1. Proposal are submitted via Vinnova's e-services.
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 may be interviewed.
4. Vinnova makes decisions about which project are to be financed and decisions are communicated to applicant.

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 our general terms and conditions for funding.

The terms include this:

• That you must sign a special document in which you agree to carry out the project.
• That you must report your costs and results to us regularly during the project.
• If you are several parties, you must agree on what applies to the project in a project agreement.
• How the results will be used, and 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

Other instructions:

• In the event that the project team is not equal, the following instructions apply: In connection with the first progress report, a plan must be attached that explains how a better gender distribution can be achieved during the project period, for example during recruitment or the like. It does not apply within 40/60 for women and men.
• We can 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.

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.

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. If you have not received a confirmation within 24 hours after the call for proposals closes, please contact us.

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?

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. This may, for example, be information about business and operating conditions, inventions or research results.

This is how we handle public documents and confidentiality