Sustainable manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical technology products - spring 2024

This the call for proposals is aimed at actors who work for a sustainable development in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and medical technology products.

Medicines and medical devices have an environmental impact along their entire value chain in the same way as other industrial products; from extraction and processing of raw materials, production and packaging to distribution, use and recycling. In order to achieve sustainable production, one must be able to manage and control various environmental aspects along the various value chains involved.

Sustainable product development and production can be industry-generic and often include technical solutions, but can also be about responding to changed regulations for, for example, product approval, subsidies and procurement.

With this the call for proposals Vinnova wants to contribute to a sustainable development in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical technology products. The call for proposals finances feasibility studies that contribute to sustainable production processes without sacrificing safety, quality or environmental impact, throughout the entire life cycle.

The call for proposals is aimed at constellations of actors who want to conduct feasibility studies for an upcoming project. The study must be carried out by at least two project parties, one of which must be a company. A party is recommended to be a needs owner unless the project can demonstrate in other convincing ways an anchoring of a needs owner linked to the value chains within the pharmaceutical and medical technology industry.

Vinnova can finance a maximum of 80 percent of the project's total eligible costs and the grant can amount to a maximum of SEK 1,000,000 per project

The total budget for the call for proposals is SEK 10 million. The project duration may be a maximum of 12 months.

The purpose of the effort is to stimulate efforts in the form of feasibility studies that eventually lead to full-scale project that contribute to a sustainable pharmaceutical and medical technology industry.

Although the pharmaceutical industry has not received as much attention for its funding of the climate crisis as other industries, the sector accounts for a relatively large share of global emissions and the industry's CO2 footprint.

At the same time, there is an increased focus on the environmental impact of healthcare. To be able to control how medicines affect the environment and to be able to make well-founded improvement decisions the actors need product-specific, reliable, comparable and relevant information about the impact along the entire value chain.

For many sustainability challenges, the solutions are generic between different industries. Competence and solutions can be transferred between industries and thus increase the impact of new innovations. In order to create change, it is required that existing solutions be improved and, in many cases, that new solutions be developed. When developing these, it is important to consider the resource efficiency of the intended solution, which in most cases also includes a circular dimension. In order to meet human and societal needs over several generations, the solutions need to be sustainable from a life cycle perspective. Digitalisation is an important enabler for developing and creating new solutions.

Sustainable production

The requirements for economic and environmental sustainability drive the industry to improve energy efficiency, become more circular and focus on life cycle analyzes and environmental consequences along the value chain. The requirements also drive the need for new business models, legislation, pricing and subsidies.

Environmental sustainability means reducing various types of emissions of substances that can have direct environmental and health effects or can be associated with climate change.

It requires efforts in many areas and can, for example, involve:

• Reduce the use of solvents and volumes in chemical syntheses and purification steps.
• Replace harmful chemicals.
• Reduce and reuse water.
• Reduce and streamline energy use in manufacturing processes.
• Reduce the use of fossil-based raw materials.
• Reduce the use of disposable materials.
• Reduced emissions of greenhouse gases.
• Increased knowledge of products' full environmental impact during their life cycle.
• Develop frameworks, standardize and assess environmental impact in line with European regulations.

Performance goals

The feasibility studies that are funded within the framework of this call for proposals must contribute to investigating the conditions for the development and introduction of innovative solutions or proposals for innovative solutions that contribute to all of the performance goals below:

• Increased knowledge of obstacles and opportunities to contribute to a more sustainable development in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and medical technology products.
• A credible plan for how the project results are to be taken forward and switched up in a follow-up project.
• Increased cooperation between actors within value chains and between value chains nationally or internationally to create and achieve common goals.

Agenda 2030

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.

Read more about our work to contribute to the goals of Agenda 2030

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 the climate and gender equality aspects.

Gender equality

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

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.

Read more about what our work for equal innovation means for those of you who seek funding from us

This question is mandatory for all applicant and can be found under the heading " Project tasks". In this call for proposals the question is the basis for assessment.

Results from research and innovation that are made freely available provide increased opportunities for more people to contribute to solutions to societal challenges. The call for proposals must be made freely available to everyone. Therefore, all scientific publication must be open access.

This the call for proposals is aimed at constellations of actors that may include companies, universities and university colleges, research institutes, the public sector and other relevant actors.

The projects may include foreign partners. However, Vinnova only grants funding to Swedish organisations.

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.

The call for proposals finances feasibility studies to produce innovative solution proposals to take on to other initiatives, both national and international.

The feasibility study must be carried out by an actor constellation consisting of at least two project parties, of which at least one party is a company. One of the parties is recommended to be the need owner. Otherwise, the project needs to demonstrate in other convincing ways an anchoring with a need owner in the value chains within the pharmaceutical and medical technology industry.

Need owner refers to a party who needs and benefits from the project result (the product, process or system owner) and who can take care of, implement, manage and disseminate the project results after the end of the project.

In this the offer we see that actors collaborate, develop and test innovative solutions, and that the consortium is adapted to current needs. Need owner and user or target group must be clear and included in the development of the idea, but must not be included as participant. The owner of the need must show that the need is real and urgent.

Foreign actors may be relevant depending on the project's objective. All project parties must be legal entities and a participant seeking funding must be a Swedish organization. Here, the term Swedish organization also includes a foreign organization that has a branch or place of business in Sweden, please note that the costs of the grant recipient must be attributable to activities of the branch or place of business in order to be eligible for support. Actors without a branch or place of business in Sweden are welcome to participate in the projects, but cannot receive funding from Vinnova.

Activities for which funding can be applied for

The types of project activities that are approved must be covered by the support base Feasibility studies. A feasibility study is an evaluation and analysis of the potential of a planned project. The study aims to support the decision-making process by objectively and rationally showing the project's strong and weak sides, as well as opportunities and risks. The study must also identify the resources required to implement, and what is required for the project to be successful.

The project duration may be a maximum of 12 months.

Here you will find information on support bases and support levels for funding

Eligible costs

We can only funding costs like:

• Occurs with the project party.
• Only belongs to the project and arises during the project period.
• Has been reported correctly and separated from other costs in the accounting.
• Is in accordance with the applicant organization's internal guidelines, for example the organization's travel policy for environmental and climate impact.

You will find more about which types of costs are eligible for support and which eligibility requirements apply in our General terms and conditions for funding, and in our Instructions for term on eligible costs.

The grant can amount to a maximum of 80 percent of the project's total eligible costs and the grant can amount to a maximum of SEK 1 million per project.

Please note that the maximum grant share per project is not the same as the maximum support level per participant.

The following applies per participant:

• Funding for those who carry out economic activities is covered by rules on government support. Read more about government support on our website
• Funding in this call for proposals is given to feasibility studies. Funding to companies on this basis for support can be given with a maximum of 50-70 percent of the eligible costs, depending on the size of the company. Funding can also in some cases be granted as so-called de minimis support, i.e. as support of minor importance (de minimis support) according to Regulation (EU) No. 1407/20. Such funding can be provided with up to 100 percent of the eligible costs. To be granted de minimis support, you must submit a certificate of support of minor importance as an attachment to proposal.
• For parties that do not carry out economic activities, for example universities or research institutes, so-called "non-government support" will be granted with up to 100 percent of the organization's eligible costs.

Read more about support bases and which maximum support levels apply in the document Support bases and support levels etc. for funding 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 government support.

The call's total budget amounts to SEK 10 million.

Conditions for us to assess proposal

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

• The project parties are legal entities.
• All project parties must be listed in Vinnova's e-services, where budgets must appear for all project parties. It is not enough to indicate project parties in the project description.
• The constellation of actors in a feasibility study must at the time of application consist of at least two project parties, of which at least one party. must be a company.
• The project manager is employed by one of the project parties.
• Proposal is written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal must strictly follow the instructions that follow from section 9.
• Certificate of support of minor importance must be attached to proposal for parties seeking de-minimis support.

Please note: If these eligibility requirements are not met, proposal will be rejected with reference to formal eligibility requirements not being met. No other justification will be given.

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 achieve a certain spread of approved project when it comes to technology and application areas as well as different solutions.

Potential

That is, the importance of the results and effects if the project is successful.

To what extent do the expected project results contribute to the results of the call for proposals:

• In what way does the project provide clear funding for knowledge of obstacles and opportunities to contribute to a more sustainable development in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and medical technology products.
• In what way does the project present and argue that the proposal is an innovative solution with potential to strengthen sustainable manufacturing.
• In what way does the project present a credible plan for how the project results are to be taken forward and switched up.
• In what way does the project lead to increased collaboration between actors within value chains and between value chains nationally or internationally in order to create and achieve common goals.

In what way does the project address and argue for a solution with potential to be cross-industry in addition to sustainably developing and manufacturing pharmaceuticals and medical technology products.

The project's potential to contribute to increased gender equality. The assessment is based on the applicant's answer to the mandatory question under the heading "Gender and/or gender perspective" in proposal.

Actors

That is, how the collaboration between participating project parties and other actors has been organized to implement the project and reach the project's performance goals.

• Composition, competence and commitment of the constellation of actors in relation to project goals and implementation.
• How present and involved relevant need owners will be in the project.
• The project manager's ability and commitment to lead the project.
• How well the project team is composed with respect to gender distribution, including the distribution of power and influence between women and men.

Feasibility

That is, how the project has been designed to reach its performance goals.

• The reliability and appropriateness of the project plan and budget.
• Approach to organizing and involving project parties and relevant actors as well as users, customers or demanders.
• The project's openness and the possibilities for actors outside the project consortium to be able to follow the project's development and take part in the work and results.
• How well equality aspects have been integrated into the project plan.

How do we judge?

The applications are assessed by specially appointed evaluator, appointed by Vinnova, who make a recommendation to Vinnova who then makes a decision on funding. The assessment takes place in competition between received applications.

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 Apply button further down the page.

There you also upload the following attachments:

• A project description according to the mandatory template that can be downloaded from the call's website, maximum 10 pages.
• CV for the project manager and other key people in the project according to the mandatory CV template that can be downloaded from the call's website, maximum 1 page per person.
• Certificate of de-minimis if such funding is sought.

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 completely unlock proposal and make changes at any time, right up until the last application date.

Please mark proposal well in advance 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.

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