Collaboration on commercial applications with graphene (autumn 2023)

A call for proposals within the strategic innovation program SIO Grafen.

SIO Grafen 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.

SIO Grafen wants to take the materials of the future from the lab to industry. Together we make it happen.

In SIO Grafen's vision, Sweden is one of the world's top ten countries in developing and using graphene and other 2D materials industrially. Let's make the vision a reality.

With this the call for proposals we want to accelerate Swedish innovation in graphene and other 2D materials through collaborative projects that develop and establish new value chains for graphene, strengthen collaboration and stimulate Swedish manufacturing of graphene and other 2D materials.

Read more about the program and about the nearly 200 project that have been approved so far at siografen.se

Take the materials of the future from the lab to industry.

I SIO Grafens's vision is that Sweden is one of the world's top ten countries in developing and using 2D materials industrially. The projects within SIO Grafen are what enable us to achieve the vision together.

The starting point for project is an industrial need with an identified solution where graphene or another 2D material provides a clear advantage. The projects will develop and establish new value chains, strengthen collaboration, stimulate Swedish manufacturing of 2D materials and contribute to achieving the goals for sustainable development.

It is important that the projects create new knowledge. In proposal, we therefore want you to describe the "state-of-the-art" with today's news, technology and research situation on 1 to 2 pages, as well as your project's funding to advance the front of knowledge.

All project in the call for proposals must contribute to SIO Grafen's vision and effect logic, see appendix 1.

The call for proposals should contribute to making more results freely available to everyone and scientific publication should take place with open access.

Funding for Agenda 2030

SIO Grafen wants to get more people to work together to develop their innovative capacity and create new solutions that contribute to the goals for sustainable development in Agenda 2030.

The projects within SIO Grafen contribute to the work to achieve the goals for sustainable development in Agenda 2030. Examples of funding from project within SIO Grafen are improved resource efficiency by extending the life of products, increased energy efficiency through better batteries and fighting infectious diseases by creating antibacterial surfaces. In proposal, you must describe how your project will contribute to achieving the goals in Agenda 2030, which will be evaluated in the assessment process.

Read more about how Vinnova contributes to the goals of Agenda 2030

The projects are expected to contribute to an egalitarian development of society through the fact that both women and men share in the grant equally, have influence over the project and participate actively in its implementation. The project that are financed within the framework of this the call for proposals must prepare for that perspective to be integrated into future work.

Read more about what Vinnova's work for equal innovation means for you who are looking for funding from us

Another aspect involves analyzing and deciding whether there are gender or gender aspects that are relevant within the solution's problem area and utility. This question is mandatory for all applicant and can be found under the heading " Project tasks" in proposal. In this call for proposals the question is not the basis for assessment.

In connection with SIO Grafen's call for proposals in the fall of 2020, the webinar "How to create an equal project" was held.

project”" href="https://www.gotostage.com/channel/siografen" rel="noopener">Se webbinariet via länken

The call for proposals is aimed at companies, research institutes, universities and university colleges or other legal entities that want to jointly develop graphene and other 2D materials for industrial applications.

Eligibility requirements on the number and type of parties in the project group depend on the selected project form:

• Feasibility study: at least two parties, of which at least one is a company.
• Innovation project: at least three parties, of which at least two companies.
• Demonstrator project: at least three parties, of which at least two companies.

For all project forms, at least one Swedish company must be part of the project group. "Swedish" company means a Swedish-registered limited company or a foreign company that has 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.

Organizations that do not have a branch or place of business in Sweden can participate in project where they form an important part of the project's value chain. In proposal, justify how the organization contributes to developing a value chain that benefits Swedish industry and competitiveness. Participation in the project is on the same term as for other parties, with the exception that you cannot get funding from Vinnova for your costs.

However, the organization's work is included in the project's total budget in the same way as for other project parties, which means that they participate and finance the at least 50 percent of the project's total eligible costs that are not financed by Vinnova.

Activities for which funding can be applied for

The types of project activities that can be funding in this call for proposals must be included in one of the support bases:

• Feasibility studies (Feasibility study)
• Industrial research (Innovation project)
• Experimental Development (Demonstrator Project)

SIO Grafen works with all types of 2D materials, not just graphene. When we write graph in the call text, all other types of 2D materials are also covered according to the definition in Appendix 2.

The project must connect to one of SIO Grafen's areas of strength:

• Biotechnology
• Electronics
• Energy
• Composite
• Manufacturing
• Surface coating

The project will develop applications of graphene and other 2D materials that the companies in the project group demand.

The applications must be based on the development of graphene or other 2D materials to improve material properties or functions:

• With graphene or other 2D materials.
• In a composite material with graphene or other 2D material.
• In the manufacturing process.
• In features of product or application.

SIO Grafen does not finance project proposals based on using or integrating an already fully developed graphene product into an application.

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 subsidies.

Basic prerequisites for a cost to be eligible for support are that it must:

• Carried by the applicant organization.
• Be attributable to the project.
• Have arisen during the project period.
• Be established in accordance with the applicant's usual accounting principles and good accounting practice.
• Be in accordance with the applicant's internal policy and guideline.

Accounting for the project costs must be separated from the applicant's other transactions in the accounting.

Please note that depending on which activities are included in the current project, different support bases may be relevant. Maximum aid intensity per party can therefore vary.

Read more about government support on Vinnova's website

Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding and a guide to the conditions for eligible costs

SIO Grafen is planning a call for proposals in 2024. After 2024, there are no calls for proposals planned.

You can search for three different types of project:

• Feasibility study
• Innovation project
• Demonstrator project

The project forms support different phases in the development of an idea towards a finished product, and therefore have different eligibility requirements in terms of technology maturity, budget framework and longest time for implementation.

Description of figure 1 below:
It shows how the different project forms relate to the TRL scale. "Technology Readiness Level”, TRL, is a method to show the degree of maturity of a technology.

Feasibility study

To apply for a feasibility study, you need:

• An industrial need.
• An idea for an innovative solution that meets the industrial need with material development linked to graphene or other 2D materials. See definition in Appendix 2.
• A need to clarify technical, market or intellectual property conditions.
• At least two parties, of which at least one is a Swedish company.
• A company in the project group that intends to implement the project's results in future activities.

Activities in the project can be, for example:

• To do an in-depth literature study.
• Doing experimental or theoretical studies to verify the idea.
• To investigate market potential or patent landscape.
• To evaluate the need for reinforcement in the value chain for future activities.

Expected results:

• The project's technology maturity has been raised to at least TRL 2.
• You know whether the concept has technical and market potential to be further developed, for example in a new project application.
• You know which issues need to be resolved.
• You have a first idea of how the results can be implemented.
• You know which actors are needed to develop the value chain in a new project.

Maximum funding is SEK 300,000.
Maximum project time is 9 months.

Innovation project

To apply for an innovation project, you need:

• An industrial need.
• An innovative solution of at least TRL 2 that meets the industrial need with graphene or other 2D material. See definition in Appendix 2.
• Identified knowledge gaps that require material development, concept development and testing before the concept can proceed towards commercialization.
• At least three parties along a value chain, of which at least two are companies.
• At least one Swedish company must be part of the project group.
• A company in the project group that intends to implement the project's results in future activities.

Activities in the project can be, for example:

• To develop and characterize materials.
• To simulate and to validate the simulation.
• To develop concepts for testing in a lab environment.
• To develop manufacturing processes.
• To validate the concept in a lab environment.

Expected results:

• The project has raised the TRL level at least one step.
• You know what functionality and industrial potential your concept has.
• You have created knowledge beyond the existing "state-of-the-art" about graphene or
  other 2D materials and their applications.
• You have a plan for how the results can be implemented.
• You know if new actors are needed to strengthen the value chain.

Maximum funding is SEK 1,500,000.
Maximum project time is 18 months.

Demonstrator project

To apply for a demonstrator project, you need:

• An industrially relevant concept that is at least TRL 3. The concept must be based on graphene or some other 2D material. See definition in Appendix 2.
• At least three parties along a value chain, of which at least two are companies.
• At least one Swedish company must be part of the project group.
• A company in the project group that intends to implement the project's results in future activities.

Activities in the project can be, for example:

• To produce a physical prototype.
• To validate in a lab environment or simulated environment.
• To demonstrate in simulated environment or real environment.
• To develop new concepts for manufacturing and scale-up processes.

Expected results:

• The project has raised the TRL level at least two steps.
• You have validated your concept in a relevant environment, i.e. reached at least TRL 5.
• You have produced a physical demonstrator.
• You have created knowledge beyond the existing "state-of-the-art" about graphene or other 2D materials and their applications.
• You know how the results should be implemented and communicated.
• You have the value chain in place.

Maximum funding is SEK 3,000,000.
Maximum project time is 30 months.

The call's budget is expected to be SEK 10 million.

The requested amount may not exceed 50 percent of the project's total eligible costs. The remaining funding must come from the participating project parties' own funding.

Please note that the maximum support level per project is not the same as the maximum permitted support level per participant. The level of support for each participant is limited for companies by the rules for government support. See section 4.

Feasibility study
Maximum funding is SEK 300,000 per project.

Innovation project
Maximum funding is SEK 1,500,000 per project.

Demonstrator project
Maximum funding is SEK 3,000,000 per project.

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

• The project parties must be legal entities.
• Coordinator must be a Swedish-registered organization.
• Participant seeking funding must either be registered in Sweden or have a branch or place of business in Sweden.
• The project group must consist of at least one Swedish company.
• Proposal must contain and comply with all mandatory templates and appendices according to section 10.
• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
  
  

"Swedish" company means a Swedish-registered limited company or a foreign company that has 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. When research organizations participate in their non-economic activities, they are not counted as companies in this context.

For feasibility studies also apply:

• The project group must consist of at least two parties, of which at least one is a company.
  
  

For innovation projects and demonstrator projects also apply:

• The project group must consist of at least three parties, of which at least two companies.

The project proposal is assessed based on the following criteria:

Potential

• That the project is innovative and contributes to new knowledge beyond "state-of-the-art" as described in proposal.
• That development linked to graphene or other 2D material is included. See Appendix 2.
• That the project's objective contributes to SIO Grafens's vision that Sweden should be one of
  the world's top ten countries in developing and using 2D materials industrially. See Appendix 2.
• That the project's results are important for Swedish industry's competitiveness.
• That implementation of the project's results contributes positively to the global goals in Agenda 2030.
  
  

Actors

• That the composition, competence, ability and commitment of the project group is relevant to 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.
• That the project develops or strengthens the Swedish value chain for graphene and other 2D materials. See Appendix 2.
  
  

Feasibility

• That the selected project form matches the TRL level of the solution developed in the project.
• That the project plan's objective are clear and measurable and that the project plan's activities are described with realism, credibility and expediency in relation to the goals.
  
  

How does the assessment process work?

Proposal is assessed in competition with other received applications. The assessment is based on the electronic proposal submitted to Vinnova via Vinnova's eservices portal. See section 10.

Proposal is assessed by specially appointed evaluator appointed by Vinnova who give a recommendation to Vinnova.

Vinnova makes decisions about funding based on the recommendation from the appointed the evaluators and taking into account any opinion regarding the program portfolio of the strategic innovation program SIO Grafen.

How much each party in the project is granted in funding is shown in the decision. Funding can be granted with support of Article 25 of the EU Commission Regulation No. 651/2014. Funding can also be given according to regulation 2009:1101 with instruction for the Agency for innovation system. The basis for support appears in the decision and also governs which costs are eligible for support.

Vinnova's decision to grant or reject a proposal cannot be appealed.

Term for granted funding

For granted funding, Vinnova's general terms and conditions apply for funding. The terms contain, among other things, rules about project agreements, conditions for payment, follow-up, reporting and utilization of results. Scientific publication must take place with open access in accordance with Vinnova's instructions. Instructions for open access to scientific publications

Here you will find the current term

As the call for proposals takes place within the framework of strategic innovation programs, the following special conditions also apply:

• During the duration of the project, the project must be represented by at least one participant at Swedish Graphene Forum, which is organized within SIO Grafen every year.
• In information about the project and in every publication of project results, it must be stated that the work was carried out within the strategic innovation program SIO Grafen, a joint effort by Vinnova, Formas and the Energy Agency.

The following also applies to the relationship between the project and the program:

• At the same time as proposal is sent to Vinnova, the project summary attachment must also be sent to SIO Grafen to e-mail: info@siografen.se
• At the start of the project, the Project Summary will be published on:
  siografen.se
• The projects must assist the program office SIO Grafen with examples of applications and good examples that can be disseminated openly without any restrictions.
• After the end of the project, the public final report that the project sends to Vinnova and that is published in Vinnova's project database will replace the project summary that was published at the start of the project on siografen.se.

Project summaries at the start of the project and at the end of the project must be able to be distributed and published freely and must not contain confidential or otherwise sensitive information.

Supplementary special conditions can be decided for individual project.

If you do not comply with Vinnova's term, you may be liable for repayment. This also applies if you have been granted funding incorrectly or with too high an amount.

See current term on Vinnova's website

Appendix 1 – SIO Grafens's vision and effect logic

SIO Grafen's vision is for Sweden to become one of the world's top ten countries in developing and using graphene to ensure industrial leadership in 2030.

Appendix 2 – Definition of graphene and other 2D materials

In this call for proposals graphene and other 2D materials are defined as:

• Monolayer Graphene
• Few-layer graphene (FLG), i.e. material dominated by 2–10 atomic layers of graphitic carbon in a two-dimensional structure (sp2-hybridized).
• Graphene oxide, GO, or reduced graphene oxide, rGO, (the content is dominated by 1–10 atomic layers).
• 2D materials (content dominated by 1–10 atomic layers) based on atomic types other than carbon such as MoS2, WSe2, BN and so on.
• Functionalized material based on any of the above four categories.

However, graphite (more than 10 atomic layers of carbon), carbon nanotubes and other similar structures are not included, nor are surface coatings with diamond-like carbon (DLC).

You are welcome to contact the SIO Grafens program office if you have questions about graphene or other 2D materials to: info@siografen.se