Traffic-safe automation - FFI - spring 2024

A call for proposals within the program Vehicle strategic research and innovation

Vehicle strategic research and innovation (FFI) is a collaboration between the state and the automotive industry to jointly finance research, innovation and development activities with a focus on making Sweden a leader in the global transition to sustainable road transport. FFI finances research and development activities for approximately one billion kroner per year, of which the government funding is 420 million kroner.

Delprogrammet Trafiksäker automation supports research and development activities that contribute to increasing traffic safety and making road transport more sustainable through safe connected automated vehicles prepared for shared use. The projects will also contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the Swedish automotive industry.

Erbjudandet Trafiksäker automation finances project that touch on some of the sub-programme's four focus areas:

• Secure automated vehicles.
• Safety for road users inside and outside the vehicle.
• Integration of vehicles and infrastructure for safe transport solutions.
• Enabling methods and techniques with clear application for the development and commissioning of secure automation.

In this the call for proposals we especially welcome feasibility studies that will lead to full-scale project that address at least three of the below system dimensions and where system dimension point 1 is mandatory. The feasibility studies will address societal challenges for sustainable transportation within Traffic Safe Automation's focus areas.

1. Technology, products and processes.
2. Business models, investments and procurement.
3. Policy and regulations.
4. Behavior and culture.
5. Infrastructure.

Approved preliminary studies will, in connection with the conclusion of the preliminary study, be called to a workshop together with the program council to discuss possible collaborations and synergies as well as direction for the full-scale projects. Please note that the full-scale projects must apply according to the regular routine in future calls for proposals.

For complete information on the content of the subprogramme, refer to FFI's roadmap, which you should read before writing your proposal

Project financed in this call for proposals:

• Feasibility studies that will lead to full-scale project that address at least three of the above system dimensions, maximum project duration of 6 months, and requested funds of a maximum of SEK 500,000. Observera Ange the word "System perspective" in the title of the project so that proposal is separated from ordinary feasibility studies.
• Pre-studies and smaller studies with project length of 6–9 months, as well as requested funds of a maximum of SEK 500,000.
• Full-scale project with project duration of a maximum of 4 years.

Vinnova intends to grant funding of a maximum of 50 percent for the sub-programme. Each individual project must have at least 25 percent business financing. The total grant budget for the call for proposals is approximately SEK 45 million.

For all project, an actor constellation consisting of at least two parties is required.

FFI's mission is to drive road transport innovations for a sustainable society. The program has a roadmap that sets the direction towards 2030. The long-term vision is that Sweden leads the global transition to sustainable road transport. Three impact goals and five sub-programmes guide the work. In proposal, it must be clearly stated that the project's objective contributes to the program's impact goals, the sub-programme's section in FFI's roadmap and the section "Important aspects for all sub-programmes".

With the Traffic Safe Automation sub-programme, FFI wants to find concrete innovative solutions that make traffic safety a driving force for automation. By supporting this technology and knowledge building, FFI also wants to create the conditions for Swedish industry and academia to achieve world class in the field.

For the full content of the subprogramme, refer to FFI's roadmap

We see a clear need for a broader system perspective where traditional and new actors need to collaborate, test and drive development in order to increase the pace of innovation. In addition to new technology, changes to regulations, infrastructure, business models and behaviors are required. The concept of innovation includes both process, product and organizational innovations. An 'innovation' is thus the implementation of a new or significantly improved product such as a good or service, or process, a new marketing method or a new organizational method in business practices, workplace organization or external relations.

Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and community development, and our efforts are aimed at achieving the Agenda 2030 goals. Climate and gender equality are singled out for special consideration, and Vinnova follows up and assesses whether both women and men equally share in the contribution, participate in and have influence over the project, as well as gender or gender aspects that are relevant.

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

Results from research and innovation that are made freely available increase the opportunity for more people to contribute to solutions to societal challenges. The call for proposals should contribute to making more results freely available to everyone and scientific publication should take place with open access.

This the offer addressed to all groups of actors, who together intend to develop innovative solutions that increase road safety and make transportation more sustainable through secure connected automated vehicles prepared for sharing.

Foreign actors may be relevant and possibly necessary to include as project partners in the project. If these actors do not have a branch or place of business in Sweden, they cannot receive support from Vinnova in this call for proposals.

Activities for which funding can be applied for

This offer finances research and development activities, the aim of which is to contribute to one or more of the above-mentioned focus areas within Traffic Safe Automation.

Eligible costs

Our 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.

Read more about government support on our website

For a cost to be eligible for support, it must be actual, auditable and incurred within the project period. Accounting for project costs must be distinguishable from the company's other transactions. This also applies to any parties who are not beneficiary.

Which costs are eligible for support can be found in the Instructions for eligible costs

Please note the following special conditions for FFI regarding:

Personnel and salary costs: may amount to a maximum of SEK 950 per hour including indirect costs of a maximum of 30 percent.

How much funding a participant can be granted depends, among other things, on the size of the organization. The document table of support levels for government support clarifies what applies to various large organizations that carry out economic activities.

On this page is the table for support levels

Each participant is responsible for ensuring that funding received does not exceed the aid intensity permitted according to the rules for state support. Please note that the maximum grant share per project is not the same as the maximum permitted support level per participant.

The following conditions apply to the call for proposals:

• Vinnova intends to grant funding of a maximum of 50 percent for the sub-programme. Each individual project must have at least 25 percent business financing.
• All costs in the budget must meet Vinnova's eligibility requirements at eligible costs. See section 4 for more information.
• Vinnova does not finance companies that are in financial difficulties.

Conditions for us to assess proposal

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

• Beneficiary are legal entities with a Swedish corporate identity number. 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 establishment's activities.
• The project has not started before proposal is submitted.
• Proposal is written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal contains only the mandatory appendices, except for the applications based on previously funded project where a preliminary report on goal fulfillment can be submitted. See further in the project description template and section 9.
• All mandatory appendices follow the structure found in the respective template. Note a maximum of 15 pages for project description.
• Applications must be received no later than at 14:00 on the last application day via Vinnovas Intressentportal.
• For all project, an actor constellation consisting of at least two parties is required.

When the application period has expired, completion of proposal can only take place at the request of Vinnova.

What do we assess?

The project proposal must be in line with aim and vision for FFI's roadmap and for the Traffic Safe Automation sub-programme. The applications will be assessed based on the main criteria potential, implementation, gender equality and actors, see below.

The scale 1–5 is used for grading:

1. = Insufficient
2. = Weak
3. = Good
4. = Very good
5. = Excellent.

Criteria for full-scale project

Potential (weighted 40 percent)

• The project's potential to contribute to FFI's overall impact goalsthrough relevant issues and innovation level:
  - FFI has demonstrated solutions that make society's road transport fossil-free, safe, equal and efficient.
  - FFI has developed sustainable solutions that have been implemented and accepted by users and society.
  - Through innovation, partnership and collaboration, FFI has contributed to developing competence, infrastructure, policy, regulations and business models within the road transport system.
• The project's potential to contribute to the sub-programme's mission as described in FFI's roadmap. If the project concerns a mature area: The project's potential to lead to major potential improvements in line with the vision in FFI's roadmap.
• The project's potential to develop nationally and internationally connected research and innovation environments.

Implementation (weighted 30 percent)

• The project has a well-thought-out strategy for realizing the potential and for the dissemination and utilization of results.
• The project takes its starting point from a solid monitoring of the surrounding world and a state-of-the-art description.
• Expediency of the project plan:
  - Reasonable project time and budget for the problems to be solved.
  - Adequate project plan with activities, work packages, milestones, distribution of responsibility, specific project goals and plans for how goal fulfillment is to be measured.

Gender equality (weighted 15 percent)

• Assessment of equality aspects such as gender or gender perspectives that may be important to take into account linked to the project's problem area, solutions and effects.
• The composition of the team regarding gender distribution, as well as the distribution of power and influence between men and women.
• Assessment of how well equality aspects have been integrated into the project plan.

Actors (weighted 15 percent)

• Assessment of whether the right organizations and need owners are involved to the right extent and at the right time to realize the project's potential.
• The project participants' ability to carry out the project and achieve the project goals with regard to the composition of the project group and the competence and resources of the actors.
• Assessment of whether there is a clear collaboration between the project's parties.
  

Criteria for preliminary studies and minor studies

Potential (weighted 50 percent)

• The project's potential to contribute to the sub-programme's mission as described in FFI's roadmap.

Implementation (weighted 30 percent)

• The project's positioning in relation to the state of knowledge nationally and internationally.
• The effectiveness of the project plan in terms of a reasonable project time and budget for the work to be carried out.

Gender equality (weighted 10 percent)

• Assessment of equality aspects such as gender or gender perspectives that may be important to take into account linked to the project's problem area, solutions and effects.
• The composition of the team regarding gender distribution, as well as the distribution of power and influence between men and women.
• Assessment of how well equality aspects have been integrated into the project plan.

Actors (weighted 10 percent)

• Assessment of whether the right organizations and need owners are involved to the right extent and at the right time to realize the project's potential.

How do we judge?

Proposal is assessed in competition with other received applications. The evaluation of proposal is based on the electronic proposal submitted to Vinnova and is handled in the sub-programme applied for.

The decision process and handling of the applications is the same for all sub-programmes and looks as follows:

1. Proposal are submitted via Vinnovas Intressentportal.
2. The applications that meet the formal requirements are assessed by independent experts from relevant areas and industries based on specified assessment criteria. The evaluators are appointed by Vinnova and work under confidentiality and confidentiality.
3. If clarification is needed, the project manager is contacted for additional and simpler questions digitally or by telephone in connection with the review meeting.
4. The independent the evaluators give a balanced judgment and recommendation on rejection or approval, which is then processed by the program council in the respective sub-programme within FFI. The program council consists of representatives from the contracting parties within the FFI program such as Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency, the Swedish Transport Administration, AB Volvo, Volvo Personvagnar, Scania and FKG. The program council also includes a representative from Bil Sweden, but without voting rights. If necessary, Vinnova requests written supplements
5. The Program Council assesses the relevance of the application from a strategic perspective in relation to the current roadmap and submits a recommendation to the responsible public authority. The Program Council's recommendation is based on the content of proposal, a written judgment from the evaluators and any additions and comments from FFI's office.
6. In case of disagreement, the matter is passed on to FFI's board of directors for assessment.
7. The decision to grant or reject the project application is made by Vinnova. The Swedish Transport Administration's decision is enforced by Vinnova.

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 description according to template for preliminary studies and smaller studies, alternatively full-scale project.
• CV attachment containing relevant CVs for project manager and all key personnel, according to the template.

For the project description:applies

• For pre-studies and smaller studies: Maximum 5 pages with 11-point font size excluding cover page, summary, and table of contents.
• For full-scale project: Maximum 15 pages in 11-point font size excluding cover page, summary and table of contents.

Here are templates for the attachments

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

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.

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, completion of proposal can only take place upon request from us.