People-centred mobility stage 2

Do you want to be involved and contribute to designing the sustainable mobility system of the future based on people's experiences and needs? With this call for proposals we want to enable a deepening and application of behavioral science knowledge and research to solve challenges within the mobility system.

The purpose of the call for proposals is to apply knowledge about how people are affected psychologically and physiologically in different travel situations. This is to create a more sustainable mobility systems and contribute to mobility solutions that promote well-being and sustainable travel habits. Funded project must be able to be applied practically within the mobility system and must contribute to solutions being designed from a human perspective.

The call for proposals is aimed at cross-disciplinary actor constellations that combine knowledge of human behavior with knowledge of the design of the mobility system.

This call for proposals is a second step and refers to the further development of a concrete solution. This must be based on a previous analysis and concept development phase carried out within the framework of a previous call for proposals, Human-centred mobility – stage 1, or equivalent documentation.

Project may last for a maximum of 24 months and maximum requested amount is SEK 3 million in funding per project.

Vinnova's funding can amount to a maximum of 50 percent of the project's total eligible costs. The offer's total budget is approximately SEK 15 million.

This the offer is one of Vinnova's investments in the field of Sustainable Mobility.

With this call for proposals Vinnova wants to contribute to a mobility system that is more adapted to people. We can achieve this by financing project that combine research and knowledge in, for example, design, architecture, mobility, psychology and neuroscience. Knowledge of people's behavior and how we are affected psychologically and physiologically in different travel situations can then be used to develop methods, solutions and environments linked to mobility. It can, for example, concern the design of vehicles and types of traffic, public transport, bicycle lanes, infrastructure, stops and junctions, carpooling and sharing services.

This call for proposals is a second step. The result from the previous analysis and concept development phase, or the equivalent basis, shall form the basis for testing and developing solutions within the mobility system.

The basis that the funded project is expected to have is the following:

• Identified barriers, opportunities and needs based on people's experiences in the mobility context that the project addresses.
• One or more concepts or proposed solutions, based on the obstacles, opportunities and needs that have been identified.

By building on the results and knowledge from the analysis and concept development phase, innovative solutions must be developed. They must promote a more inclusive and accessible mobility system with people's health and well-being at the center.

In this second step, we want to offer an opportunity for actors to develop and test practical solutions. The aim is to increase the synergies between academia, business and society, through collaborative constellations that include more competencies. It should also increase the application of behavioral science knowledge and research in the field of mobility.

What the project is expected to perform

The project financed within the framework of the call for proposals are expected to deliver the following:

• Solutions, based on the obstacles, opportunities and prioritized needs that have been identified in the analysis and concept development phase.
• Testing and verification
• Plan for long-term impact measurement. Read more about Power measurement support

Focus on impact measurement and learning

Previous surveys and evaluations of our behavior-related efforts indicate that the measurement of effects is often deficient and that long-term effects are followed up too rarely. This means that important information is missing about which interventions are most effective in both the short and long term. In the call for proposals we want to place particular focus on measuring effects systematically and according to established methods.

Funded project must therefore present a project-specific impact logic that explains how it contributes to the call's resultsand impact goalsspecified below. However, these objective should not be seen as limiting, but can be supplemented with additional objective in the effect logic that are considered relevant to the project.

Expected performance targets

As part of the impact logic, the projects must present how they can contribute to one or more of the following of the call's performance objectives:

• New collaboration constellations in the development of mobility solutions. In this way, we can include more competencies and increase the application of behavioral science knowledge and research in the field of mobility.
• New innovations or solutions to the needs and challenges identified.

Impact goals as expected

As part of the impact logic, the projects must present how they can contribute to one or more of the following of the call's impact goals:

• Promote a mobility system that is more adapted to people's experiences, conditions and needs.
• Contribute to mobility solutions that promote well-being, sustainable travel habits and sustainable community development.
• Promote a robust, flexible and adaptable mobility system.

Contribute to a sustainable system transition

Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and system change. In order to carry out sustainable system change, we have chosen to start from the UN's global sustainability goals, defined in Agenda 2030. There, Vinnova prioritizes two perspectives: gender equality and climate change. All initiatives and project we finance are assessed based on how they contribute to these perspectives.

We therefore always follow up and assess:

• if women and men participate equally in the project, share in the contribution and have influence and power over the project.
• how well the project analyzes and takes a position on whether there are gender or gender aspects that are relevant to the project's problem formulation, solutions and effects.
• how well the project contributes to climate change with a focus on reducing negative impact on the environment and climate. This could be, for example, reducing the impact from emissions, minimizing unnecessary movement of people and goods, or reducing resource and energy consumption during production and use. Another aspect may be to improve people's health and well-being.

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

Agenda 2030 as a driving force for innovation

Make available scientific publications and results

When results from research and innovation are made freely available, more people can contribute to solving societal challenges. This the call for proposals will contribute to making results available to everyone. Therefore, all scientific publication must be open access.

This the call for proposals is aimed at cross-disciplinary teams consisting of competences in behavioral science and mobility. It could be, for example, psychology, social planning, neuroscience, transport planning, neuroaesthetics, neuroarchitecture, design, architecture, vehicle design or service design. Project with collaboration between researchers, practitioners or social actors are particularly encouraged.

The actor constellation must consist of at least two parties, of which at least one with behavioral science expertise and at least one needs owner. Behavioral science areas that can be considered relevant within the framework of the call for proposals are, for example, psychology, sociology, pedagogy, cognitive science or social anthropology.

The project parties can be, for example, small, medium or large companies, universities and university colleges, research institutes and regions or other public organisations. 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, but they may co-finance the project.

Project can consist of a number of different activities, but can for example include:

• Application of research and knowledge in the relevant field
• Development of methods for effect measurement and follow-up
• User surveys for testing and verification
• Development of concepts, solution proposals and tests
• Test and verification of solutions that have been tested internationally but not in Sweden

It is not possible to apply for funding for the following activities:

• Project that only involves a technical solution without clearly addressing a human and socially sustainable perspective
• Operational support such as funding of existing regular or ongoing activities
• Solutions to international challenges without a clear benefit for Sweden
• Research projects without a concrete solution that are intended to be tested and implemented in a real environment

What costs can we finance?

Our funding is covered by rules on state aid. The rules govern what kinds of costs we can finance. 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. If costs for consulting services exceed 20 percent of a project party's budget, this must be justified in proposal. The percentage of consulting costs and the justification are taken into account when your proposal is assessed.
• 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 Instructions for 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 Instructions for eligible costs.

The rules on state aid also govern what proportion of the costs we can finance. This is determined individually for each organization. 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?

Funding can amount to a maximum of 50 percent of the project's total eligible costs. The total budget for the investment is approximately SEK 15 million. The projects may last for a maximum of 24 months and the maximum requested amount is three million kroner in funding per project.

How much funding can a participant receive?

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

• which activities the party will carry out in the project
• party size and activities

In this the call for proposals we provide support for experimental development and industrial research.

What is industrial research?

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.

What is experimental development?

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

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

What percentage of the costs can we finance?

The organization's size and type of activity determine what percentage of the costs we can finance, i.e. the maximum level of support.

Bonus grounds

If the project is covered by one of these bonus bases, we can finance a higher percentage of the costs according to the table:

• Actual cooperation: Some level of cooperation between small and large companies, between companies in two different European countries or between research organizations and companies
• Dissemination of results: Extensive dissemination through, for example, conferences or open databases.
• Other bonus basis

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

We grant funding in accordance with Article 25 of the European Commission's General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).

In this the call for proposals we can also provide de minimis support, also called support of minor importance. We can finance up to 100 percent of a project party's costs.

An organization can receive a maximum of 300,000 euros over a three-year period in this form of support, regardless of funder and project. This means that if the same organization received support of less importance in other project from other funders before, it affects how big the support can be in this the call for proposals.

Submit a certificate of de-minimum support when you submit proposal. It is required for us to be able to grant this support.

Certificates of de minimis support can be found on this page

We grant funding in accordance with the EU Commission Regulation (2023/2831) on support of minor importance.

In this the call for proposals we also provide support to organizations that do not conduct economic activities. This means that they do not offer a service or product in a market. This usually includes universities and university colleges, research institutes and other organizations. We can finance up to 100 percent of the costs of such an organization.

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. For example, if it is a limited 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.

In order for us to take a position on and assess your proposal it must meet certain formal eligibility requirements. If the requirements are not met, proposal is rejected immediately.

Eligibility requirements on organizational form of project partners

• All project parties must be legal entities. We do not grant funding to individual companies.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden.

Eligibility requirements for the project

• The project manager must be employed by one of the project parties
• The project may not start before proposal is submitted
• The actor constellation must consist of at least two project parties, of which at least one has behavioral science expertise and at least one needs owner.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English
• Proposal must follow the instructions given in section 9
• Proposal must contain all requested attachments

Organizations with economic activities that seek funding under the regulation on support of minor importance must attach a correctly completed form for support of minor importance

What do we assess?

The project proposals must be in line with the call for proposals aim and objective and will be assessed based on the main criteria potential, actors, and implementation, see below.

Pote ntial

• The project's potential to contribute to the call's direction and aim, as well as achievements, results and effects.
• The project's potential to contribute to the emergence of new knowledge and the identification of potential skill gaps. But also that existing knowledge is implemented and utilized in a new context.
• How well the project is judged to contribute to increased gender equality.
• How well the project is judged to contribute to climate change with a focus on reducing negative impact on the environment and climate. This could be, for example, reducing the impact from emissions, minimizing unnecessary movement of people and goods, reducing resource and energy consumption during production and use. Another aspect may be to improve people's health and well-being.

Actors

• To what extent does the constellation of actors possess a project-relevant interdisciplinary competence in behavioral science and mobility.
• How well composed the project team is in terms of gender distribution. As well as how well power and influence is distributed between women and men in the project team.
• To what extent does the project group have access to relevant competence in sustainability.
• That the project is not more dependent than necessary on consulting services from external actors.

Feasibility

• The realism, credibility and expediency of the project plan and budget.
• Approach, organization and involvement of project parties and relevant actors.
• How well the results from the analysis and concept development phase are judged to be able to be further developed, implemented and tested in the project.
• How well gender equality has been integrated into the project plan.
• How well climate aspects have been integrated into the project plan.

How do we judge?

Proposal is assessed by Vinnova and specially appointed external evaluator, appointed by Vinnova. Proposal is assessed in competition with other received applications. The overall assessment results in a recommendation, based on which Vinnova makes a decision.

Vinnova reserves the right to apply a portfolio perspective when selecting applications that are granted.

We also assess financial status

Before we decide on funding, we also make an overall assessment of the organizational and financial status of those who receive funding. We use information we receive from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet.

In order for us to grant funding, this applies:

• Organizations seeking funding for personnel costs must be registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency
• Organizations must not be insolvent, undergo liquidation or corporate restructuring. They must also not have unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Agency.
• Limited companies must not have used up half or more of their share capital.

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 and conditions include this:

• That you must sign a special document in which you approve your participation and undertake to carry out the project.
• That you report how things are going, your costs and achieved results to us regularly during the project period.
• If you are several parties, you must agree on your mutual rights and obligations in the project in an agreement. It can take time to get a project agreement in place, so please start this before the project starts.
• How the results will be used and how scientific publication will take place.

See our general terms and conditions and get help understanding and fulfilling them

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 the call for proposals closes, proposal will be registered. Then we send an e-mail confirmation to the person responsible for the user account, the project manager and the company signatory. 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?

Your proposal will be read by employees at Vinnova and the external evaluator participating in this the call for proposals. Everyone works under confidentiality.

Applications submitted to us become public documents. This means that we must disclose them if they are requested. However, we keep confidential information that we believe could mean financial damage to the individual if 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