Circularity - FFI - spring 2025

The Swedish Automotive Strategic research and Innovation Fund (FFI) is a collaboration between the government 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 kronor per year, of which the government funding constitutes 420 million kronor.

This the offer funds project that address the Circularity sub-programme. The aim is to support research and development activities that contribute to minimizing the climate and environmental impact of vehicle production, operation and decommissioning. The offer covers the entire life cycle of the vehicle: from idea, design and manufacturing to recycling and decommissioning, including its components.

Project should be of the character:

• Pre-studies and smaller studies with a project duration of 6–9 months, and requested funds of a maximum of SEK 500,000.
• Full-scale project with a maximum project duration of 4 years.
• Vinnova intends to grant funding of a maximum of 50 percent for the program as a whole. Each individual project must have at least 25 percent business funding.
• The total grant budget for the call for proposals is approximately SEK 40 million.
• All project require a constellation of actors consisting of at least two parties.

FFI's mission is to drive road transport research and innovations for a sustainable society. The program has a roadmap that sets the direction towards 2030. The long-term vision is for Sweden to lead the global transition to sustainable road transport.

Three objectives guide the work:

1. FFI demonstrates solutions that make society's road transport fossil-free, safe, equitable and efficient.
2. FFI develops sustainable solutions that are implemented and accepted by users and society.
3. FFI contributes, through innovation, partnership and collaboration, to developing expertise, infrastructure, new technology, regulations and business models within the road transport system.

With the Circularity sub-programme, FFI wants to contribute to increasing expertise in, and finding concrete solutions to, challenges linked to circularity. These challenges include climate and energy, changing product and system requirements, and regulations and standards.

Read more about circularity here

Funded project should address one of the following focus areas:

The Product - Design for circularity and reduced environmental impact
Future product development will enable circular flows to achieve maximum use of the resources involved throughout the value chain. This can be achieved through, among other things, new methods and processes for modularization, traceability, remanufacturing and upgrading.

Human - Competence, cognitive and physical support, work environment and safety
The role of people needs to be strengthened, by focusing on skills, cognitive support, physical support, work environment and safety. These tools are important for resource-efficient and circular products, processes and business models. Work throughout the value chain should be attractive and sustainable.

The production system - Climate-neutral manufacturing, maintenance and decommissioning
The production system needs to become more circular, for example through smart operation and maintenance and production and logistics systems that promote circularity. Circularity in the automotive industry requires a development towards robust and sustainable value chains and ecosystems.

For the full content of the sub-programme, see FFI's roadmap

Contribute to a sustainable system transformation

Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and system transformation. To implement sustainable system transformation, we have chosen to base ourselves on the UN's global sustainability goals, defined in the 2030 Agenda. 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:

• whether women and men participate in the project on an equal footing, benefit from the contribution and have influence and power over the project
• how well the project analyzes and decides whether there are sex or gender aspects that are relevant to the project's problem formulation, solutions and effects
• how well the project contributes to the climate transition with a focus on increased circularity.

Gender-equal innovation – what it means for those seeking funding from us

Agenda 2030 as a driver for innovation

Making scientific publications and results available

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

This the offer is aimed at different groups of actors, who together intend to develop innovative solutions that help minimize the climate and environmental impact from the production and disposal of vehicles.

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 establishment in Sweden, they cannot receive support from Vinnova in this call for proposals.

This offer finances research and development activities, aim of which is to contribute to one or more of the focus areas within Circularity mentioned in section 2.

Activities for which funding can be applied for

Examples of activities for which funding can be sought include developing, testing and evaluating solutions and preparing for implementation and utilization.

The types of project activities that are approved within the framework of this call for proposals must be covered by one of the funding bases: Feasibility Study, Industrial research or Experimental Development, see below.

The development and innovation project will aim to develop and validate technology, methods, processes and business models. But also the conditions and strategy for dissemination, scaling up and utilization of the project's results.

What costs can we finance?

Our funding is subject to state aid rules. The rules govern what types 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 licensed from a third party. Costs for consulting services from third parties may not exceed 20 percent of a project party's budget.
• Other direct costs: For example, materials, supplies 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, such as regular premises and cleaning.
  Indirect costs may constitute a maximum of 30 percent of personnel costs. Universities, university colleges, and certain research organizations and government agencies have higher maximum limits depending on the type of activities.

For more detailed information about 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 in the project. Project costs must also be correctly accounted for and reported separately from the organization's other costs. The different types of costs for the project must also be reported separately. An organization may also not claim someone else's costs as its own.

For more detailed information about which eligibility requirements, limitations and exceptions apply, see our Instructions for eligible costs.

The state aid rules also govern how much of the costs we can finance. This is determined individually for each organization. We therefore differentiate between how much funding the project can receive, and how much each participant can receive.

How much funding can the project receive?

Vinnova intends to grant funding of a maximum of 50 percent for the sub-programme as a whole. Each individual project must have at least 25 percent business funding. The maximum amount for preliminary studies and smaller studies is SEK 500,000. The total budget for the call for proposals is approximately SEK 40 million.

How much funding can a participant receive?

How much funding each participant can receive depends mainly on:

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

In this the call for proposals we provide support with one of the support bases Feasibility study, Industrial research or Experimental development. A brief description of these support bases can be found in Vinnova's tables of support levels for state aid according to GBER.

Industrial research can be simply described as seeking new knowledge through planned research or critical analysis to develop or significantly improve products, processes or services. For a full definition, see Funding bases and levels for funding

Experimental development can be simply described as combining, shaping and using existing knowledge to develop new or improved products, processes or services. For a full definition, see funding bases and levels

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 carry out the project
• how likely it is that the project will succeed.

For a complete definition, see funding bases and levels

The proportion of the costs we can finance – that is, the maximum level of support – depends on the size of the organization and type of activity.

*Actual collaboration means some level of collaboration between small and larger companies, between companies in two different European countries or between research organisations and companies.

*Dissemination of results means widespread dissemination through, for example, conferences or open databases.

For full information on these bonus bases, see funding Bases and Support Levels

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

In this the call for proposals we also provide support to organisations that do not engage in economic activities. This means that they do not offer a service or product on a market. This usually includes universities and university colleges, research institutes and other organisations.

We can finance up to 100 percent of such an organization's costs.

How do you determine whether an organization is engaged in 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 has. For example, 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 is conducting economic activities, contact call manager. However, the organization is responsible for assessing whether it is conducting 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 will be rejected immediately.

Eligibility requirements on organizational form of project parties

• All project partners must be legal entities. Natural persons or individual companies cannot participate as project partners.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden. In this respect, a Swedish legal entity is considered to be a foreign organization that has a branch or establishment in Sweden. The costs in the project must be attributable to activities of the branch or establishment.

Eligibility requirements for the project

• The project manager must be employed by the coordinating party in the project.
• The project may not begin before proposal is submitted.
• The constellation of actors consists of at least two parties.
• Costs for external consulting services may not exceed 20 percent of a project party's budget. All consulting services used in the project must be justified.
• Each individual project must have at least 25 percent business financing.
• Proposal is written in Swedish or English.

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.
• Applications must be submitted no later than 2:00 p.m. on the last day of application via Vinnova's e-services.
• Only those attachments that are mandatory may be attached to proposal. Templates according to section 9 have been used for the attachments. All mandatory attachments follow the structure found in the respective template.
• All mandatory appendices follow the structure found in the respective template.

Once the application period has expired, proposal can only be supplemented at the request of Vinnova.

What do we assess?

The project proposal must be in line with FFI's objectives and the focus of the call. Applications will be assessed based on the main criteria potential, feasibility, gender equality and actors, see below.
Read more about FFI's Roadmap

Criteria for full-scale project

Potential (weighted 40 percent)

• The project's potential to contribute to FFI's overall objectives through relevant problem solving and level of innovation.
• The project's potential to contribute to the focus of the call.
• The project's potential to develop new innovative solutions, rather than incremental improvements to existing solutions.

Feasibility (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 is based on thorough monitoring of the world around us and a state-of-the-art description.
• The effectiveness of the project plan:
  - Reasonable project time and budget for the problems to be solved.
  - Adequate project plan with activities, work packages, milestones, division of responsibilities, specific project goals and plans for how goal achievement will be measured.

Gender equality (weighted 15 percent)

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

Actors (weighted 15 percent)

• Assessment of whether the right organizations and stakeholders are involved to the right extent and at the right time to realize the project's potential.
• The ability of the project participants to implement the project and achieve the project objectives with regard to the composition of the project team and the competence and resources of the actors.
• Assessment of whether there is clear collaboration between the project's parties.

Criteria for preliminary studies and smaller studies

Potential (weighted 50 percent)

• The project's potential to contribute to the focus of the call.

Feasibility (weighted 30 percent)

• The project's positioning in relation to the state of knowledge nationally and internationally.

• The appropriateness 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 sex or gender perspectives can be important to consider in connection with the project's problem area, solutions and effects.
• The composition of the team with regard to gender distribution, as well as the distribution of power and influence between men and women.
• Assessment of how well gender equality aspects have been integrated into the project plan.

Actors (weighted 10 percent)

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

How do we assess?

Applications that meet the formal requirements will be evaluated against the assessment criteria by specially appointed external independent evaluator, who are appointed by Vinnova. Proposal are assessed in competition with other submitted applications.

Read more about FFI's call process

We also assess financial status

Before deciding on funding we also conduct a comprehensive assessment of the organizational and financial status of those receiving funding. We use information we obtain 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, undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring. They must also not have unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• Limited liability companies must not have used up half or more of their share capital.
• If requested, SMEs must be able to demonstrate that they have the financial means to implement the project according to their budget in proposal. They cannot use public funding or their own funds intended for other project to cover project costs in this call for proposals.

Once we have assessed all applications, we will send you a decision either granting or rejecting your proposal. In the decision, we state how much funding each party in the project will be granted. Our decision cannot be appealed.

What happens if you are granted funding?

If we grant your proposal, you must follow our general terms and conditions for funding. The terms include, among other things:

• That you will sign a special document in which you agree to carry out the project.
• That you report your costs and results to us regularly during the project.
• That you, if you are multiple parties, 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

We may also decide to add supplementary special conditions for individual project. In such cases, they will be stated in the decision.

You also need to follow the special conditions that apply to this the call for proposals:

FFI special conditions 2025

For Vinnova's decisions within the Fordonsstrategisk Forskning and Innovation, FFI program, "Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding - 2024" apply, and special conditionsstated below. Additional special conditions may occur in individual project and are then stated in the decision. Instructions in program descriptions must also be taken into account.

1. Reporting and follow-up
   - Reporting and follow-up must be carried out in accordance with decisions, templates and special instructions available on FFI's website, www.ffisweden.se (under the templates and guidance tab).
   
   - The project must be represented at the seminars or program conferences that Vinnova and FFI will organize and convene specifically during the project period. Costs for participation in such a seminar/program conference are eligible for support. Upon request, the project coordinator must provide Vinnova and FFI with image and text material for project catalogs, annual reports, and the like.
2. Project agreement
   - In the event that the project concerns feasibility studies, the condition regarding project agreements in § 1.4 of the general terms and conditions is deleted.
   
   - Vinnova does not have templates for project agreements, but Vinnova provides a general guide to help. Previously developed templates by the business partners within FFI may also be interesting to take inspiration from. On the Vehicle Component Group website you will find more information and contact persons for any questions regarding agreements.
3. Statement that the project was funded by the FFI program
   The following replaces § 7.3 of the General Terms and Conditions:
   - When providing information about the project and when publishing project results, it must be stated that the work was carried out with support from the Fordonsstrategisk Forskning and Innovation programs, FFI.
4. Publication on the Swedish Knowledge Exchange
   - The coordinator must provide information on the project summary, project manager and actor constellation for publication on https://kunskapsformedlingen.se. Instructions and templates will be announced in close connection with the decision.

Could you have to pay back funding?

If you do not follow our term, you may be required to repay the amount. This also applies if you have been granted funding incorrectly or for an amount that is too high.

When the call for proposals closes, your proposal will be registered as. We will then send an email confirmation to the person responsible for the user account, the project manager and the signatory. If you have not received a confirmation within 24 hours of the call for proposals closing, please contact us.

Once the call for proposals is closed, you cannot change anything in proposal. You can only make additions if we ask you to.

Who can read your proposal?

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

Applications submitted to us become public documents. This means that we must disclose them if requested. However, we keep confidential information that we believe could cause financial harm to the individual if disclosed. This could include information about business and operational conditions, inventions or research results.

How we handle public documents and confidentiality