6G - Supervision of degree work

Vinnova wants to support degree theses that are relevant to the development of 6G. It is the company or research organization where the degree work is carried out that should submit a proposal. With the call for proposals we hope to increase Swedish expertise in the 6G area.

The goal is to finance 100 degree theses by 2026 with an equal distribution between women and men.

It is possible to apply for a maximum of SEK 100,000. The funds from the call for applications must be used for direct costs of completing the degree project, for example supervision. The level of support can be up to 100 percent if applicant provides a certificate of negligible support.

The focus of the degree project must be relevant to the 6G area, for example:

• Technology and network or infrastructure
  - Densification of cells
  - Sub-THz spectrum band
  - Satellite Network (NTN)
  - Spectrum sharing
  - Electronic components and systems
  - Connection and communication
  - Edge & Ubiquitous computing
  - Shared infrastructure
  - AI/ML-based networking and optimization
  - Platform for wireless services
  - Security for networks and services
• Standards, policies and regulations
• Ecosystems and economic models
• Applications and services

The above-mentioned technology areas have been identified as focus areas for the development of 6G.

See 6G Global Roadmap TaxonomyReport

Other areas that can be justified as being relevant for 6G are also welcome.

We will assess applications every two months until September 2025.

With this the call for proposals Vinnova wants to finance 100 degree theses by 2026. We want to see an even distribution between women and men. The call for proposals will provide support for supervision and implementation of degree theses with relevance to 6G, and increase Sweden's expertise in the area. It is the company or research organization where the degree theses are carried out that will apply for funds.

The Government has commissioned the Swedish Research Council and Vinnova to strengthen basic research, applied research and innovation within sixth-generation wireless communication systems (6G). The aim is to strengthen the position of Swedish research and innovation within wireless communication systems, increase the competitiveness of Swedish companies in the area and strengthen the conditions for Swedish research environments to participate in international research collaboration and gain access to international research infrastructure. The investment totals SEK 390 million and the assignment is due for final reporting in March 2027.

See more Research investment will contribute to the development of 6G - Government.se

Focus on climate and gender equality in all our initiatives

Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and social development. Genom Agenda 2030, the world's countries have agreed on a global agreement and understanding of what characterizes sustainable development. Through our efforts, we contribute to the global commitment to achieving the goals.

Inom Agenda 2030, Vinnova has specifically identified climate and gender equality as two central sustainability perspectives that our funded initiatives will contribute positively to. Project funded by Vinnova are therefore expected to take special account of climate and gender equality aspects. Linked to the development of 6G, it is primarily increased energy efficiency and the lifespan of components that are a priority.

One aspect that Vinnova follows up and assesses is whether both women and men receive the grant, participate in and have influence over the project in an equal manner. This aspect is assessed under the actor criterion, see section 7.

Another aspect is to analyze and decide whether there are sex or gender aspects that are relevant to the project's problem area, solutions and utilization. In this the call for proposals the question does not form the basis for assessment.

Our work to contribute to the goals of Agenda 2030

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

Free access to scientific publications and results

Results from research and innovation that are made freely available increase the opportunity for more people to contribute to solutions to societal challenges. This the call for proposals will contribute to making more results freely available to everyone. Therefore, all scientific publishing should be open access.

Private companies (public limited companies) with more than three employees and research organizations that do not conduct undergraduate education. Applicant must be the company or research organization where the degree project is carried out.
In this effort we are not addressing educational actors, such as universities and university colleges.

We approve costs for completing degree projects, primarily supervision and other direct costs.

Vinnova does not finance salary costs for the student carrying out the degree project.

Our funding is subject to state aid rules. The rules govern both the types of costs and the proportion of costs that we can finance.

How much funding can the project receive?

It is possible to apply for funding of up to SEK 100,000.

The contribution may amount to 100 percent if certificates of support of minor importance are attached or if it is within the research organization's non-economic activities.

The goal of the call for proposals is to fund 100 degree theses by 2026.

How much funding can a participant receive?

How much funding each participant can receive depends mainly on:

• The activities that the party will carry out in the project.
• Party size and activities.

You can find support grounds and levels for funding as well as information about de minimis support here

In this call for proposals funding will be granted with support from one of the following funding sources:

Not state aid

In this the call for proposals we also provide support to research organizations that participate in their non-economic activities. In this the call for proposals these actors can have their eligible costs financed up to 100 percent.

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 – that is, 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.

De minimis support ( support of minor importance)

We can provide de minimis support, also known as de minimis support, to organisations carrying out economic activities. We can finance up to 100 percent of a project party's costs. The maximum permitted de minimis support is currently EUR 300,000 per recipient over the last three tax years. To be granted this support, you need to provide a certificate of de minimis support when you submit proposal.

You can find the certificate form on this page

What costs can we finance?

Our funding can only go towards certain types of costs. 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
• Other direct costs: For example, materials, supplies and travel necessary to carry out the project.

For more detailed information about which costs we can finance, see our 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 separated from the organization's other costs. An organization may not claim someone else's costs as its own.

For more detailed information on which eligibility requirements, limitations and exceptions apply, see our guidance on eligible costs

In order for us to take a position on and assess your proposal, it must meet certain basic requirements – so-called formal eligibility requirements.

If these eligibility requirements are not met, our evaluator will not process your proposal.

• Applicant must be a private company (public limited company) with more than 3 employees or a research organization that does not conduct undergraduate education.
• Applicant should be the company or research organization where the degree project is carried out.
• Funding is not granted to organizations that are insolvent or undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring, or that have unpaid debts or payment notices with the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• We take credit checks on all applicant who are not public actors, and funding is not granted to organizations with the lowest credit rating of C.
• An organization applying for funding for personnel costs must be registered as an employer with the Swedish Tax Agency by the time the grant decision is made.
• Applicant applying with the support support of minor importance must attach a certificate under the "other attachments" tab in e-services.

What do we assess?

Potential

• Relevance for future development of 6G.
• How well the project is assessed to contribute to increased gender equality.
• How well the project is assessed to contribute positively to the global goals in Agenda 2030, and how well it is assessed to minimize the negative effects.

Actors

• To what extent applicant actors have experience and relevant expertise in the area of 6G.
• How well the project team is composed in terms of gender distribution. As well as how well power and influence are distributed evenly between the genders in the project team.

Feasibility

• To what extent applicant has experience, ability and capacity to supervise degree theses.
• How realistic, credible and appropriate the project plan, activities and budget are in relation to the objective.
• How well aspects related to gender equality and climate have been integrated into the project plan.

How do we assess?

Applications are assessed in competition with each other according to the above criteria by external experts and programme manager at Vinnova.
In this call for proposals no interviews are planned, only a written proposal.

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 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 the following:

• 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.
• 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

You also need to follow the special conditions that apply to this the call for proposals:
We may also decide to add supplementary special conditions for individual project. In such cases, they will be stated in 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.

Once your proposal has been registered, we will send a confirmation to the person responsible for the user account as well as to the project manager and the signatory.

If you submit proposal on the same day the call for proposals closes, it may take a few hours before you receive a confirmation. 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 supplement if we ask you to.

Who can read your proposal?

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 damage if disclosed, such as information about the business, inventions or research results.

How we handle public documents and confidentiality