6G – International Research and Innovation Collaboration in Sweden

Aims

• The aim is to strengthen the position of Swedish research and innovation in the area, increase the competitiveness of Swedish companies and strengthen the conditions for Swedish research environments to participate in international research collaboration and gain access to international research infrastructure.

Objectives

• Contribute to strengthened innovation collaboration between Sweden and relevant actors in the USA, Canada, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and in the EU.
• Contribute to knowledge development and innovation in the 6G area.

Focus Areas

• Technology and network infrastructure are fundamental to creating value in various sectors of industry and society. The following technology areas, especially beyond connectivity, should give Sweden long-term competitiveness:
  • security and privacy
  • reliability and resilience
  • energy efficiency
  • automation and AI or ML-based network optimization
  • software-based platforms for wireless services
  • edge or fog computing at scale
  • shared infrastructure with virtualized layers
  • spectrum sharing
  • Internet of Things (IoT) and components.

Funding Information

• The state aid rules also govern how much of the costs they can finance. This is determined individually for each organization. They therefore differentiate between how much funding the project can receive, and how much each participant can receive. The total grant budget for this call for proposals is tentatively at least SEK 20 million.
• Vinnova’s funding can amount to 3 million SEK per project. The support may constitute a maximum of 70 percent of the Swedish parties’ eligible costs in the project.
• The project duration can be between 12 and 18 months.

Eligible Costs

• In this the call for proposals the following 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 outside parties may constitute a maximum of 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, for example 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.

Eligible Projects

• In this the call for proposals they are funding research and innovation projects. The project shall consist of international collaboration in the area of 6G.

Target Audiences

• They are addressing Swedish companies, universities and research institutes that want to develop collaborations in the 6G area with actors in the USA, Canada, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and the EU. It is possible to apply for funding to deepen already ongoing collaborations.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility requirements on organizational form of project partners
  • The participant seeking funding must be a Swedish legal entity. Natural persons or individual companies cannot participate as project partners. In this respect, a Swedish legal entity is considered to be a foreign organization that has a branch or establishment in Sweden.
  • The project partners will conduct activities in Sweden.
  • Funding is not granted to organizations that are insolvent or undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring, or that have unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority or payment notices.If the organization is a limited liability company, half or more of the share capital may not be used up.
  • If the organization is a limited liability company, half or more of the share capital may not be used up.
  • Vinnova takes credit information on all applicant who are not public actors and funding is not granted to organizations with the lowest credit rating of C.
  • The 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.
  • The costs of the project must be linked to the operations at the branch or establishment. The foreign actor needs to have its own funding for its costs.
• Eligibility requirements for project
  • The costs of the project must be linked to the operations at the branch or establishment. The foreign actor needs to have its own funding for its costs.
  • Costs for consulting services from outside parties may constitute a maximum of 20 percent of a project party’s budget.
  • 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.
• Eligibility requirements on proposal
  • Proposal should be an international collaboration in the 6G area with foreign actors from one or more of the following countries: USA, Canada, UK, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and the EU.
  • A letter of intent from foreign actors must be attached to proposal. An authorized representative certifies the foreign organization’s participation and the extent of their involvement.
  • Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
  • The project described in proposal must not have begun before proposal is submitted (however, previous collaboration with the foreign actor is permitted).
  • Proposal must contain all requested attachments.

For more information, visit Vinnova.