Call for Proposals: Cluster of Excellence for Cutting-Edge Technologies (Sweden)

Accelerating technological development, geopolitical uncertainty and the global arms race have increased the importance of an ambitious and targeted technology policy. International reports on the conditions for competitiveness clearly point to the need for large, synchronized investments in research and innovation. Most leading innovation countries now pursue an active technology policy.

Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council have been commissioned by the government to carry out a large-scale effort on clusters of excellence for groundbreaking and strategic technology.

Clusters of excellence refer to a powerful concentration of resources and capabilities that together can establish a very strong position. The ambition should be to become a world leader and successfully attract capital and significant international talents and actors to Sweden. The purpose of the investment in clusters of excellence is thus a clear increase in ambition for Swedish research excellence and competitiveness.

Goal

• The goal of Vinnova’s part of the initiative is that there will be up to five world-leading clusters of excellence in Sweden by 2035. Over the next four years, Vinnova will invest approximately one billion SEK in their establishment.

Aim and Objectives 

• The call for proposals is a first step in the initiative for clusters of excellence. The initiative will continue in several stages over the coming years. More information about how the entire initiative will be designed will be available in the autumn.
• The purpose of the initial planning grant is to engage actors with the insight, capacity and collaborative skills required to formulate an initial bold and engaging vision and an overall plan to establish a world-leading cluster of excellence in strategically important technology areas in Sweden.
• Vinnova’s objective is to enable the development of around thirty sharp visions. With the vision work, they want to facilitate a comprehensive and inclusive mobilization that demonstrates Sweden’s full potential in the ar

Focus Areas

• The following six technology areas are identified as strategically important for Sweden in the government’s assignment to Vinnova:
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems
  • Advanced digital technology, including semiconductors
  • Quantum technology
  • Energy technology
  • Materials and production technology
  • Biotechnology

Funding Information

• Each project can receive a maximum of 1.5 million SEK over six months.

Eligible Costs

• In this the call for proposals these types of costs are eligible:
  • Personnel costs: Salaries, social security contributions and other personnel costs.
  • Consulting and licensing costs: Consulting services, knowledge and patents purchased or licensed from an external party. Costs for consulting services from external parties may not exceed 20 percent of a project party’s budget. They can accept a higher percentage than 20 percent in case of special needs. You must then justify the need for consulting services in proposal. This justification is taken into account in their assessment.
  • 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.

Target Audience

• The call for proposals is aimed at one or more actors in collaboration. They are looking for people and organizations with ambition and the ability to formulate and realize a bold vision that positions Sweden at the absolute forefront of technology and innovation. The target group for the call for proposals is companies, universities and university colleges, research institutes and public actors. International actors are welcome in proposal as participant but not as coordinator.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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.
  • Foreign actors are welcome as co-applicant project partners but cannot be coordinators.
• Eligibility requirements for the project
  • The project manager must be employed by the coordinating party in the project.
  • Project activities that lead to costs included in proposal may not begin before proposal is submitted.
• Eligibility requirements on proposal
  • Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
  • Proposal must follow the instructions in section 8.
  • Proposal must contain all requested attachments.

For more information, visit Vinnova.