Deadline: October 01, 2025
The Circularity sub-programme under the Automotive Strategic Research and Innovation (FFI) collaboration supports research and development activities aimed at minimizing the climate and environmental impact of vehicle production, operation, and decommissioning through circular approaches.
The focus areas of the offer are Design for circularity and reduced environmental impact in products, Competence, cognitive and physical support, work environment and safety related to people, and Climate-neutral manufacturing, maintenance and decommissioning in production systems.
This funding opportunity aims to advance expertise and deliver concrete solutions to challenges related to circularity, including climate and energy considerations, changing product and system requirements, and regulatory standards. Projects should address the product, human, or production system focus areas by developing and validating new methods, processes, technologies, or business models that enable circular flows, improve resource efficiency, and promote sustainable work environments.
Applicants can apply for support for activities such as developing, testing, evaluating solutions, and preparing results for implementation and utilization. Project types eligible include feasibility studies, industrial research, and experimental development. Funding covers eligible costs including personnel, equipment, consulting, materials, travel, and overheads, subject to state aid rules. The budget for the call totals approximately SEK 45 million, with grants covering up to 50 percent of costs; projects must include at least 25 percent co-financing from business entities. Extend this part. put funding information preliminary studies and smaller studies also but keeping this part as well
Applicants can apply for support for a range of research and development activities, including developing, testing, and evaluating innovative solutions as well as preparing these results for implementation and broader utilization. Eligible project types under this call include feasibility studies, industrial research, and experimental development. Feasibility studies aim to evaluate and analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks of forthcoming research and development projects, assess required resources, and determine the likelihood of project success. Preliminary studies and smaller studies have a maximum funding limit of SEK 500,000 and typically span 6 to 9 months in duration.
Funding under this call covers eligible costs such as personnel salaries and social security contributions, equipment and rental of premises beyond regular business facilities, consulting and licensing fees with a consulting budget cap of 20 percent per project partner, other direct costs like materials, supplies, and travel necessary for project execution, as well as indirect costs (overheads) up to 30 percent of personnel costs. Universities, research organizations, and certain government agencies may have higher allowable limits based on the nature of their activities.
The total budget allocated for this call is approximately SEK 45 million. Grants can cover up to 50 percent of the total project costs, and every project is required to include at least 25 percent co-financing from business entities to ensure active industry participation. The share of funding for each participant is also influenced by the size of the organization and the type of activity undertaken, with different maximum levels of support applied accordingly. Projects must fully comply with state aid rules.
This structured funding approach encourages collaboration between research organizations, companies, and public and non-profit bodies to advance sustainable circularity in vehicle production and lifecycle management while ensuring projects have a clear path to realization and practical impact.
Proposals will be assessed based on potential to contribute to FFI objectives, implementation strategy, gender equality integration, and actor collaboration. Both full-scale projects and feasibility studies are considered, with expectations for dissemination and utilization of results nationally and internationally, along with open access publication of scientific outputs.
The call encourages collaboration among research organizations, companies, public and non-profit entities, requiring at least two project partners. Foreign actors may participate if they have a branch in Sweden. Applicants must follow formal eligibility rules and submit proposals by 1 October 2025 at 2 PM via Vinnova’s e-services.
For more information, visit Vinnova.
