Vinnova Funding Call for International Collaborative Research in Advanced Manufacturing (Sweden)

The focus is on advanced manufacturing processes, intelligent and adaptive manufacturing systems, design safe, sustainable and digital products, digital, virtual and efficient companies, human-machine collaboration, human-centered manufacturing, sustainable processes and systems, sustainable manufacturing towards a circular economy, customer-based manufacturing, and new business models.

Through this call, Vinnova intends to fund international collaborative projects where Swedish organizations participate in consortia with partners from at least two Eureka member countries. Each project must include at least one Swedish small or medium-sized enterprise with a net turnover of at least one million SEK and at least three full-time employees. Proposals must receive a Eureka label before applying for national co-financing from Vinnova. Swedish legal entities, including foreign organizations with a branch in Sweden, are eligible to apply.

The funding supports research or development projects that contribute to building a competitive and resilient manufacturing industry with net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Vinnova can fund up to 5 million SEK per project, covering a maximum of 50 percent of eligible costs for Swedish consortia, with projects lasting up to three years. Eligible costs include personnel, equipment, consultancy, materials, travel, and overheads, subject to state aid rules. Non-economic actors such as universities and research institutes may receive up to 100 percent of their eligible costs.

Applications are assessed competitively based on potential, actors, feasibility, and gender equality. The project’s potential to create new knowledge, skills, and innovative solutions anchored in sustainable development is a key part of the evaluation. The distribution of effort across partners, quality of the consortium, risk analysis, and relevance of sustainability aspects are also assessed. All projects are expected to integrate perspectives on gender equality and climate change both in consortium composition and intended outcomes.

The application process follows several steps: forming an international consortium, submitting a project outline on the SMART portal, developing a full project proposal that is evaluated by SMART and receives the Eureka label, and finally applying to Vinnova for national co-financing. Swedish consortia may also be invited to interviews before a final decision is made. Successful projects are expected to deliver results such as prototypes, demonstrators, or contributions to international standards, with wider effects including new products, business opportunities, and skills development relevant to Swedish industry.

For more information, visit Vinnova.