Accelera FFI preparatory project - spring 2026

Automotive Strategic research and Innovation (FFI) is a collaboration between the state and the automotive industry to jointly finance research, innovation and development activities with a focus on making Sweden a leader in the global transition to sustainable road transport.

Read more about FFI's roadmap

This the offer finances project within FFI's Accelerate sub-programme, which deals with larger system demonstrations. Innovative system solutions with high societal benefit are to be demonstrated on a large scale in a real environment in broad collaborations. The offer is aimed at those who want to apply for funding for a preparatory project for a system demonstrator. For full-scale system demonstrators, see instead: Accelera FFI system demonstrators - spring 2026

The project being funded build on previous feasibility studies where the results show solutions with potential to create a major change that contributes to sustainable road transport. Permitted activities in the project include mobilizing relevant actors, developing a plan for demonstration in a real environment, exploring system perspectives, funding and utilization, and developing a plan for dissemination and scaling of the results.

The system demonstrator should contain all five system perspectives (listed below) and have a high level of technical maturity. The solution or solutions developed in the project should have potential to be implemented broadly within a few years and be scalable in a national and international context. Broad collaborations are therefore crucial. Relevant actors who have the opportunity to influence different parts of the system need to be mobilized.

The offer is subject to the following:

• The project should address a clear societal challenge.
• A feasibility study must have been completed, not necessarily within the FFI program.
• Project duration up to 12 months.
• The maximum funding to apply for is SEK 900,000.
• Maximum aid intensity is 75 percent.
• At least 25 percent co-financing from the business community.
• At least three parties must participate, of which at least one is a need owner. Need owners refer to users, requesters and customers.

Please note that there are several sub-programs within FFI. Accelerera is focused on larger system demonstrators and does not support pure technology demonstrators. If the planned project is a technology demonstration or has a low level of technical maturity, it does not fit into Accelerera. Then see FFI's other sub-program calls for proposals to see if it can fit.

This call for proposals is part of FFI's Accelerate sub-program. With this offer, we want to create collaborations that make it possible to develop system demonstrators that can lead to major changes and that can accelerate the pace of the transition to sustainable road transport.

Read more about FFI Accelerera 

• Autonomous transportation systems.
• Electrified transportation systems.
• Integration between energy and transport systems including energy efficiency.
• Use of hydrogen in the transportation system.
• Complete solutions for fossil-free construction sites, ports, mines, etc.
• Circular flows for batteries, for example.

Applications in other fields are welcome.

What is a system demonstrator?

System demonstrations are a way to start from the knowledge of what is required to change a system and put it into practice. To change at the system level, multiple solutions are often needed that interact and affect different parts of the system, rather than a single solution being implemented.

The demonstrator should not be limited to technical innovation, including services and processes, but also needs to work with culture and behaviors around the new solutions. Digital and physical infrastructure may need to be developed. Business models may need to be developed or adapted. Regulations and standards may also need to be adapted as technology and services develop, and this requires both dialogue and cooperation with relevant actors.

A system demonstrator should contain all five system perspectives:

• Behavior, culture and values.
• Business models.
• Regulations and standardization (“policy”).
• Infrastructure, physical and digital.
• Technology, products, services and processes.

Read more about the five dimensions in FFI's Roadmap

What characterizes a system demonstrator?

• It is clear which system is to be changed and there is a common goal for all parties in the project as well as a clear understanding of obstacles and opportunities.
• Actors from all parts of the system that is subject to change participate, show commitment and can jointly influence the system. It is clear who the key actors are and their role in system change. Activity and commitment from several relevant stakeholders are required. By stakeholders is meant users, demanders and customers.
• Strategic and coordinated solutions that clearly contribute to the common vision and are selected and designed to examine multiple perspectives (technology, infrastructure, behavior, culture and values, business opportunities, policy, regulations, standards) of the system simultaneously. It is not enough to demonstrate technology solutions. The solutions must be mature enough to be implemented and encompass the entire system.
• The activities carried out form a coherent whole that is large enough to represent the system, and the tests that are performed are evaluated and developed iteratively.
• Demonstration and testing take place in a real environment together with stakeholders.
• A system demonstrator should be scalable. The system solutions being tested are carefully designed to be able to branch, spread and scale up, which includes approaches to achieve a significant scale-up of funding.

More information about system demonstrators

Performance targets for the preparatory project

Project that are granted must achieve all performance goals during the project period:

• The intended system demonstrator should have great potential to influence the system and contribute to accelerating the transition to sustainable road transport.
• A well-founded and clear plan for how the solutions will be tested in a real environment and implemented as a system demonstrator. The plan should include system analysis, risk and obstacle management, goal setting and strategic analysis/”state of the art”.
• Selected solutions should have a high level of technical maturity and can be implemented within a few years.
• Strengthened collaboration between actors in the consortium and discussions with potential future collaboration partners, including stakeholders.

FFI's direction

The program has a roadmap that sets the direction towards 2030. FFI's mission is to drive road transport research and innovations for a sustainable society. The long-term vision is for Sweden to lead the global transition to sustainable road transport.

For a more detailed description of the content of the program, see FFI's roadmap

Contribute to a sustainable system transformation

Eftersom Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and system transformation, should your project also contribute to increased gender equality and climate change? We are based on the UN's global sustainability goals, defined in the 2030 Agenda. There we focus on two perspectives: gender equality and climate change.

This means that gender equality and climate change should be integrated into both the composition of the project team and the project's results.

Equal funding of innovations

An innovative force in a sustainable world

Making scientific publications and results available

This the call for proposals will also help make results available to everyone. Therefore, all scientific publishing should be open access. When results from research and innovation are made freely available, more people can contribute to solving societal challenges.

This the offer is aimed at project constellations that are collaboratively preparing for a system demonstrator for complex societal challenges that will ultimately contribute to accelerating the transition to sustainable road transport.

The offer is aimed at actor constellations that have carried out a feasibility study, the final report of which must be attached to proposal, which has identified the preparatory project's societal challenge, main focus and key actors.

Participating parties need to be actively involved. Examples of actors that participate are business such as industry parties, need owners, research and public actors. A recommendation is also to consider bringing in design expertise. Design expertise refers to, for example, strategic design, service design or expertise in systems analysis, complex systems or systems theory.

The preparation project requires at least three parties, of which at least one is a needs owner. Need owners refer to users, requirement setters and customers.

Foreign actors may be relevant and necessary to include as project partners in the project. In order for these actors to receive support from Vinnova, they need to have a branch or operating location in Sweden. In that case, the actor's project costs must be incurred in the branch or operating location.

This offer funds research and development activities, aim of which is to prepare a system demonstrator.

Activities for which funding can be applied for

The types of project activities that are approved within the framework of this call for proposals must be covered by the feasibility study basis, see chapter 5. Approved activities are, for example:

• Mapping the system within which the intended solution or solutions operate, as well as mapping challenges and opportunities.
• Project management, coordination, process support and leading expertise to promote systems thinking and innovation.
• Planning of activities in the implementation of an upcoming system demonstrator where tests take place in a real environment.
• Explore how the five systems perspectives relate to chosen solutions.
• Identification and mobilization of new partners for an upcoming system demonstrator.
• Analyses of various kinds to, for example, evaluate the novelty value and societal benefit of the intended system demonstrator.
• Simpler tests aimed at evaluating and validating technology, methods, processes and business models ahead of an upcoming system demonstrator project.
• Communication and dissemination of results to stakeholders outside the project.

What costs can we finance?

Our funding is subject to state aid rules. The rules govern what types of costs we can finance. These are called eligible costs.

In this the call for proposals, these types of costs are eligible:

• Salary costs: Gross salary paid as well as employer contributions and other salary-related 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 of this type may not exceed 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 a direct result 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.

For more detailed information about which costs we can finance, see 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 in the project
• accounted for correctly and separately from the organisation's other costs.

An organisation may also not claim someone else's costs as its own.

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

state aid rules govern how much of the costs we can finance. This is determined individually for each organisation. We therefore differentiate between how much funding the project can receive, and how much each participant can receive.

How much funding can the project receive?

Vinnova finances each individual project with a maximum funding of SEK 900,000. The maximum aid intensity of the project's eligible costs is 75 percent. Each individual project must have at least 25 percent business funding.

How much funding can a participant receive?

How much funding each participant can receive depends mainly on:

• party size and activities
• which activities the party will carry out in the project.

Descriptions in the following sections about what support we can provide are simplified. For full details, see funding Criteria and Levels.

Support for companies conducting research and development

In this the call for proposals we provide support for feasibility studies.

Feasibility studies can be simply described as an evaluation and analysis of:

• strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks in an upcoming research and development project
• what resources are required to carry out the project
• how likely it is that the project will succeed.

How much of the costs can we finance?

The organisation's size and type of activity determines how large a proportion of the costs we can finance, i.e. the maximum level of support.

Support for non-economic activities

In this the call for proposals we also provide support to organisations that do not engage in economic activities. This means that the organisation does not offer a service or product on a market. This usually includes universities and university colleges, research institutes and other organisations.

We can finance up to 100 percent of such an organization's costs.

How is it determined whether an organisation is engaged in economic activities?

An organisation 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 organisation 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. For example, 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 organisation in your project is conducting economic activities, contact call manager. However, The organisation is responsible for assessing whether it is conducting economic activities.

In order for us to assess your proposal it must meet certain formal eligibility requirements. If the requirements are not met, we will reject proposal immediately.

Eligibility requirements for project parties

• All project partners must be legal entities. Natural persons or individual companies cannot participate.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden.
• At least three project partners must participate in the project. This includes the coordinating party.
• At least one participant must be a need owner.

Eligibility requirements for the project

• Maximum aid intensity is 75 percent.
• Co-financing from the business community must amount to at least 25 percent of the project's total budget.
• A feasibility study must have been carried out, not necessarily within the FFI program.
• The project must start no earlier than June 15 or no later than August 25 in 2026 and last up to 12 months.
• The project manager must be employed by the coordinating party in the project.
• The project may not begin before proposal is submitted.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• A final report from a completed feasibility study must be attached to proposal. The feasibility study does not need to have been completed within the framework of FFI.
• Proposal must follow the instructions given in section 9.
• Proposal must contain all requested attachments. Please note that no attachments other than those specifically stated may be attached to proposal.
• Proposal must be submitted no later than 2:00 p.m. on the last day of application via Vinnova's e-services. Once the application period has expired, proposal can only be supplemented at the request of Vinnova.

Applications that meet our eligibility requirements will proceed to assessment. In the assessment, we look at how much potential your idea has, how realistic it is and who will implement the project.

What do we assess?

When assessing applications, we look at three main criteria:

• Potential: We analyze what effects and what value we can expect from the project.
• Actors: We assess the participants' competence and ability to implement the project and achieve the desired results and effects.
• Feasibility: We assess how realistic and credible the project plan is, both for implementing the project and for achieving desired results.

Eftersom Vinnova is tasked with contributing to increased gender equality and climate change, and we always follow up and assess these perspectives.

Potential (weighted 40%)

• Potential to result in a system demonstration project based on a chosen societal challenge and clear project goals that contribute to sustainable road transport.
• How well the intended demonstration project highlights issues linked to the systems perspective:
  • Behavior and culture
  • Business models
  • Regulations and standardization (“policy”).
  • Infrastructure, physical and digital, but not road infrastructure such as road surfaces and bridges.
  • Technology, products, services and processes.

• Social and business benefit, as well as how innovative the project proposal is in relation to existing knowledge and solutions.
• The project proposal's potential to scale up and implement the solution within a few years in a national and international context. The solution should have a high level of technical maturity.
• To what extent does the project proposal build on previous activities and results, and is based on a completed feasibility study.
• How well proposal addresses one or more of the identified areas;
  • Autonomous transportation systems
  • Electrified transport systems
  • Integration between energy and transport systems including energy efficiency
  • Use of hydrogen in the transportation system
  • Complete solutions for fossil-free construction sites, ports, mines, etc.
  • Circular flows for batteries, for example.

Feasibility (weighted 25%)

• To what extent is the project based on a credible project plan and budget where activities are linked to project goals.
• To what extent have working methods that support and facilitate stakeholder engagement and the involvement of relevant actors including stakeholders, been integrated into the implementation?
• The credibility of the project plan's risk analysis and action plan.

Actors (weighted 25%)

• How well relevant actors and stakeholders are involved in the project, to the right extent and at the right time to realize the project's potential and implementation.
• The project manager's and key personnel's commitment, expertise, resources and ability to lead and implement the project.
• Degree of collaboration between the project's parties.

Gender equality (weighted 10%)

• How well equality aspects such as gender perspectives that may be important to take into account in connection with the project's problem area, solutions and effects are taken into account.
• The composition of the team with regard to gender distribution, as well as the distribution of power and influence between men and women.
• How well gender equality aspects have been integrated into the project plan.

How do we assess?

Once we receive the applications, we review them. We screen out any applications that are incomplete or do not meet our formal eligibility requirements.

Applications that are correct and complete are distributed among different evaluator and assessed in competition with each other. The evaluators are appointed by us based on their expertise in the field. Each proposal is assessed by at least three evaluator.

Once the evaluators have reviewed the applications, we have an assessment meeting where the evaluators recommend which applications should be granted.

Vinnova reserves the right to apply a portfolio perspective when selecting applications that are granted.

How does it affect an organization's financial status?

Before deciding on funding we also conduct a comprehensive assessment of the organizational and financial status of those receiving funding. We use information we obtain from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet.

In order for us to grant funding the following applies:

• Organisations seeking funding for payroll costs must be registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency.
• Organisations must not be insolvent, or undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring. They must also not have any significant unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• Organisations may not cover project costs in this the call for proposals with public funding or own funds intended for other project.
• Limited liability companies must not have used up half or more of their share capital.
• If requested, SMEs must be able to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to carry out the project according to their budget in proposal.

Once we have assessed all applications, we will send you a decision either granting or rejecting your proposal. Since applications are assessed competitively, you may be rejected even though you meet all eligibility requirements and criteria.

In the decision, we state how much of the costs we will cover for each organisation.

You cannot appeal our decision, but you are welcome to apply to us again at another time.

What happens if you are granted funding?

If we grant your proposal, you must follow our general terms and conditions for funding. The terms include, among other things:

• That you will sign a special document in which you approve your participation and commit to carrying out the project.
• That you report how things are going, your costs and achieved results to us regularly during the project period.
• If you are multiple parties, you must agree on your mutual rights and obligations in the project in an agreement. It can take time to get a project agreement in place, so it is a good idea to get this in place before the project starts.
• How the results will be used and how scientific publication will take place.

See our general terms and conditions and get help understanding and fulfilling them

Vinnova does not have templates for project agreements, but provides a general guide. Previously developed templates by the business partners within FFI may also be interesting to take inspiration from. On the Vehicle Component Group website you will find more information and contact persons for any questions regarding agreements.

You also need to follow the special conditions that apply to this the call for proposals:

• Reporting and follow-up
  • Reporting and follow-up must be carried out in accordance with decisions, templates and special instructions available on FFI's website, www.ffisweden.se (under the templates and guidance tab).
  • The project must be represented at the seminars or program conferences that Vinnova and FFI will organize and convene specifically during the project period. Costs for participation in such a seminar/program conference are eligible for support. Upon request, the project coordinator must provide Vinnova and FFI with image and text material for project catalogs, annual reports, and the like.

• Statement that the project was funded by the FFI program
  The following replaces § 7.3 of the General Terms and Conditions:
  • In information about the project and in each publication of project results, it must be stated that the work was carried out with support from the Fordonsstrategisk Forskning and Innovation programs, FFI.

We may also decide to add supplementary special conditions for individual project. In such cases, they will be stated in the decision.

Could you need to pay back funding?

If you have received more money than you are entitled to or if you do not follow our term, you may be required to repay.

When the call for proposals closes, your proposal will be registered as. We will then send an email confirmation to the person responsible for the user account, as well as to the project manager and the signatory. 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 make additions if we ask you to.

Who can read your proposal?

Your proposal will be read by Vinnova employees and the evaluator participating in this the call for proposals. Everyone works under a duty of confidentiality.

1. Call for proposals closes
2. Formalities review
3. Applications open for evaluator
4. Assessments are submitted
5. Assessment meeting
6. Preparation and formalities review
7. Authority decision

• Programme manager responsible for the entire process
• Administrator at Vinnova
• Specially Appointed Independent evaluator
• Decision maker at Vinnova

Applications submitted to us become public documents. This means that we must disclose them if requested. However, we keep certain types of information confidential if disclosure could be expected to cause financial harm to the individual. This applies to information about business and operational conditions, inventions or research results.

How we handle public documents and confidentiality