FFI ASP - Accelerated Startup Partnership: increased innovation collaboration between startups and need owner - autumn 2026

The call for proposals offers funding for innovation collaborations between start-ups and need owner. The collaborations shall contribute to a sustainable transition in the road transport area and strengthen Swedish competitiveness. The innovation shall have a clear connection to at least one of FFI's four thematic sub-programmes: Circular, Transport and mobility solutions, Traffic-safe automation and Zero emissions. For a more detailed description of the sub-programmes, see the Roadmap for FFI – FFI – Road transport innovations for a sustainable society.

Through the financing, we want to support start-ups with market potential to make moves in their innovation and commercialization work. At the same time, we want to strengthen the innovative power of need owners in areas that are strategically important to FFI through value-creating collaborations. Two types of project forms can be applied for:

• Validation project (TRL and BRL 2-4)
• Implementation project (TRL and BRL 5-8)

Definitions:

Need owner

Refers to private and public organisations operating in the field of road transport. The organisation shall have a financially stable activities and the resources and organizational capabilities required to effectively support the Startup in its commercialization journey. Organisations not covered by the definition of Startup are considered eligible to apply as Need owner.

Startup company

Refers to Swedish-based and foreign, knowledge-intensive small companies with the ability and desire to scale up their innovation and business. The company must have been registered for a maximum of 10 years and meet the EU definition of "small enterprise":

Maturity levels

• TRL (Technology Readiness Level): an indication of the technological maturity of the innovation (also called the solution). Read more about Technology Readiness Level.
• BRL (Business Readiness Level): an indication of the economic and commercial maturity of the innovation. Read more about Business Readiness Level.

Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis. We will collect and assess applications on April 10, June 2 and September 16. Decisions are planned to be made no later than May 13, July 1 and October 16.

With this call for proposals we want to promote strategically relevant and goal-oriented innovation collaborations between start-ups and need owner. The collaborations will contribute to a sustainable transition in the road transport sector.

We do this by encouraging innovation projects where the startups' driving forces, agility and innovative capacity are connected to the needs owners' infrastructure, internal resources and market reach.

The innovation collaborations will provide clear and targeted shifts in the start-up companies' technology and commercialization work and contribute with relevant and highly innovative solutions for the need owners. The collaboration will also lead to increased capabilities for those involved actors to work with innovation collaboration in a more systematic and long-term way.

2.1 Performance targets

The project funded under the call for proposals are expected to meet all of the following performance objectives:

• The solution has achieved the planned movement in TRL and BRL and there is a well-developed and well-established plan for continued scaling, within the project consortium or the road transport area at large.
• The startup has succeeded in developing its business model and has entered into/is planning new business collaborations within the project consortium or the road transport area in general.
• The need owner has evaluated the solution in a relevant way in their activities and generated the necessary knowledge regarding possible further implementation.
• The partnership has been conducted in close collaboration and has resulted in generated experiences and practices about working with innovation or business partnerships in the future, within the project consortium or the road transport area in general.

2.2 Impact goals

The project financed within the framework of the call for proposals are expected to eventually lead to all of the following impact goals:

• The solution has reached a level of maturity that makes it more qualified to be implemented and contribute to a sustainable transformation of the road transport system
• The startup has strengthened its innovative capacity with a focus on increasing its business understanding and potential.
• The need-holder has strengthened its innovative capacity with a focus on increased reception capacity for access to relevant solutions.
• The parties have strengthened their innovative capacity with a focus on establishing business processes to work more regularly with innovation partnerships in the future.

2.3 Contribute to a sustainable system transition

Eftersom Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and system transformation, your project should 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 how your project group is composed and in the intended outcome of your project.

Equalized funding by innovations

An innovative force in a sustainable world

The call for proposals is aimed at actors that can accelerate the transition to sustainable road transport and strengthen Swedish competitiveness. Funded project will address focus areas within one of FFI's four thematic sub-programmes:

Circularity — with a focus on minimizing climate and environmental impact from the production, operation and disposal of vehicles.

Transportation and mobility solutions — focusing on efficient transportation and mobility solutions to meet society's challenges in sustainability, accessibility and resilience.

Traffic-safe automation — with a focus on increasing traffic safety and making transportation more sustainable through safe, connected automated vehicles prepared for the next generation of transportation systems

Zero emissions — with a focus on reducing the vehicle's negative impact on the climate and environment in the use phase through integration with user behavior and its charging and refueling infrastructure.

For a more detailed description of the sub-programmes and their focus areas, see the Roadmap for FFI – FFI – Road transport innovations for a sustainable society).

The target group for the call for proposals is consortia of start-ups and need owner that are part of collaborative projects, the purpose is to develop the start-ups' innovation work and commercialization potential, and to strengthen the need owners' innovative capacity and/or international competitiveness. Foreign start-ups with program relevance, unique expertise and that can contribute to knowledge transfer, among other things, are welcome to apply as participants. Funded innovation collaborations should aim to contribute to a sustainable transformation of the road transport system.

Within the call for proposals FFI ASP we offer funding for innovation projects between start-ups and need owner with a connection to FFI's four thematic areas and with potential for clear movement in maturity level. The call for proposals offers funding for two different types of project, corresponding to two different maturity phases for the start-ups' business and technology maturity.

Validation project (TRL and BRL 2–4):

Based on already formulated technology concepts, these collaborative projects aim, among other things, to develop and validate the solution in a lab or relevant environment and, where relevant, to develop and test parts of the business model.

Implementation project (TRL and BRL 5–8):

Based on validated solutions, collaboration projects can include adaptation, demonstration and implementation of solutions in an operational environment, as well as establishing the business model and making it ready for scaling.

Read more about TRL and BRL under “Maturity level” in the definition list in section 1.

What costs can we finance?

Our funding is subject to rules about state aid. The rules govern which costs we can finance, so-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 used under license from an external party. Costs of this type may constitute a maximum of 20 percent of a project party's budget. We can accept a higher proportion than 20 percent in case of special needs. You must then justify the need in proposal. This justification will be taken into account in our 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 salary costs. Universities, university colleges as well as 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

Which eligibility requirements apply to costs we finance?

For a cost to be eligible, it must be:

• actual, reasonable and necessary for the activities of the project
• posted correctly and distinguishable on a separate project code in the accounting.

A organisation is also not allowed to claim someone else's expenses as their own.

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

The rules about state aid control how much of the costs we can finance. This is determined individually for each organisation. We therefore differentiate between how big the funding project can get and how much each participant can get.

How big funding can the project get?

How much funding each participation participant can get depends mainly on:

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

Within this call for proposals funding can be left as follows:

• Validation project: maximum SEK 500,000.

• Implementation project: maximum 750,000 SEK.

See the call's definition list in section 1 and section 4 for a description of maturity levels and the different project types.

Only start-up companies can be beneficiary. Co-financing of at least 25% of the project's total budget is required in all project. The total budget of the call is a maximum of 22 million SEK, which is distributed over the call's various application opportunities during the year.

Descriptions in the following sections about what support we can provide are simplified. For complete information, see Support bases and levels for funding.

Support to start-ups

In this the call for proposals we provide support to start-up companies. We can finance up to 100 percent of the company's project costs.

A start-up company means a company that:

• has fewer than 50 employees
• is not listed on the stock exchange
• not yet distributed profit
• was registered, commenced its activities or became liable to pay taxes less than five years ago
• has not been taken over by another company activities, acquired or formed through a merger.

Support of minor importance to businesses

Small companies that do not meet the requirements for support under Article 22, for example because they are the elderly less than five years old, may instead be granted support of minor importance. Such support may be granted at up to 100 percent of a the organisation's eligible costs.

A organisation can receive a maximum of 300,000 euros over a three-year period in this form of support, regardless of the funder and project. This means that if the same organisation has received support of lesser importance in other project from other funders in the past, it affects how large the support can be in this the call for proposals.

Submit a certificate of de minimis support when you submit proposal. This is required for us to be able to grant this support.

Certificate of de minimis-support

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

Eligibility requirements on participants

• At least two participants shall participate in the project, of which at least one need owner and at least one start-up company.
• Foreign start-ups that do not have a activities presence in Sweden are welcome to participate and apply funding provided that they meet all formal eligibility requirements and relevance criteria of the call.
• Only startup companies can apply funding.

Eligibility requirements on the project

• The project's requested funding may not exceed the grant amounts specified in section 5.
• The maximum project duration may be one year.
• The project start date must be specified no later than one month after the call for proposals' publication date.
• The project manager must be employed by the coordinating party in the project (in exceptional cases, employment at organisation in the same group is accepted).
• The project may not be started before proposal is submitted.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal should be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal shall follow the instructions set out in Section 9.
• Proposal should contain all requested attachments.

What do we assess?

Applications that meet our formal eligibility requirements and relevance criteria will proceed to assessment according to the call's assessment criteria. When assessing applications, we look at four main criteria Relevance, Potential, Actors and Feasibility as below:

• Relevance: We assess whether the project proposal is sufficiently in line with the focus of the call, aim and objective. It is not possible to compensate for an assessed insufficient relevance by a high rating in relation to other assessment 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 the desired results.

Relevance

The innovation must have a clear connection to at least one of FFI's four thematic sub-programmes: Circularity, Transport and Mobility Solutions, Traffic-Safe Automation and Zero Emissions. For a more detailed description of the sub-programmes, see the Roadmap for FFI – FFI – Road Transport Innovations for a Sustainable Society.

If a foreign start-up company without activities in Sweden is to participate in the project, the following criteria must also be met:

1. The application's justification for the foreign company's unique expertise and the lack of it at actors in Sweden.
2. The application's description of the foreign company's planning for a clear knowledge transfer to actors in Sweden as results of the collaboration.

Potential

1. The project proposal's potential to contribute to sustainable road transport and strengthened Swedish competitiveness through the development of innovative solutions with a clear novelty value for the sub-programmes within FFI that the proposal addresses, rather than incremental improvements to existing solutions.
2. The project proposal's anchoring in knowledge of market needs and growth opportunities.
3. The project proposal's justification of the competitive advantages and customer benefits expected to be achieved as results by the project.

Actors

1. The composition of the actor constellation regarding synergies within, for example, competence, resources, abilities and corporate strategies in relation to fulfilling the resultsand impact goalsrequirements of the call.
2. The project partners' developed capabilities to, as results of the project, drive innovation and commercialization processes in the future.
3. The project manager's ability and commitment to lead the project.

Feasibility

1. The realism of the project plan in aspects such as budget, time and activity plan, and specified milestones.
2. The project plan's description of the innovation's movement in TRL and BRL between the start and end levels specified in proposal.
3. The project partners' collaboration models to meet the needs of the partners and the project. Great importance is placed on the commitment of the need owners and the availability of resources, and the start-up company's ability to adapt to the project and utilize available resources.
4. How well the need for consulting services and licenses is justified, if a project party's budget contains more than 20 percent of costs of this type.

How do we assess?

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

The 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 independent evaluator.

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

How does an organization's financial status affect the assessment?

Before we decide on funding we also make a comprehensive assessment of the organizational and financial status of those who receive funding. We use information that we obtain from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet.

In order for us to grant funding, the following applies:

• Swedish organisations applying for funding salary costs must be registered as an employer with the Swedish Tax Agency. Foreign start-ups must be able to show proof of equivalent registration in their home countries.
• 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 (or the equivalent public authority for foreign start-ups).
• 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 we request, startups must be able to demonstrate that they have the financial means 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 large a proportion of the costs we 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 you 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 achievements 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 please get this started before the project starts . See our general terms and conditions and get help understanding and fulfilling them

You also need to follow the special conditions that apply to this the call for proposals. For project where a foreign startup company participates, the following applies:

• Payment of funding is made to the coordinator in Sweden.
• Funds may only be transferred to the foreign party after the coordinator has obtained information from the foreign party about incurred costs in connection with the progress report or final report.
• The costs must be confirmed with extracts from the party's accounting records or other equivalent documentation.

We may also decide to add additional special conditions for individual project. In that case, they will be stated in the decision.

Could you have 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.

When the call for proposals is closed, you cannot change anything in proposal. Then you can only supplement if we ask you to.

Who can read you proposal?

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

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.

General documents and confidentiality