Acceleration of civil-military innovations 2027

Within the framework of the Civil-Military Innovation Program, this call for proposals offers funding to Swedish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with innovative solutions that can be further developed for application within the military defense. the call for proposals includes that the companies will participate in an accelerator program for a broadened business strategy for the military and defense-related market during the project period.

The innovative solutions will be based on NATO's prioritized technology areas, the so-called Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs).

Companies can apply for a maximum of SEK 1,000,000 in funding to carry out an innovation project for development and verification. Companies that are granted funding within this call for proposals will go through an accelerator program that focuses on a broadened business strategy that includes the military and defense-related market.

Project may last for a maximum of nine months, starting no earlier than January 2027.

Access to cutting-edge technology is of central importance in a security environment characterized by instability and unpredictability. Civilian actors, by virtue of its innovative capacity, has an important role to play in contributing innovatively to solving military and security-related challenges.

The purpose of the call for proposals is to further develop solutions with potential to address defense-related challenges and needs in an innovative way. At the same time, the initiative will strengthen the conditions for Swedish small and medium-sized companies to broaden their business strategy towards the military market.

Call focus areas

Through the call for proposals we are looking for innovative solutions that are developed for a civilian market, but that have potential to be adapted for military applications. The solutions should be based on one or more of NATO's nine priority technology areas for innovation, the so-called EDTs

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Autonomous systems
• Quantum technologies
• Biotechnology and human enhancement technologies
• Space
• Hypersonic systems
• New materials and manufacturing
• Energy and Propulsion
• Next generation communication network

To read more about the strategic context and aim and objective within each area, see NATO - Topic: Emerging and disruptive technologies

Government assignment for civil-military synergies

The call for proposals is a joint effort of Vinnova and the Swedish Armed Forces and is financed by the Swedish Armed Forces within the framework of a government assignment for civil-military synergies. The purpose of the government assignment is, among other things, to create increased conditions for cross-sectoral collaboration with the intention that groundbreaking technology, developed for the civilian area, will be increasingly utilized through innovations in the defense area.

Read more about the government mission for Civil-Military Synergies

Read more about strategic direction for Defence Innovation

Contribute to a sustainable system transition

Both Vinnova and the Swedish Armed Forces are tasked with promoting sustainable growth and social development. Therefore, there is also a focus on sustainability and gender equality.

Gender equality as a tool for innovative social development

The core values of the Armed Forces

The work of the Armed Forces for gender equality

The call for proposals is aimed at Swedish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with innovative technology solutions that can be further developed for application in the military defense sector. Applicant companies should also be in a (development) phase where an accelerator program for a broadened business strategy for the military and defense-related market can be expected to provide benefits.

Solutions should be based on NATO's prioritized technology areas, the so-called Emerging and Disadvantaged Technologies (EDTs).

Please note that companies granted funding are not guaranteed future business or cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces or other defense authorities.

In this call for proposals we do not finance collaborative projects between several companies. Each proposal applies to only one company.

Within the call for proposals, companies are given the opportunity to develop technology and business strategy to operate in both civilian and defense-related markets. The funding consists of two stages and aims to strengthen the companies' ability to understand and navigate these two market logics, and to adapt their technology, business model and positioning accordingly.

Part 1: Innovation project for development and verification

Companies can apply for a maximum of SEK 1,000,000 in funding to carry out an innovation project that addresses the need to test, verify or further develop technology, production methods, business models and customer relationships in line with the focus of the call. Examples of activities within this part include:

• Investigation of technical and design requirements for applications in both civilian and military markets.
• Development of prototypes or demonstration versions of products or services, including pilot work, testing and validation.
• Research and development of scalable production methods.
• Conducting studies or tests to verify the potential of an innovative solution for both civilian and military application areas.

• Mapping of market conditions, including identification of customer segments, user needs, possible partnerships and competitive situation within both civilian and military markets.

The above list only provides examples of activities that may be covered by funding.

Part 2: Accelerator program for a broadened business strategy

Companies that are granted funding within this call for proposals will undergo a six-month accelerator program, which focuses on developing a broadened business strategy that includes the military and defense-related market.

The Accelerator Program consists of:

A. Training package from the Swedish National Defense Academy

These are arranged in collaboration with defense-related actors and aim to increase understanding of military defense needs, regulations, procurement processes and market logic.

B. Business development activities

The activities are provided by accelerators with expertise in the relevant technology area, and include tailored interventions aimed at developing the company's strategic ability to act in both the civilian and military sectors.

Companies can choose from several accelerators that can offer relevant services. Vinnova will facilitate the matching between companies and accelerators with available capacity to offer companies support in line with the call's aim and objective. This process begins in connection with the project start and is carried out in the initial phase of the project, so that participation in the program can be integrated as a strategic part of the project's development.

Examples of business development activities that may be relevant for companies are:

• Strategic development and adaptation of the business model to enable the company to operate in both the civilian and military sectors simultaneously.
• Consulting to validate and position business ideas for a broadened business strategy.
• Support in developing and formulating a capital raising strategy, including advice on relevant forms of financing.
• Competence development of the team and business organization with a focus on a broadened business strategy.
• Development of the company's ability to scale up and industrialize its customer offering in a cost-effective manner, with particular regard to eligibility requirements within both civilian and defense-related supply chains.
• Strategic development of management and protection of intangible assets, with a focus on securing critical technology while enabling future business development.

What costs can we finance?

Our funding is subject to rules about state aid. The rules govern what kinds 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, employer contributions and other salary-related costs.
• Equipment, land and buildings: Costs for instruments, equipment and rent for premises other than regular business premises.
• Consulting and licensing costs: Costs for consulting services, knowledge and patents purchased or licensed from an external party. These costs may not exceed 20 percent of an organization's budget.
• Other direct costs: Costs for, for example, materials, supplies and travel that are necessary to carry out the project.
• Indirect costs (overhead):Costs that are linked to the project but do not arise directly, such as premises and cleaning. Indirect costs may amount to a maximum of 30 percent of salary costs. Universities, university colleges, research organizations and government agencies may have higher permitted levels, depending on activities.

For more detailed information about which costs we can finance, see Instructions for eligible costs

Which eligibility requirements apply to costs we finance?

In order for your costs to be eligible for support, the following applies:

• They must be factual, reasonable and necessary for the activities in the project.
• They must be booked correctly and under a separate project code in the accounting. You may not cover project costs with other public funding or own funds intended for other project.
• You may not claim someone else's expenses as your own.

For more detailed information on which eligibility requirements, limitations and exceptions apply, see our general terms and conditions.

The rules about state aid govern how large a proportion of the costs we can finance.

How big funding can the project get?

Del A: Companies can apply for a maximum of SEK 1,000,000 in funding to carry out an innovation project for development and verification.

Del B: Companies that are granted project funding in Stage 1 may be granted an additional grant of a maximum of SEK 150,000 to cover costs associated with the mandatory participation in an accelerator program to build a broadened business strategy.

How big funding can a applicant company get?

How big a funding company can get depends mainly on:

• the organisation's size and activities
• which activities the organisation will carry out in the project.

In this the call for proposals Vinnova can grant support according to the following support criteria:

Supporting information for Part A

• Support to start-ups – Article 22
• De minimis-support (support of minor importance)
• Research and development – Article 25

Supporting information for Part B

• Innovation support for SMEs

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

Support to start-ups – Article 22

This basis for support allows funding up to 100 percent of the company's project costs.

A start-up company means a company that meets the following:

• Has fewer than 50 employees.
• Is not listed.
• Has not distributed any winnings yet.
• Registered, started their 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 (de minimis-support)

This basis for support allows funding up to 100 percent of the company's project 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.

Link to form for certificate of support of minor importance can be found here

Support to companies for research and development – Article 25

Industrial research can be simply described as seeking new knowledge through planned research or critical analysis. This is to develop or significantly improve products, processes or services.

Experimental development can be simply described as combining, shaping and using existing knowledge to develop new or improved products, processes or services.

How much of the costs can we finance?

The organisation's The size and type of activity determines how large a proportion of the costs we can finance. This is called the maximum support level.

Industrial research

• Small business 70%
• Medium-sized company 60%

Experimental development

• Small business 45%
• Medium-sized company 35%

Situations where we finance a higher proportion

If the project is covered by any of these bonus bases, we can finance a higher proportion of the costs.

• Actual cooperation: Some level of cooperation between small and larger companies, between companies in two different European countries or between research organisations and companies
• Dissemination of results: Extensive dissemination through, for example, conferences or open databases.
• Other bonus basis.

Industrial research

• Small business 80%
• Medium-sized company 75%

Experimental development

• Small business 60%
• Medium-sized company 50%

Innovation support for SMEs – Article 28

Companies that are granted funding in this call for proposals, are given the opportunity to submit a supplementary proposal for innovation support of a maximum of SEK 150,000 to cover costs associated with the mandatory participation in an accelerator program for a broadened business strategy, see section 4.

This basis for support can finance up to 100 percent of these costs if the total amount is less than 220,000 euros over a three-year period. To be granted this support you need to submit a certificate of innovation support for innovation services. This will be done in connection with the project start for grant applications.

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

Eligibility requirements on the project party

• Applicant company must be a Swedish limited liability company (AB) and conduct activities business in Sweden.
• Applicant company must be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) according to the EU definition, see How the EU defines small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Applicant company should be the project's only participant.
• A company may only submit a proposal within the framework of this call for proposals.

Eligibility requirements on the project

• The project may apply for a maximum of SEK 1,000,000.
• The project must start during the period 4-11 January 2027 and be completed no later than 15 October 2027.
• The project may not be started before submitting your proposal.
• Costs for consulting services and licenses may not exceed 20 percent of the project budget.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal should be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal should follow the instructions under the heading “ How to apply”.
• Proposal should contain all requested attachments in the correct format.

Applications that meet the call's eligibility requirements will proceed to assessment. In the assessment, we look at how large the potential project proposal is, how realistic it is and who will implement the project.

What do we assess?

Proposal should be in line with the call's aim and objective and is assessed according to the criteria below.

Potential

• How large potential the project proposal's solution has to be further developed, implemented and scaled up within both the civilian and military markets
• How innovative the solution is in relation to existing solutions
• How credibly does the project proposal describe the military problem picture and how the solution is expected to contribute to strengthening (the military) ability to counter it.
• How well the project proposal contributes to increased sustainability with regard to Sweden's security, competitiveness and defense capability

Actors

• To what extent do the project participants have the relevant competence, experience and capacity to lead and implement the project in accordance with the call's aim and objective
• How well the project team is composed in terms of gender distribution, and how well power and influence are distributed between women and men in the project

Feasibility

• How credible and clear is the project proposal's implementation plan in terms of budget, methodology and planned activities to meet the project's objective and expected results
• How credible the project proposal's risk analysis is and how well identified risks are managed
• How good are the conditions for the project's results to be taken forward and used after the end of the project

Benefits of Accelerator Programs

• To what extent is the company considered to benefit from participating in the call's accelerator program for 6 months?
• To what extent is the company considered to have the capacity for strategic participation in the accelerator program in aim to strengthen the company's positioning and business?

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 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 based on their expertise in the field. Each proposal is assessed by at least three evaluator.

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

Based on the assessors' recommendations, Vinnova and the Swedish Armed Forces agree on which project will proceed to a decision on funding.

To ensure relevant dissemination of project within the call's exemplified areas of need (see section What do we want to achieve with the call for proposals), Vinnova and the Swedish Armed Forces reserve the right to apply a portfolio strategy in the selection of applications for grant.

How does it affect an organization's financial status?

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 we receive from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet. We may also ask small and medium-sized businesses to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to carry out the project.

In our assessment we check this:

• That organisations who are granted funding for salary costs are registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency. If such registration does not exist when we make a decision, you must be able to show that a notification has been made. We do not approve retroactive registration.
• That organisations is not insolvent, or undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring. You must also not have any significant unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• That the project manager is employed by the coordinating party in the project.
• That a limited liability company has not used up half or more of its share capital.

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 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 Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding. The conditions 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 during the project period.
• How the result will be used.

See our general terms and conditions

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

• The project shall participate in an accelerator program in accordance with the call text.
• The project must be represented at the seminars or program conferences that Vinnova organizes during the project period. Costs for participation are eligible for support.
• When providing information about the project and when publishing project results, it must be stated that the work was carried out with support from Vinnova (in English, the name is given as Sweden's Innovation Agency) and the Swedish Armed Forces (in English Swedish Armed Forces) within the Civil-Military Innovation Program (CMIP). Publication refers to, for example, publication, regardless of medium, and oral presentations.

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 liable for repayment.

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