EUREKA CELTIC-NEXT - Information and Communication Technology - Spring 2026

With this call for proposals Vinnova wants to promote international collaboration for research, development and innovation. Eureka clusters are thematic funding programs that are intended to promote international collaboration between large and small companies, institutes and academia and strengthen European competitiveness. Eureka clusters are initiated by European industry and focus on the needs of industry and business. This the call for proposals connects to the Celtic-Next cluster, which focuses on information and communication technology (ICT), such as digital security, artificial intelligence, 5G, 6G, Internet of Things.

The call for proposals is part of the Advanced digitalisationprogram, an industry-driven programme to promote Sweden's and Swedish industry's ability to create future digital solutions. The projects funded will contribute to Sweden's shared ability to create and utilize digital opportunities.

Read more about the program on the Advanced Digitization website

Swedish actors in an international project consortium that have applied for, and received an approved project proposal within a Eureka cluster (Eureka label), may be invited to apply for national funding from Vinnova. Read more about how to apply to the Eureka cluster in chapter 9 and on the cluster's own website Celtic-Next Spring Call 2026

The project that receive funding will contribute to social benefit and sustainable development in Sweden. They will also contribute to increased competitiveness for Swedish business.

The projects must include at least one small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) and can last up to three years. At least 60 percent of the total work effort in the consortium must come from the participating companies .Vinnova can co-finance a maximum of 50 percent of the entire Swedish consortium's eligible costs.

Only Swedish project partners can apply for funding. A foreign organisation that has a branch or establishment in Sweden can apply for funding. The costs in the project must be linked to the activities at the branch or establishment.

Eureka clusters are European networks with partnerships between the public and private sectors. They have broad industrial participation, which is intended to promote research or standardization processes. Project within Eureka clusters are international collaborative projects with strong industrial involvement and focus on industrial needs. They are strategically important for Sweden's business community and constitute an important part of Vinnova's effort on internationalisation.

Inom Eureka-kluster project will collaborate with at least two independent organisations, from at least two member countries within Eurekakluster Celtic-Next. The projects will develop new technologies, services or standards of great importance for European competitiveness.

An important key to successful cluster projects is collaboration between committed, innovative large and small companies and strong, active universities, university colleges and research institutes. Project funded within the call for proposals will contribute to increased competitiveness and growth for Swedish business. In the long term, the projects will demonstrate or develop sustainable solutions to societal challenges.

With this offer Vinnova wants to:

• finance international collaborative projects in information and communication technology (ICT). The projects should be focused on advanced digitalisation within Swedish industry . Read more about the program on the Advanced Digitalization website
• create conditions for companies to strengthen their competitiveness and growth in the long and short term, nationally and internationally, through project that clearly differ from the ordinary development of the company's existing products, services or processes.
• create conditions for companies to invest in the development of sustainable innovations. These can be new products, services or processes that contribute to fulfilling one or more of the sustainable development goals in Agenda 2030.
• give Swedish organisations the opportunity for strategic partnerships with leading international actors and offer an arena for networking.
• give Swedish organisations the opportunity to produce new knowledge and develop other unique assets.
• work for a diversified and equal business and social development that makes Sweden an international example.

From a completed project, we expect, for example, prototypes, demonstrators or funding to international standards.

Effects of implemented project results can be new products, new business opportunities, skills development and standardization that are relevant to the competitiveness and skills supply of Swedish business.

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 how your project group is composed and in the intended outcome of your project.

Equal funding of innovations

An innovative force in a sustainable world

The call for proposals is aimed at Swedish consortia that have received a Eureka label for their proposal to the Eureka cluster. These may be invited to submit a national proposal to Vinnova for co-financing by the Swedish project partners.

Inom Eureka-kluster project will collaborate with at least two independent organisations, from at least two member countries within the Eureka cluster Celtic-Next. The projects will develop new technologies, services or standards of great importance for European competitiveness.

The Swedish project consortium must consist of at least one small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) with at least one million Swedish kronor in net turnover, excluding public funding. The enterprises must have a number of employees corresponding to at least three full-time employees.

An important key to successful cluster projects is collaboration between committed, innovative large and small companies and universities, university colleges and research institutes.

Only project parties that are Swedish legal entities can receive funding. Swedish legal entity also refers to a foreign organisation that has a branch or operating location in Sweden. The costs in the project must then be attributable to the activities at the branch or operating location.

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 and salary costs, to the extent that the project party's employees work in the project.
• 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 an external party. Costs for consulting services from external parties may not exceed 20 percent of a project party's budget. We can accept a higher percentage than 20 percent in case of special needs. You must then justify the need and scope of consulting efforts. This justification is taken into account in our assessment.
• Other direct costs: For example, materials, supplies and travel necessary to carry out the project. Fees to the Eureka Cluster Secretariat may be included here.
• 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 as well as general limitations and exceptions, see Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding | Vinnova

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 about which eligibility requirements, limitations and exceptions apply, see Instructions for eligible costs.

The state aid rules also 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?

Each project can apply for funding of up to 15 million SEK. The budget of the call is 15 million SEK. The project duration is up to 3 years. Vinnova co-finances a maximum of 50 percent of the Swedish consortium's eligible costs.

How much funding can a participant receive?

How much funding each participant can receive depends mainly on:

• party size and activities
• what 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 the industrial research or experimental development support basis.

What is industrial research or experimental development?

Industrial research can be simply described as seeking new knowledge through planned research or critical analysis 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.

In this call for proposals the following applies:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that carry out economic activities and fall within the EU's definition can be granted funding of up to 50 percent of their eligible costs.
• Large companies and other organisations that carry out economic activities, but not falling within the EU's definition of an SME, can be granted funding of up to 30 percent of their eligible costs.

Read the European Commission's document User Guide on the SME definition to determine whether your company is classified as an SME or a large enterprise.

State aid to economic activities (businesses)

In order for us to take a position on and assess your proposal, it must meet certain formal eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements for organizational form of project parties:

• All project partners must be Swedish legal entities and conduct activities in Sweden. Individuals or individual companies cannot participate as project partners.
• The Swedish consortium must include at least one SME.
• For SMEs, the individual company must demonstrate that eligibility requirements below are met when the Swedish proposal is sent to Vinnova.
  • The company must have at least one million SEK in net turnover according to the latest annual report or auditor's certificate. Net turnover does not include public funding from, for example, Vinnova or the EU.
  • The company must have a number of employees equivalent to at least three full-time employees.

The requirements also apply applicant who want to participate who are not beneficiary.

Eligibility requirements for the project

• The project may apply for a maximum of SEK 15 million.

• The project manager for the Swedish consortium must be employed by the coordinating party in the Swedish part of the project.
• The work effort in time from participating companies must be at least 60 percent of the Swedish consortium's total work effort.
• No country's project consortium's total costs may account for more than 60 percent of the project's budget.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal must have a Eureka label.
• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal must follow the instructions given in section 9.

Proposal must contain all requested attachments.

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 four 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.
• Gender equality: We assess how your project group is composed and the intended outcome of your project.

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

Potential (weight 40 percent)

• How great potential the project proposal has to achieve the call's theme, aim and objective (as described in chapter 2).
• How innovative the project proposal is in relation to existing solutions and ongoing major initiatives in the area.
• How likely it is that the project proposal will lead to new knowledge and new skills that can be used to scale up or implement new solutions.
• How well the project plan shows how the results will be anchored and disseminated.
• The project's potential to lead to increased competitiveness and growth among participating Swedish companies and the value of international cooperation.
• The project's potential to promote sustainable development.

Actors (weight 20 percent)

• How well the composition, participation, competence and ability of the Swedish actor constellation contribute to project goals and implementation. Swedish international project management or work package management is assessed positively.
• How well the project manager and other key people are assessed to be able to lead and implement the project.
• How well positioned are the Swedish consortium members in the international consortium so that the results will benefit Sweden.
• To what extent does the project have active participation and commitment from Swedish industry players.
• How effective and well-balanced the international consortium is.
• How well the need for consulting services is justified. This only applies if a project party's budget contains more than 20 percent consulting costs.
• The project consortium's access to relevant sustainability expertise.

Feasibility (30 percent)

• How well the project plan and budget are assessed to be able to realize a solution in accordance with the project proposal.
• How credible the project plan's risk analysis and action plan for these risks are.
• How well the project's approach, organization and involvement of relevant actors is planned and contributes to effective implementation, as well as the degree to which international cooperation occurs.
• How well the project plan shows how the results will be anchored and disseminated to other actors in the area.
• How good the conditions are for the project's results to be taken forward and used after the end of the project.
• How well relevant sustainability aspects have been integrated into the project plan.

Gender equality (10 percent)

• How well have gender and sex perspectives been integrated into the project plan and what significance these have for the project's results.
• How well the financial contribution, participation, power and influence are distributed in an equal manner in the project team.

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.

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.

Project may be invited to an interview. After external assessment and possible interview, Vinnova makes an overall assessment that forms the basis for our final decision.

Applications are assessed according to the assessment criteria in section 7. The assessment takes place in competition between applications received.

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 personnel costs must be registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency.
• Organisations must not be insolvent, undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring. They must also not have 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 means to implement the project according to their budget in proposal. They cannot use public funding or their own funds intended for other project to cover project costs in this call for proposals.

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 may take time to get the international project agreement in place, so please initiate this 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:

• The condition regarding Project Agreement in § 1.4, General terms and conditions is considered fulfilled when a consortium agreement has been signed by all parties that have received funding nationally in the international consortium. The Swedish Coordinator shall confirm to Vinnova that the agreement has been signed by all parties.
• In addition to § 6.2, paragraph 1, General terms and conditions, the first payment requires that the Swedish coordinator has confirmed to Vinnova that the international project has started, stating the date when the kick-off took place.

We may also decide to add supplementary special conditions for individual project. In such cases, 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, 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.

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