Eureka SMART Call 10 - International collaborative projects within Advanced Manufacturing 2027

This the call for proposals is aimed at Swedish actors participating in international project consortia within the Eureka cluster SMART, focusing on Advanced Manufacturing. EUREKA clusters are thematic funding programmes aimed at fostering international collaboration between large and small companies, institutes and academia and strengthening European competitiveness. Eureka clusters are initiated by European industry and focus on the needs of industry and industry.

With this the call for proposals, we want to support international collaborative projects with actors along the entire value chain for competitive and resilient manufacturing with net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

The application process consists of several steps. First, the project consortium submits a proposal in the form of a project outline (Project Outline) to Eureka SMART according to the cluster's international process. The next step is that project, who is judged to be good enough, is invited to submit a full project proposal (Full Project Proposal) to SMART. If the project is subsequently approved and receives a SMART label, the Swedish participants can be invited to apply for funding from Vinnova. Read more about the application process in Chapter 9.

The project will be carried out in international collaboration and comply with the term that applies to both the Eureka cluster and the national the call for proposals, as described in this call text. You can apply for up to SEK 5 million for project, which lasts for up to three years.

The call for proposals will strengthen Swedish actors' international cooperation. The projects will contribute to social benefits, increased competitiveness for Swedish industry and sustainable development in Sweden.

What will the call for proposals achieve?

The call for proposals will support international project within the Eureka cluster SMART and develop tomorrow's innovation in advanced manufacturing. The projects will develop new knowledge, new products, services, processes or standards within the cluster area and contribute to meeting important societal and business challenges through research, development and innovation. They will also strengthen Swedish organisations'' opportunities to collaborate with leading international actors and gain access to new markets, networks and competencies with the overall aim of achieving a competitive and resilient manufacturing industry with net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Examples of relevant innovation areas for the Eureka cluster SMART are: advanced manufacturing processes, intelligent and adaptive manufacturing systems, design of safe, sustainable and digital products, digital, virtual and efficient companies, human-machine collaboration, human-centric manufacturing, sustainable processes and systems, sustainable manufacturing towards a circular economy, customer-based manufacturing or new business models.

What are the projects expected to achieve?

The project that receive funding will contribute to:

• develop solutions with clear potential to create benefits for users, business or society
• strengthen the competitiveness of the participating Swedish companies through new products, services, processes or international business opportunities
• create long-term international collaborations and strategic partnerships
• create new knowledge, technologies, services, processes or standardsli
• create results that can be used, be further developed and disseminated outside the project consortium and contribute to the benefit of Swedish industry and Sweden
• contribute to strengthened Swedish competitiveness and sustainable growth
• provide participating SMEs with good opportunities to develop and grow
• contribute to sustainable development by addressing relevant environmental, social or economic challenges.

The results can be, for example, prototypes, demonstrators, new methods or funding to international standards.

The results should be clear and possible to follow up. The projects should therefore formulate concrete objective and measurable results that shows the benefits the project creates for the participating the organisations and for Sweden.

How will the projects contribute to sustainable transition?

Vinnova will contribute to sustainable growth and transition. Therefore, projects should consider both gender equality and climate transition in project implementation and results.

The projects should describe how they can contribute to sustainable development in line with Agenda 2030 and Vinnova's work for an innovative force in a sustainable world. The grant can, for example, be about reduced climate impact, more resource-efficient solutions, strengthened competitiveness or increased inclusion.

This means that gender equality and climate transition will be integrated both in the project implementation and in the results that the project will create.

Read more about:

Compared funding of innovations

An innovative force in a sustainable world

The call for proposals is aimed at Swedish organisations who participates in international project within the Eureka cluster SMART.

In order to apply for funding from Vinnova, the project must first have been approved within the Eureka cluster's international process and received a SMART label. Swedish participants in such project can then be invited to leave a national proposal.

The Swedish project consortium must include at least one Swedish company. An SME must have at least SEK 1 million in net sales excluding public funding. The SME must also have the equivalent of at least three full-time employees.

Companies must have a clear and active role in the project and are expected to benefit from the results of the project, for example through strengthened competitiveness, new business opportunities or growth.

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

Project may also include:

• universities
• research institutes
• other relevant organisations contributing to the implementation of the project.

The international project consortium must also fulfil the eligibility requirements applicable to SMART. This means, among other things, that the project must involve at least two independent organisations from at least two Eureka countries.

What costs can we finance?

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

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

• Remuneration costs: Gross wages and salaries paid, employer's contributions and other non-wage labour costs.
• Equipment, land and buildings: Costs of instruments, equipment and rent for premises other than ordinary business premises.
• Consultancy and licensing costs: costs of consultancy services, knowledge and patents purchased or used under licence from an external actor; These costs may not exceed 20% of an organisation's budget.
  In case of special needs, for example if the project requires specialist expertise, we can accept up to 30% of an organisation's budget. The need for consulting and licensing costs must be justified in your proposal, and the justification is taken into account in our assessment.
• Other direct costs: Costs such as materials, supplies and travel necessary to carry out the project. Fees to the Eureka Cluster Secretariat can be included here.
• Indirect costs (overheads): Costs linked to the project but not directly incurred, such as premises and cleaning. Indirect costs may not exceed 30% of wage costs. Universities, university colleges, research organisations and government agencies may have higher permitted levels, depending on activities.

For more detailed information on what costs we can fund, see Instructions to eligible costs

What eligibility requirements applies to costs we fund?

For your costs to be eligible, this applies, among other things:

They must be actual, reasonable and necessary for the activities in the project.

They must be entered correctly and on a separate project code in the accounts. You may not cover project costs with other public funding or own funds intended for other project.

You may not include someone else's costs 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 determine how much of the costs we can finance. This is determined individually for each organisation. We therefore distinguish between how big the funding project can get, and how much a participating organisation can get.

How big funding can the project get?

The project can apply for up to SEK 5 million in funding per project. The project duration is up to 3 years. Vinnova co-finances a maximum of 50 percent of the Swedish consortium's eligible costs.

How big funding can a participating organisation get?

How big funding a participating organisation can get depends mainly on:

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

Descriptions in future sections about which support we can provide are simplified. For full details, see Grounds and support rates for funding

Support to companies for research and development

In this the call for proposals we give support to industrial research or experimental development. Indicate in proposal which of the support grounds the project is looking for, only one basis for support can be selected per project.

Industrial research can be 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 described as combining, shaping and using existing knowledge. This is to develop new or improved products, processes or services.

How much of the costs can we finance?

The organisation's size and type of activity determines how much of the costs we can finance. This is called the maximum aid intensity.

In this call for proposals:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in economic activities and covered by the EU definition can be granted to funding up to 50% of their eligible costs.
• Large companies and other organisations engaged in economic activities, but not covered by the EU definition of an SME, can be granted to funding up to 30% of their eligible costs.

Read the following documents from the European Commission to determine whether your company qualifies as an SME or a large company.

User's Guide on the definition of SME

State aid to economic activities (company)p>p> href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/sme/public/organisation-name">EU SME self-assessment questionnaire

Support to universities, university colleges and other public organisations

We also give support to organisations who does not conduct economic activities. This means that the organisation does not offer a service or product on a market. This usually includes universities, research institutes and other public organisations.

This aid is not covered by the State aid rules. We can therefore finance up to 100% of the costs of such an organisation. The aid is often referred to as ‘not state aid’.

How is it determined whether a organisation engages in economic activities?

A organisation offering any kind of service or product on a market is considered to engage in 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 is profit-making. Nor does it matter what legal form the activity takes. For example, whether it is a limited liability company, a partnership, an economic association, a non-profit association or a foundation.

If a organisation conducts economic activities is determined by their ordinary activities, not by the activities of the project.

Some organisations conducts both economic and non-economic activities, such as research institutes. Then it is important that you know in which of these activities you apply.

Are you unsure if a organisation in your project conducts economic activities, please contact call manager. However, The organisation is responsible for assessing whether it conducts economic activities.

In order for us to assess your national proposal for the Swedish project constellation, it must meet certain formal eligibility requirements. If the requirements are not met, proposal can be rejected directly.

Eligibility requirements on participants

• All participating organisations should be legal entities. Natural persons or sole proprietorships cannot participate. Foreign legal entities may also participate. However, foreign actors who may funding by us must have a branch or place of business in Sweden, and the costs must be incurred at the branch or place of business.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden.
• At least one participant must be a company.
• For small or medium-sized enterprises, the individual company must show that the following eligibility requirements is fulfilled when the Swedish proposal is sent to Vinnova, according to the model declaration attached in proposal:
  • The company must have at least SEK 1 million in net sales. Net sales do not include public funding from, for example, Vinnova or the EU.
  • The company must have a number of employees corresponding to at least three full-time employees.

Eligibility requirements on the project

• The project may apply for a maximum of SEK 5 million.
• The project must start no later than 1 November 2027 and end no later than 1 November 2030.
• The project must not have started before you submitted your proposal.
• Costs for consultancy services and licenses may amount to a maximum of 20 per cent of an organisation's budget, or up to 30 per cent if you have justified the need.
• The work effort in time from participating companies must be at least 60 per cent of the Swedish consortium's total work effort.
• No country's project consortium's total costs may cover more than 60% of the project budget.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal should have a valid SMART-label.
• Proposal should be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal should follow the instructions under the heading "How to apply".
• Proposal should contain all requested appendices.

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

We also look at how well your project integrates gender equality, both in how your project group is composed and how you implement the project. By integrating gender and gender perspectives, more inclusive and relevant solutions are developed. It strengthens both the innovation capacity and the results of the project.

Gender equality as a tool for innovative societal development

What do we assess?

When assessing applications, we look at four main criteria:

• Potential: We analyse what effects and what value we can expect from the project.
• Actors: We assess the participants' competence and ability to implement the project and reach the desired results and effects.
• Implementability: We assess how realistic and credible the project plan is, both to implement the project and to achieve the desired results.
• Gender equality: We assess how your project group is composed and the intended result of your project.

Potential (weight 40%)

• How big the potential project proposal has to achieve the objective and aim call, as described in section 2 What do we want to achieve with the call for proposals? .
• How innovative the project proposal is in relation to existing solutions and ongoing major initiatives in the field
• How credible the project proposal's analysis is of the problem picture and the results that the proposed solution is expected to achieve.
• 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.
• The potential of the project will lead to increased competitiveness and growth for Swedish participating companies through international cooperation as well as the ability to disseminate the results outside the project consortium.
• The project's ability to promote sustainable development.

Actors (weight 20 percent)

• How well the composition, participation, competence and ability of the actor constellation contributes to project goals and implementation. Swedish international project or work package management is judged positively.
• How well the project proposal and the actor constellation build on previous activities and results.
• How well the project manager and other key people are judged to be in a position to lead and implement the project.
• How well positioned the Swedish consortium members are in the international consortium for the results to benefit Sweden.
• To what extent the project has an active participation and commitment from Swedish industrial actors.
• How effective and well balanced the international consortium is.

Feasibility (weight 30 percent)

• How well the project plan and budget are judged 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, and to what extent international cooperation exists.
• How well the project plan shows how the results will be anchored and disseminated to important actors in the area.
• How good the conditions are for the project's results to be taken forward and put to use after the end of the project.
• How well the need for consulting services and licenses is justified. This only applies if an organization's budget includes more than 20 percent consulting and licensing costs.

Gender equality (10 percent)

• How well the project proposal contributes to increased gender equality by integrating perspectives on gender and gender.
• How well the financial contribution, participation, power and influence are distributed equally between women and men in the project team.
• How well the gender distribution in the project team and perspectives on gender and gender have been integrated into the project plan.

How do we assess?

When we have received the applications, we review them. We sort out all 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 is appointed by us based on their expertise in the field. Each proposal is assessed by at least three evaluator.

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

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

How does an organization's financial status affect?

Before we decide on funding, we also make an overall assessment of the organizational and financial status of those who receive funding.

We use information that we receive from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet.

In our assessment, we check this:

• Organisations granted to funding for wage costs must be registered as an employer with the Swedish Tax Agency. If such a 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.
• Organisations shall not be insolvent, or undergo liquidation or corporate reorganisation. They should also not have unpaid debts of significance to the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• The project leader should be employed by a participant, preferably the coordinating party.
• Shareholders should not have used up half or more of their share capital.

We can also ask small and medium-sized enterprises to show that they have financial coverage to carry out the project.

When we have assessed all applications, we will send you a decision in which we either approve or reject your proposal. Since the applications are assessed in competition, you may be rejected even though you meet all eligibility requirements and criteria.

In the decision, we indicate 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 if you are granted funding?

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

• That you sign a special document in which you accept your participation and undertake to carry out the project.
• That you report to us on the progress, costs and achievements of results during the project period.
• You must have a written project agreement that regulates your mutual rights and obligations for all parties participating in the international consortium. The contract must be signed by all parties before you submit your first progress report. It may take time to get the international project agreement in place, so feel free to start this before the project starts.
• How to use the results and that scientific publication should be done with open access so that the results are made freely available to everyone.

See our general terms and conditions

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

• The terms of the Project Agreement in § 1.4, General terms and conditions is considered fulfilled when a consortium agreement has been signed by all parties who have joined the project 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 st.1, General terms and conditions applies for the first payment that the Swedish coordinator has confirmed to Vinnova that the international project has started with an indication of the date when the kick-off took place. 

We may also decide to add complementary special conditions for individual project. If so, they are set out in the decision.

Can you have to repay funding?

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

Who can read you proposal?

Your proposal will be read by employees at Vinnova 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 have to disclose them if they are requested. However, we treat certain types of information as confidential if it is likely to cause economic damage to the individual if they are disclosed. It concerns information on business and operational conditions, inventions or research results.

General documents and confidentiality