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, with a focus on Avancerad Tillverkning. Eureka clusters are thematic funding programmes that aim 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.

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 that is deemed to be good enough is invited to submit a full project application (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 how the application process works in Chapter 9.

The project must be implemented in international collaboration and meet the term that apply to both the Eureka cluster and the national the call for proposals, as described in this call text. You can apply for up to 5 million SEK for project which lasts for up to three years.

The call for proposals will strengthen international cooperation between Swedish actors. The projects will contribute to societal benefit, increased competitiveness for Swedish business and sustainable development in Sweden.

Eureka clusters create opportunities for companies, universities, university colleges and research institutes to develop new solutions together with international partners. Through this the call for proposals Vinnova wants to strengthen the participation of Swedish actors in international innovation projects and contribute to increased competitiveness, sustainable development and long-term growth.

What will the call for proposals accomplish?

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's 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 skills 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 enterprises, 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 who receive funding shall contribute to:

• develop solutions with a clear potential to create benefit 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
• develop new knowledge, technology, services, processes or standards
• create results that can be used, further developed and disseminated outside the project consortium and contribute to the benefit of Swedish industry and Sweden
• contribute to strengthening Swedish competitiveness and sustainable growth
• give participating small and medium-sized enterprises 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 show the benefit the project creates for the participants the organisations and for Sweden.

How will the projects contribute to sustainable transition?

Vinnova shall contribute to sustainable growth and transition. Therefore, the projects shall take into account both gender equality and climate transition in the 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 contribution may, for example, concern reduced climate impact, more resource-efficient solutions, strengthened competitiveness or increased inclusion.

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

Read more about:

Equalized funding by innovations

An innovative force in a sustainable world

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

In order to apply 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 may then be invited to submit a national proposal.

The Swedish project consortium must include at least one Swedish company. A small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) must have at least one million Swedish kronor in net turnover excluding public funding. The SME must also have the equivalent of at least three full-time employees.

The companies should have a clear and active role in the project and are expected to benefit from the project's results, for example through strengthened competitiveness, new business opportunities or growth.

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

Project may also include:

• university and university colleges
• research institute
• other relevant organisations that contribute to the implementation of the project.

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

What costs can we finance?

Our funding is subject to rules about state aid. 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, employer contributions and other salary 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.
  For special needs, for example if the project requires specialist expertise, we can accept up to 30 percent of an organization's budget. The need for consulting and licensing costs should be justified in your proposal, and the justification will be weighed in our assessment.
• Other direct costs: Costs for, 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 linked to the project but do not arise directly, such as premises and cleaning. Indirect costs may not exceed 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. This is determined individually for each organisation. We therefore differentiate between how large a funding project can get, and how much a participant organisation can get.

How big funding can the project get?

The project can apply for up to 5 million SEK 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 much funding can a participant organisation get?

How much funding a participant organisation can receive depends mainly on:

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

Descriptions in the following sections about what support we can provide are simplified. For full details, see Support bases and support levels 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 bases the project is applying for, only one basis for support can be selected per project.

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.

In this call for proposals the following applies:

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

Read the following document from the European Commission to determine whether your company is classified as an SME or a large enterprise.

User guide on the definition of SME

State aid to economic activities (business)

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

Eligibility requirements on participants

• All participants organisations must be legal entities. Individuals or sole proprietorships cannot participate. Foreign legal entities can also participate. However, foreign actors that receive funding from us must have a branch or establishment in Sweden, and the costs must be incurred by the branch or establishment.
• 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 demonstrate that the following eligibility requirements are met when the Swedish proposal is sent to Vinnova, according to the model declaration attached in proposal:
  • The company must have at least one million kronor in net turnover. 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.

Eligibility requirements on the project

• The project may apply for a maximum of 5 million SEK.
• The project must start no later than November 1, 2027 and end no later than November 1, 2030.
• The project must not have started before you submit your proposal.
• Costs for consulting services and licenses may amount to a maximum of 20 percent of an organization's budget, or up to 30 percent if you have justified the need.
• 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 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 attachments.

Applications that meet our eligibility requirements criteria will be forwarded to assessment. In the assessment, we look at how big potential your idea is, 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 sex and gender perspectives, more inclusive and relevant solutions are developed. This strengthens both the innovation capacity and the project's results.

Gender equality as a tool for innovative social development

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 the desired results.
• Gender equality: We assess how your project group is composed and the intended result of your project.

Potential (weight 40 percent)

• How big potential the project proposal has to achieve the call's objective and aim, 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 area
• 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 project's potential aims to lead to increased competitiveness and growth for Swedish participating companies through international cooperation and the ability to disseminate the results outside the project consortium.
• The project's potential to promote sustainable development.

Actors (weight 20 percent)

• How well the composition, participation, competence and ability of the actor constellation contribute to project goals and implementation. Swedish international project management or work package management is assessed positively.
• How well the project proposal and the constellation of actors build on previous activities and results.
• 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.

Feasibility (weight 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 important actors within 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 the need for consulting services and licenses is justified. This only applies if an organization's budget includes more than 20 percent consulting and license costs.

Gender equality (10 percent)

• How well the project proposal contributes to increased gender equality by integrating perspectives on sex 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 sex and gender 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 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 evaluator.

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

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

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.

In our assessment we check this:

• Organisations who are granted funding for salary costs must be registered as an employer 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.
• 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.
• The project manager should be employed by a participant, preferably the coordinating party.
• Limited liability companies must not have used up half or more of their share capital.

We can also ask small and medium-sized companies to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to carry out the project.

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 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 agreement 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 please start this before the project starts.
• How the results will be used and that scientific publication will be 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 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 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, 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 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.

Who can read your 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