International collaboration call within EJPRD 2022: Improved diagnostics Rare diagnoses

This offer is aimed at Swedish parties seeking funding in the international call EJP RD (European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases) 2022 with a focus on rare diagnoses. All information about the focus, how to apply and what is funded can be found on the international call website).

EJP RD is responsible for the application function and assessment of proposal. Vinnova's role is to finance the Swedish parties in the project that are assessed positively by EJP RD and meet Vinnova's national eligibility requirements for funding. For this reason, the projects seeking funding from EJP RD will also submit a proposal to Vinnova. If two Swedish parties participate in an international consortium, they must submit a joint proposal. Vinnova participates in this call for proposals together with the Swedish Research Council. Swedish project partners in a consortium seeking funding from Vinnova must consist of at least one participant from industry (small or medium-sized companies and large companies). Swedish applicant without industrial participation are referred to the Swedish Research Council.

Swedish parties from academia, institutes, idea-driven organizations and the public sector and care providers can apply for 100% cost coverage if the activities are included in their non-financial activities. Large companies can apply for 20% of the eligible costs, small and medium-sized enterprises can apply for up to 70% of the eligible costs.

Vinnova finances a Swedish industrial party in a consortium with a total of SEK 3 million over three years. If two Swedish parties are part of a consortium, one of which is an industrial party, Vinnova can finance the Swedish participation with a total of SEK 4.5 million over three years. Vinnova has the opportunity to finance about 3 project with Swedish participation.

Participant applying for funding must be a Swedish legal entity (organization) in Sweden. In this respect, a Swedish legal entity (organization) is equated with a foreign organization that has a branch or place of business in Sweden (the costs of the project must be attributable to the branch's or place of business's activities).

This call for proposals is the fourth call under EJP RD. The call is coordinated by EJP-Cofund action and brings together 33 funders from 24 countries to invest in transnational collaborative research and innovation. EJP RD 2022 aims to develop new diagnostic methods and processes to enable early diagnosis and monitoring of rare diagnoses. Research and innovation proposals should cover at least one of the following areas:

• Phenotype-driven diagnosis: integration between different ontologies, digital phenotyping, development of methods / applications to extract health-related data to support diagnosis through artificial intelligence.
• Prognostic marker / biomarker examinations for early diagnosis and monitoring.
• Methods for solving cases that are currently difficult to analyze due to various underlying mechanisms (eg mosaicism, genomic (non-coding) changes, gene regulation, complex inheritance), including new methods in genomics / functional genomics, multi -omics, mathematics, biostatistics, bioinformatics and artificial intelligence;
• Functional strategies for stratifying variants of unknown significance (VUS) for clinical use. Establishment of (in vitro) systems to distinguish between VUS and pathogenic variants.
• Development of new models to enable diagnosis, especially for newly discovered diseases that can share underlying molecular mechanisms with already known diseases.

Each consortium must consist of at least four different organizations (eligible for funding) from four different countries. A maximum of two organizations from each country may be part of a consortium.

To apply for funding from Vinnova, it is important to follow the formal requirements under heading 7.

Please note that the dates are preliminary. For current information, see the international call website.

The call opens: 14 December 2021

Digital Question Time with Vinnova: 21 December 2021 at 10.00

Last application date for EJP RD: 16 February 2022

Last application date for Vinnova: 23 February 2022 at 14.00

Last application date for supplementary proposal to EJP RD: 22 June 2022

Last application date for complete proposal to Vinnova: 22 June 2022 at 14.00

Answer any questions from evaluator: 28 July 2022

Last decision date: 30 November 2022

Project start at the earliest: 10 January 2023

Project start no later than: 31 January 2023

Vinnova's area Hållbar Precisionshälsa works to take advantage of the opportunities with new technology and digitalisation to improve the individual's conditions for increased health and well-being in an equal and sustainable way. A key prerequisite for achieving this goal is to be able to collaborate across disciplines and countries and to make the necessary health data available for early and accurate diagnosis and treatment. The European definition of a rare diagnosis is that it affects up to five out of 10,000 individuals. A rare diagnosis by definition requires individual adaptation as well as collaboration for knowledge and data exchange as well as improved diagnostics and treatment. Vinnova participates in this call for proposals together with the Swedish Research Council so that Swedish actors from all sectors have the opportunity to contribute to new knowledge, innovations and a strong life science sector. These are the cornerstones for achieving the goals in the area of Hållbar Precisionshälsa and the national Life Science strategy.

For complete information, see the international call website.

Vinnova's overall priorities and objectives:

Vinnova has the task of promoting sustainable growth by improving the conditions for innovation. Improved conditions for innovation strengthen the capacity to achieve the goals for sustainable development in Agenda 2030. Through our efforts, we contribute to the global commitment to achieve the goals.

Our work to contribute to the goals in Agenda 2030

The call is aimed at Swedish industry, academia, the public sector, institutes and idea-driven organizations seeking funding in the EJP RDs international call for proposals 2022. Swedish actors seeking funding from Vinnova must consist of at least one industrial participant,see the international call. website and Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding: Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding. The consortia that do not have a Swedish industrial player can apply for funding from the Swedish Research Council.

Activities for which funding can be funding for

Needs-driven research and innovation in the field of rare diagnoses EJP RD 2022. For complete information, see the international call website.

Eligible costs

Our funding is through funding. Funding for organizations that conduct financial activities is covered by rules on state support.

The rules govern, among other things, the types of costs and the proportion of them that may be covered by funding.

Government support for financial activities (companies)

Rules for which costs are eligible

A maximum of two Swedish organizations can participate in an international consortium , of which at least one of the participants must be from industry. Vinnova finances a Swedish party with a total of a maximum of SEK 3 million over three years or two Swedish parties with a total of a maximum of SEK 4.5 million over three years. Vinnova has the opportunity to finance about 3 project with Swedish participation.

The assessment of the content of the application is handled by EJP RD, but in order for the project to be funded by Vinnova, the applicant must meet the following national formal eligibility requirements:

• All project parties are legal entities / organizations and listed in Vinnova's portal
• Proposal is written in Swedish or English
• At least one of the Swedish applicant is from industry
• The maximum amount applied for for a Swedish applicant is SEK 3,000,000
• The maximum amount applied for for two Swedish applicant in a consortium is SEK 4,500,000
• Applied aid intensity must comply with the requirements under section How much funding do we provide.
• For limited companies, the most recent annual report must show that net sales or equity correspond to at least half of the amount applied for. If this is not confirmed by the most recent annual report, a certificate from an auditor or authorized accounting consultant or an account statement needs to be attached or provided upon request from Vinnova.
• The proposal submitted to the international call must be attached as a project description in Vinnova's application portal.
• Proposal has been received by Vinnova no later than 14.00 on 23 February 2022.

What do we assess?

Proposal is assessed by a group of international experts appointed by EJP RD and in accordance with the assessment criteria available on the international call website.

It is important that you read the assessment criteria carefully.

About our decisions

How much each party in the project is granted in funding is stated in the decision. Funding for organizations engaged in economic activities will be granted with the support of the European Commission Regulation (EU) no. 651/2014 Article 25 - industrial research. The basis for support is stated in the decision and also governs which costs are eligible.

Our decision to grant or reject a proposal is not subject to appeal.

Term for granted funding

For funding, our general terms and conditions for funding apply. The terms and conditions include rules on project agreements, conditions for payment, follow-up, reporting and utilization of results.

Our rules and term for funding

To apply for funding, you first make a proposal on the international call website, according to the instructions available there.

By 23 February 2022 at 14.00, you must also submit a proposal on Vinnova's application portal. There you fill in the mandatory information including all Swedish project parties and attach your EJP RD 2022 proposal as a project description and if necessary also a certificate from the auditor / accounting consultant or account statement, see under formal eligibility requirements.

In cases where your project application is invited to submit a complete proposal to EJP RD, you will also be able to complete your submitted proposal to Vinnova.

Prepare your proposal well in advance of Vinnova closing the portal. You can unlock the proposal at any time and make changes, right up until closing.

When the call is closed and the proposal is registered with Vinnova, a confirmation will be sent by e-mail to you who are in charge of the user account, project manager and signatory / head of department. It may take a few hours for you to receive the email.

If you have not received a confirmation email within 24 hours of closing, please contact us.

When the portal is closed, proposal can only be supplemented at our request.