Impact Innovation: Realise innovative solutions with customers within Water Wise Societies 2025

Now Water Wise Societies is asking about Sweden - on the way towards the mission of sustainable water for all by 2050. To achieve transformation, innovative solutions that can contribute to sustainable water for all must be developed, commercialized and put into widespread use.

In this call for proposals Water Wise Societies supports organizations with innovative solutions that need to be realized together with potential customers. The solutions must contribute to the transition to sustainable water and have clear customer benefit and business potential.

You can apply in one of two tracks

Track 1: Explore feasibility for an upcoming project

You can apply to evaluate and analyze the potential of an innovation project. This also includes mapping or planning activities needed to introduce and utilize the solution. For example, this could involve the structure of the upcoming project, what resources are required, and how likely it is that the solution has market potential. It could also involve investigating the conditions for existing system solutions in a new context, for example in an international market. Funded project in track 1 are a maximum of 6 months long and should be able to lead to a track 2 project.

Track 2: Develop, test and verify together with potential customer

You can apply to bring an innovative solution closer to the market through development, testing and verification together with a potential customer. This can, for example, involve developing and testing technology, processes or infrastructure, as well as activities that prepare for possible commercialization. It can also involve development to adapt existing system solutions to a new context, for example in an international market. The projects should be able to lead to, for example, a plan for a demo project, realization, commissioning, larger follow-up projects, pilot trials or an investment. Funded project in track 2 are a maximum of 12 months long.

Project can start no earlier than November 1 and no later than November 30, 2025.

Water Wise Societies plans for this call for proposals to be recurring and open again in 2026.

Water Wise Societies is leading the transition towards sustainable water for all. Via Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas fund efforts in research, innovation, policy development, capacity development and internationalisation in the water sector that drive this change.

The program's mission Sustainable Water for All 2050 means that water is available in the right quantity and quality, and that it creates good conditions for people, the environment, ecosystems and industries - despite a changing climate.

For more information, see Water Wise Societies website.

Contribute to Water Wise Societies's mission through innovative solutions!

To achieve the mission, innovative (innovative and sustainable) solutions in the water sector must be realized and utilized, that is, developed and put to use in Sweden and other countries.

Water Wise Societies has identified that there are several companies and other organizations in the water sector with ideas and solutions that can contribute to the transition. For the solutions to be useful, they need to be in a market and correspond to customer needs and demand. The likelihood of this increases when innovative solutions are explored, developed, tested and verified in collaboration with potential customers.

However, to contribute to transformation, it is not enough for innovative solutions to have a customer; they must be widely used when they reach the market. This means that the solutions must be interesting to a larger group of potential customers, or to a few large and market-dominant customers, both in Sweden and internationally.

The call for proposals therefore aims to promote the opportunity for organizations to further develop innovative solutions together with customers and prepare for a commercial phase or a larger pilot and demonstration project. Since the projects are of a smaller size, they can concern sub-periods in a larger context and can result in follow-up projects.

The projects should:

• Apply solutions that can be used broadly and demonstrate clear customer benefit.
• Implemented in collaboration with a customer whose needs are relevant to a broad market, both in Sweden and preferably also internationally.
• Consist of activities required for the solutions to ultimately reach a market and be competitive in the market.
  • This requires that projects, even those that are primarily about exploring conditions or technical development, are based on business potential and what is required for it to be realized.
• Based on clear descriptions of desired results, how it will be evaluated and what the project will lead to.
• Belongs within the Water Wise Societies area. It can be described as the From Source to Coast system and contributes to solving the program's mission and achieving interim goals and missions.

The program's goals and missions

Water Wise Societies has three interim goals and ten missions that together will contribute to achieving the mission Sustainable Water for All 2050:

Resilient supply and management of water in society

• Secure supply and management of water
• Ensuring good drinking water quality
• Adapting society to flooding and drought
• Building and managing society in harmony with water

Wise water use

• Sustainable water extraction
• Reduce water use and leakage
• Recycle and reuse water and its resources

Healthy lakes, streams and groundwater

• Reduce negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems
• Prevent and reduce the spread of hazardous substances
• Reduce eutrophication in lakes and streams

For more information about the missions and systems From Source to Coast, see the Water Wise Societies website.

Contribute to a sustainable system transformation

Water Wise Societies is one of five programme in Impact Innovation, which is Sweden's major innovation initiative to tackle the challenges of our time and the future. In collaborations between actors in the private, public and non-profit organizations, Impact Innovation meets real technical and societal needs with groundbreaking solutions. On the way to a sustainable and competitive Sweden, attractive to live in for everyone. Together we show what is possible, and are ahead internationally.

Impact Innovation will contribute to global competitiveness through transformation for sustainable development, which fits into Vinnova's mission to promote sustainable growth and system transformation. Through the efforts in Impact Innovation, we contribute to the global commitment to achieving the UN's global sustainability goals, defined in Agenda 2030.

We therefore always follow up and assess this:

• If women and men participate in the project on an equal footing, receive contributions and have influence and power over the project.
• How well the project analyzes and takes a position on whether there are sex or gender aspects that are relevant to the project's problem formulation, solutions and effects.

Agenda 2030 as a driver for innovation

Gender-equal innovation – what it means for those seeking funding from us

Making scientific publications and results available

When results from research and innovation are made freely available, more people can contribute to solving societal challenges. All scientific publishing that takes place should be open access.

The call for proposals is aimed at organisations that develop innovative solutions, primarily companies, and their potential customers in the “source to shore” system. The projects will be carried out in collaboration between the developing organisation and the potential customer. A customer is an organisation that buys or uses the solution developed in the project. A potential customer should have needs that are representative of a broad future market for the solution. Potential customers do not have to be end users but can be the next step in the value network. More actors can participate if necessary.

All organizations that have eligible costs in the project must be listed in proposal as project parties. This means that they need to book and report auditable costs for the project. Actors that will participate to a lesser extent, for example in a reference group, can collaborate without being participant. They are then not included in the project's finances, but their participation is described in the project description.

The main applicant ( coordinator) and project partners are always legal entities. Natural persons or individual companies cannot participate as coordinator or project partners.

The following regulations apply to the different tracks:

Track 1 - Explore Feasibility

• The lead applicant is an organization with an idea for an innovative solution. It can be a company, research institute, university or university college.
• Multiple project partners are allowed, but not required.
• A potential customer must submit a letter of intent that shows that they intend to actively participate in the design and activities of the project. The letter of intent must also describe the potential customer's needs and interests. However, the potential customer does not have to participate as participant.

Track 2 - Develop, test and verify together with potential customer

• The main applicants are companies with an innovative solution.
• In addition to the main applicant, a potential customer must participate as participant and actively participate in the project.
  • The participating customer must account for at least 10% of the project's total cost budget.
  • The participating client must submit a letter of intent that demonstrates their intention to actively participate in the design and activities of the project. The letter of intent must also describe the potential client's needs and interests.
• More project partners beyond these two are permitted but not necessary.

Collaboration between companies and potential customers should be based on an expressed and shared understanding of the project's objective and active collaboration.

A participating customer must be external. This means that the potential customer must not have an ownership stake or influence in the applicant company. The customer may receive a share of the contribution for their participation in the project.

Foreign actors can participate as project partners on the following term:

• A foreign actor cannot be coordinator.
• In order for foreign actors to be granted funding, they must have a Swedish business registration number and the costs of participating in the project must be incurred in a Swedish branch or establishment.

If the solution in question is subject to disposal or ownership rights, the applicant company must have the right to develop and commercialize the solution at the start of the project.

If the potential client is a contracting organization, the project should be designed so that the company does not risk consulting conflicts. Such a risk can arise if the potential client issues a procurement contract directly or soon after project is completed and if the company can be considered to have received unfair advantages through the project.

What activities do we want to finance?

You can seek support for project within the following

• Activities carried out together with a potential customer to realize an innovative solution. These activities should constitute a major part of the project.
• Business development and innovation support activities.

Examples of activities that can be financed:

Track 1: Explore feasibility for an upcoming project

Project applying within track 1 may, for example, include the following activities:

• Investigate market needs and potential.
• Analyze the conditions for further developing or implementing the solution, for example technical, regulatory, de facto standards, business models, etc.
• Plan how the solution can be offered in a market.
• Plan follow-up projects (R&D project): project planning, budgeting, estimating resource consumption, etc.

Track 2: Develop, test and verify together with potential customer

Project applying within track 2 may, for example, include the following activities:

• Develop the solution's functionality.
• Manufacture and install prototype with customer.
• Test drive and evaluate prototype with customer and improvement measures.
• Create or develop a business plan and marketing strategy linked to the solution.
• Work on intangible asset strategy, IP strategy, related to the solution.
• Preparing for internationalisation: for example, researching regulatory eligibility requirements, standards, market conditions, etc.

The call for proposals does not support:

• Routine or recurring development of existing goods, production lines, manufacturing processes, services or other ongoing operations, even if these changes may involve improvements.
• Ongoing operations and related operating costs in the business.

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:

• Personnel costs: Salary costs, including employer contributions and other salary-related costs.
• 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 a third party. Costs for consulting services from third parties may not exceed 20 percent of a project party's budget.
• Other direct costs: For example, materials, supplies and travel necessary to carry out the project.
• Indirect costs (overhead): Costs that are not incurred as an immediate consequence of but can be related to the project, such as 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, see Instructions for eligible costs.

What eligibility requirements apply to costs we finance?

For a cost to be eligible, it must be:

• necessary for the activities in the project
• recorded correctly and separately from the organization's other costs.

An organization 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 organization. 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?

The total budget for the call for proposals is approximately SEK 6,000,000.

Track 1: The contribution to each project can amount to a maximum of SEK 300,000 with up to 70% aid intensity of the project's eligible costs.

Track 2: The contribution to each project can amount to a maximum of SEK 600,000 with up to 60% aid intensity of the project's eligible costs.

The call for proposals is planned to return in 2026.

How much funding can a participant receive?

How much funding each participant can receive depends mainly on:

• what activities the party will carry out in the project
• party size and activities.

In this the call for proposals we provide support to both organizations that engage in economic activities and organizations that do not engage in economic activities.

How do you determine whether an organization is engaged in economic activities?

An organization that offers some kind of service or product on a market is considered to be engaged in economic activities. It does not matter how the organization is financed, whether it is public or private, or whether it has a profit motive. It also does not matter what legal form the business has. For example, whether it is a limited liability company, a trading company, an economic association, a non-profit association or a foundation.

If you are unsure whether an organization in your project is conducting economic activities, read more on Vinnova's website or contact call manager. However, the organization is responsible for assessing whether it is conducting economic activities.

Support to organizations that do not engage in economic activities

In this the call for proposals we provide support to organizations that do not engage in economic activities. This usually includes universities and university colleges, research institutes and other organizations that do not offer a service or product on a market.

We can fund up to 100 percent of such organizations' eligible costs.

Support to organizations with economic activities ( state aid)

In this the call for proposals organizations that conduct economic activities can receive support for feasibility studies in track 1 and experimental development in track 2.

Feasibility studies can be simply described as an evaluation and analysis of:

• strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks in an upcoming research and development project
• what resources are required to carry out the project
• how likely it is that the project will succeed.

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

For a complete definition, see funding bases and levels of support.

The size of the organization and type of activity determines how large a proportion of the costs we can finance, i.e. the maximum level of support.

We grant funding in accordance with Article 25 of the EU Commission's General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).

In order for us to take a position on and assess your proposal, it must meet certain formal eligibility requirements. If the requirements are not met, proposal will be rejected immediately.

Eligibility requirements on organizational form of project parties

• All project partners must be legal entities. Natural persons or individual companies cannot participate as project partners.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden.

Eligibility requirements for the project

• The project manager must be employed by the coordinating party in the project.
• The project may not begin before proposal is submitted.
• Costs for consulting services from outside parties may constitute a maximum of 20 percent of a project party's budget.
• Track 1:
  • proposal must be accompanied by a statement of intent from a potential customer regarding the solution to which the project relates.
• Track 2:
  • The project group must contain at least two project parties, one of which must be a potential customer for the solution to which the project relates.
  • A letter of intent from the potential customer should be attached.
• The potential customer or customers must generate at least 10% of the project's total eligible costs.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal must follow the instructions given in section 9.
• Proposal must contain all requested attachments.

What do we assess?

Potential

• To what extent the innovative ideas and solutions to be explored, developed, tested or verified have potential to contribute to one or more of Water Wise Societies's assignments, goals and missions.
• If the solution is a new idea or significantly better than what already exists in the current market. This means:
  • that it has a sufficient degree of new thinking and innovation (i.e. not ordinary business development) and
  • to what extent the solution can bring clear and concrete customer benefit compared to today's best solutions.
• The extent to which the solution has potential to be widely adopted in the intended market. This includes:
  • that applicant has identified a relevant and broad potential market, and
  • that applicant has identified opportunities and obstacles for how the solution can reach the intended market, as well as the credibility of the applicant's description regarding this.
• To what extent are solutions defined taking into account a gender equality perspective and can thus contribute to increased gender equality.

Actors

• The extent to which the participating potential customer's needs are representative of a broad future market (broad adoption of the solution in the target market).
• The extent to which the project team has access to relevant expertise and ability to implement the project.
• To what extent is applicant considered to have access to the skills needed for the solution to reach and be competitive in the intended market (internally, through partners or networks)
• How well the team (key people) is composed in terms of gender distribution. As well as how well power, influence and work effort are distributed between women and men in the project team and how gender equality is taken into account in terms of working conditions.

Feasibility

• To what extent is the project based on clear descriptions of what the project will lead to, with measurable, concrete and well-defined objective, and how it will be evaluated.
• To what extent does proposal demonstrate active collaboration between project parties and the customer's commitment and interest in the project.
• Whether the project plan includes activities that contribute to the solution ultimately being able to reach and be competitive in the market.
• The extent to which the project is based on a credible project plan and budget where the activities are linked to the project objectives. This includes:
  • the extent to which the specified work packages are concrete and realistic in terms of time, and
  • The extent to which the budget is reasonable in relation to the intended efforts and goals.
• How well gender equality has been integrated into the project plan.

How do we assess?

All applications that meet the formal requirements are assessed in competition with each other. The applications that best meet the assessment criteria are granted funding.

The evaluators consist of a group of Vinnova appointed experts and programme manager from Formas, the Swedish Energy Agency and Vinnova. The evaluators have experience in business, public activities, academia and civil society, as well as knowledge linked to a wide range of areas and industries.

Schematically, the decision-making process looks as follows:

• Only applications that, after review, meet the formal requirements set out in Section 6 will be assessed.
• The assessments are made using the criteria set out in Section 7.
• Based on the assessors' recommendations, Vinnova makes decisions about which project should be granted funding and which should be rejected.
• In a competitive situation, an overall portfolio perspective regarding the two tracks will be taken into account.
• Decisions are sent to those who have applied funding.

Information about approved project is published on vinnova.se and the Water Wise Societies website, Water Wise Societies – Sustainable water for all.

We also assess 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 this applies:

• Organizations seeking funding for personnel costs must be registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency.
• Organizations must not be insolvent, undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring, nor must they have unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• 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. In the decision, we state how much funding each party in the project will be granted. Our decision cannot be appealed.

What happens if you are granted funding?

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

The terms and conditions include the following:

• That you will sign a special document in which you approve your participation and commit to carrying out the project.
• That you should report your costs and achieved results to us after the end of the project period.
• If you are several parties, you must agree on your mutual rights and obligations in the project in an agreement. It can take time to get a project agreement in place, so please start this before the project starts. Vinnova has produced a guide that can help you with this.
  Guide that can help you get started with contract writing.
• How the results will be used and how scientific publication will take place if this is relevant.

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 project must, upon request, have contact with the Water Wise Societies program office or another actor designated by the program office during the duration of the project. This may, for example, involve shorter digital meetings or responding to surveys.
• When providing information about the project and when publishing project results, it must be stated that the work was carried out within the Impact Innovation program Water Wise Societies – an initiative of the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas and Vinnova.
• In connection with the final reporting of the project to Vinnova, a summary of the project results must be sent to the Water Wise Societies program office according to the template available at www.impactinnovation.se. The summary must be freely distributed and published on the Energy Agency, Formas, Vinnova and Impact Innovations and the program office's website. The summary must not contain confidential or otherwise sensitive information.

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 do not follow our term, you may be required to repay the amount. This also applies if you have been granted funding incorrectly or for an amount that is too high.

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 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 external 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 are obliged to keep confidential information about business and operational conditions, inventions or research results if it can be assumed that disclosure would cause financial damage to the individual.

This is how we handle public documents and confidentiality.