Resilient 6G - innovation collaboration with Finland

As society becomes increasingly connected and interconnected, the demands on future communication systems are increasing. They need to be robust, secure and sustainable, able to withstand disruptions, have a short recovery time and be energy efficient. With this call for proposals, Vinnova wants to fund project that address resilience within next-generation wireless communication systems (6G).

The projects will be conducted in collaboration with at least one Finnish actor, and combine technical innovation with societal benefit. The projects will also strengthen research and innovation, competitiveness, cooperation and skills supply in both Sweden and Finland.

The consortium must consist of at least one Swedish and one Finnish actor. Vinnova is only funding Swedish parties in this call for proposals, while Business Finland has a parallel call for proposals (read section 9) for Finnish actors.

There is no limit to how much a project can apply for, but Vinnova expects to finance a few project. The total budget of the call is 22 million SEK, and the projects may run from April 2026 to September 2027. Vinnova's funding can amount to a maximum of 90 percent of the project's total eligible costs.

Sweden and Finland are forerunners and global leaders in the development of mobile communications. Now we are in a unique position to shape the upcoming sixth generation wireless communication system (6G). The technology is expected to improve speed and data processing, enable seamless connectivity and significantly reduce latency. 6G systems encompass various technology areas, from software, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) to semiconductors and radio communications.

Resilient telecommunications are becoming increasingly important in an era of geopolitical tensions, increased cyberattacks, natural disasters, and eligibility requirements for public protection and disaster relief (Public Protection and Disaster Relief - PPDR). It strongly contributes to a secure and sustainable digital infrastructure in our society. 5G and the upcoming 6G will give us new tools for digitalisation and

automation of society in the 2030s. It will also contribute to meeting the UN's Sustainable Development objective. In the mobile networks of the future, robustness and resilience need to be a fundamental part of the architecture.

With this call for proposals Vinnova wants to give Swedish and Finnish actors the opportunity to jointly carry out research and innovation projects that contribute to resilient 6G.

The call for proposals will contribute to:

• Strengthened innovation collaboration between Sweden and Finland.
• Strengthened competitiveness and innovative capacity in Sweden and Finland.
• Knowledge development, skills supply and capacity building for the digital society of the future.
• Solutions to ensure that future mobile communication systems are robust, secure, energy efficient, sustainable and that they can withstand and recover from disruptions and attacks.

Why are we investing in resilience?

Mobile connectivity is essential for economic and societal functioning. Today’s society is both more complex and more interconnected than ever, making it vulnerable to disruptions, attacks and crises. It is therefore crucial that next-generation wireless communication systems are not only faster and more efficient, but also resilient. This ensures availability, trust, security and continuity in an unstable world.

Resilience is the inherent ability of the 6G communications system to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to unpredictable disruptions, such as cyberattacks, outages, and natural disasters, while maintaining continuous, high-quality service delivery.

By a resilient system we mean a system that:

• Maintains availability and continuity even in the event of disruptions, attacks or natural disasters.
• Is secure and privacy-preserving, with protection against cyber threats and data breaches.
• Has the ability for rapid recovery and self-healing in the event of errors or interruptions.
• Is sustainable and energy efficient to meet climate challenges.
• Built on preventive and adaptive mechanisms that anticipate and manage risks.

This call for proposals focuses on collaborative projects within resilient 6G. The proposed projects should be relevant to one or more of these technical focus areas:

• Analysis of the resilience landscape with a focus on technological, business and regulatory perspectives.
• Resilient system designs including AI-enhanced, energy-efficient infrastructures and integration of non-terrestrial networks (NTN).
• Resilient algorithm design and system modes for resilience.
• Resilience enablers that optimize spectrum and energy usage and leverage AI for resource management and cross-sector integration.
• Reliable interaction between commercial, Public Protection and Disaster Relief and tactical networks.
• Funding for global 6G standardization, promoting collaboration between stakeholders and driving commercialization.

Contribute to a sustainable system transformation

Vinnova's mission is to promote sustainable growth and system transformation. 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.

In this the call for proposals this means that gender equality should be integrated into the composition of the project team and assessed under the actor criterion.

Read more here:

• Equal funding of innovations
• An innovative force in a sustainable world

Making scientific publications and results available

This the call for proposals will help make results available to everyone. Therefore, all scientific publishing should be open access. When results from research and innovation are made freely available, more people can contribute to solving societal challenges.

The call for proposals is aimed at consortia consisting of Swedish and Finnish actors who want to strengthen international innovation or research collaboration on resilience within 6G. The actors can be companies, universities or research institutes.

The project consortium must include at least one actor in Sweden and one actor in Finland, but may consist of more parties than that. Vinnova only finances the Swedish parties in the project. Read more about how to apply in section 9 and eligibility requirements for project parties in section 6.

We fund research and innovation projects in the 6G area, where international cooperation with Finland is in focus. To strengthen and broaden cooperation, stays in Finland and Sweden can be valuable. You can apply for funding for activities in both Sweden and Finland.

Examples of activities that are eligible for support:

• Investigation of technical and design conditions.
• Development of prototypes or demonstrators which may also include pilot work, testing and validation.
• Research and development of production methods.
• Planning and conducting studies or tests to verify an innovation.
• Research or critical analysis aimed at acquiring new knowledge and skills to develop new products, processes or services.
• Disseminate project results, method development and knowledge among partners and actors outside the project consortium.

We do not finance:

• Routine or recurring changes to existing products, services, manufacturing methods or manufacturing processes.

• Training efforts, courses, business development, customer acquisition, marketing, sales, ongoing operations, quality assurance, certification, investment in equipment and tools or intellectual property strategies and protection.

• Fees to standardization organizations

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 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 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, 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 organisation's other costs.

An organisation may also not claim someone else's costs as its own.

For more detailed information on which eligibility requirements, limitations and exceptions apply, see Instructions for eligible costs

state aid rules 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. The total grant budget for this call for proposals is preliminary 22 million SEK.

How much funding can the project receive?

There is no limit to how much a project can apply for, but Vinnova expects to finance a few project. Vinnova's funding can amount to a maximum of 90 percent of the project's total eligible costs. The total budget for the call for proposals is SEK 22 million.

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 industrial research and 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.

How much of the costs can we finance?

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

Situations where we finance a higher proportion

If the project falls under any of these bonus bases, we can finance a higher proportion of the costs:

• Actual cooperation: Some level of cooperation between small and larger companies, between companies in two different European countries or between research organisations and companies.
• Dissemination of results: Extensive dissemination through, for example, conferences or open databases.
• Another bonus basis.

Support for non-economic activities

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

We can finance up to 100 percent of such an organization's costs.

How is it determined whether an organisation is engaged in economic activities?

An organisation that offers any kind of service or product on a market is considered to be conducting 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 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 organisation in your project is conducting economic activities, contact call manager. However, The organisation is responsible for assessing whether it is conducting economic activities.

In order for us to assess your proposal it must meet certain formal eligibility requirements. If the requirements are not met, we will reject proposal immediately.

Eligibility requirements for project parties

• All project partners must be legal entities. Natural persons or individual companies cannot participate.
• At least two project parties must participate in the project, of which at least one party with activities in Sweden and at least one party with activities in Finland.
• All beneficiary must have a Swedish business registration number. Finnish actors need to have their own funding for their costs, but must be participant in proposal.
• 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.
• Costs for consulting services may constitute a maximum of 20 percent of a project party's budget.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal should be written in Swedish or English. Since applications will be assessed by both Swedish and Finnish evaluator, we would prefer that applications are written in English.
• Proposal must follow the instructions given in section 9.

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

What do we assess?

When assessing applications, we look at three 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.

Potential

• How great potential the project proposal has to achieve the call's objective and aim, see section 2.
• To what extent does the project contribute to innovation collaboration between Sweden and Finland.
• How innovative the project proposal is in relation to the international research front, existing solutions and ongoing major initiatives in the area.
• How credible the project proposal's analysis is of the problem 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.

Actors

• How well the composition, participation, competence and ability of the actor constellation contribute to project objectives and implementation.
• The project constellation's ability to create long-term relationships between Sweden and Finland.
• How well balanced the consortium is between Swedish and Finnish actors.
• To what extent does 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 the financial contribution, participation, power and influence are distributed in an equal manner in the project team.

Feasibility

• How well the project plan and budget are assessed to be able to realize a solution and achieve set objective in accordance with the project proposal.
• The commitment and participation of the specified project partners in the project's various work packages and activities.
• How credible the project plan's risk analysis and action plan for these risks are.
• How well the project's activities are distributed between the Swedish and Finnish the actors.
• How well the project plan shows how the results will be anchored and disseminated to important actors in the field, both within the organisations itself and outside the consortium.
• How good the conditions are for the project's results to be taken forward and used after the end of the project.

How do we assess?

Once Vinnova has received the applications, we review them. We sort out any applications that are incomplete or that 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 Vinnova and Business Finland 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 a joint assessment meeting together with Business Finland where the evaluators recommend which applications should be granted.

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, or undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring. They must also not have any significant 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 carry out the project according to their budget in proposal.

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 and conditions include the following:

• You will sign a special document in which you approve your participation and commit to carrying out the project.
• You must regularly report during the project how the project is going, your costs and results achieved.
• If you are multiple 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 it is a good idea to get this in place before the project starts.
• How the results will be used and how scientific publication will take place.

See our general terms and conditions and get help understanding and fulfilling them

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, as well as to 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