Business models and solutions for sustainable battery applications

With this the call for proposals Vinnova wants to contribute to the development of business models and solutions for various battery applications such as vehicles, work machines and energy storage. The goal is to contribute to competitive, sustainable and resilient business models and solutions.

Business model development will be a central part of each funded project. The development of solutions will be primarily based on the integration of existing battery technologies, components and subsystems.

The call for proposals is aimed at collaborations between at least three organisations, of which at least one is a potential customer and at least one is a potential supplier of the solution in question.

We finance project with up to 4 million SEK. The maximum project duration is 26 months.

2.1 Background and aim of the call

This call for proposals is carried out within the framework of Vinnova's government assignment "Assignment to Vinnova to increase innovative power and innovative capacity along the entire battery value chain".

The call for proposals is focused on business model innovation and the development of solutions for battery applications in areas such as vehicles, work machines, energy storage, grid stabilization, security and data storage.

In line with the government mandate, the call for proposals will contribute to the following impact goals:

• Swedish competitiveness in the battery sector and various areas of battery applications.
• Implementation of technology and innovative solutions.
• Faster electrification and transition to a fossil-free society.
• Increased sustainability in terms of climate, environment and resource efficiency.
• Strengthened societal resilience in terms of security, civil preparedness, robustness and resilience to disruptions in supply chains.

2.2 What are the projects expected to do and achieve?

The projects are expected to work towards realizing solutions and business models for various battery applications. We fund activities for business model innovation and solution development as below.

Business model innovation

Business model innovation should be a central part of every project.

Business model innovation refers to the development of how companies create, deliver and capture value, for example through changed revenue models, customer relationships or partnerships.

The projects' business model development is expected to take place through systematic, long-term and iterative work in several stages. These stages may include, for example, the design and validation of an offer and business model concept, experimentation and evaluation of business model prototypes, and trials of business model implementation.

The work will involve potential customers, suppliers and partners to verify the offer and establish the ecosystems and business collaborations needed to realize the current solution and scale the business model. For circular business models, this can be particularly challenging, with the need for new partners outside the traditional value chain.

The projects are also expected to develop knowledge about which processes, resources, competencies and capabilities are needed to enable implementation and scaling of the business model internally in the company's activities and in the ecosystem.

Development of solutions

We finance the development of solutions for battery applications that are mainly based on the integration of existing technology for batteries, components and subsystems as well as the development of software and services.

The projects can be based on solutions that are in various stages of development from idea to working prototype demo. The projects should aim to develop a working and commercially viable solution with high usability.

The focus of the projects will be on the battery system with interconnected components or subsystems that use or supply energy. Key elements of the development are expected to include services and interfaces to users, control and optimization, and design for sustainability, reuse and recycling.

The focus of the call as described above means that we do not fund project that focus on methods for producing raw materials, chemicals and materials or manufacturing batteries.

2.3 What project results are expected?

At project completion, the projects are expected to have resulted in:

• solutions and business models with potential to accelerate electrification and fossil-free transition,
• competitive and scalable solutions and business models,
• establishment of business ecosystems and functioning business collaboration,
• prerequisites for implementing business models such as work processes, routines and capabilities,
• solutions and business models that are sustainable in terms of climate, environment, resource efficiency and resilience,
• plans and strategies for continued implementation of business models and solutions.

Contribute to a sustainable system transformation

Eftersom Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and system transformation, should your project also contribute to increased gender equality and climate change? 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.

This means that gender equality and climate change should be integrated into both how your project group is composed and in the intended outcome of your project.

An innovative force in a sustainable world

Making scientific publications and results available

This the call for proposals will also help to make results available to everyone. Therefore, any scientific publication 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 collaborations between at least three project parties, including at least one potential customer and at least one potential supplier of the solution in question.

In addition to the project partners involved from the start, the project is expected to involve more potential customers, suppliers and partners in the work. The purpose of the broader involvement is to verify the offer and establish the ecosystem needed to realize the current solution and business model.

In addition to the necessary technical expertise, the project is expected to involve qualified expertise and experience in business model innovation.

Examples of other skills that may be desirable include skills in sustainability and circular economy.

Foreign actors may be relevant and possibly necessary to include as project partners in the project. If these actors do not have a branch or establishment in Sweden, they cannot receive support from Vinnova in this call for proposals.

For example, we finance:

• Business model innovation in different phases such as modeling, experimentation and trials for implementation of the business model.
• Verification of offer against customer, market and competitors.
• Development of business ecosystems and business collaboration.
• Development of knowledge about the prerequisites for implementing business models, such as the need for new work processes, routines and capabilities.
• Development of solutions and offerings for battery applications based on integration of existing technology, subsystems and components.
• Development of software and services.
• Analysis of various aspects of sustainability with a focus on the environment and climate.
• Dissemination of knowledge, methods and case descriptions that have been developed in the project.
• Development of plans and strategies for implementation and scaling of the business model.

We do not finance:

• Project that focus on methods for producing raw materials, chemicals and materials or manufacturing batteries.
• Project that focuses on the development of a technical solution and lacks elements of business model innovation.
• Project where the benefit accrues to a single actor.

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:

• Salary costs: Gross salary paid as well as 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 of this type may not exceed 20 percent of a project party's budget. proposal.
• 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 salary 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:

• Actual, reasonable and necessary for the activities of the project.
• Booked correctly and distinguishable on a separate project code in the accounting.

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.

How much funding can the project receive?

A project can receive funding of up to 4 million SEK.

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 bases and levels.

In this the call for proposals we provide support for experimental development and support for non-economic activities.

Experimental development

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

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.

In order for an SME to be granted the higher level of support under the experimental development support criterion, a model declaration must be submitted in accordance with the instructions in Section 9. If the model declaration is not submitted, the party is classified as a large enterprise and can only be granted the lower level of support.

Situations where we finance a higher proportion
If the project is covered by 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.
• Other bonus basis

Support for non-economic activities (Non- state aid)

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.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden.
• At least three project parties must participate in the project. This includes the coordinating party.

Eligibility requirements for the project

• The project may apply for a maximum of SEK 4 million.
• The project is scheduled to start between June 24 and September 17, 2026.
• The project is to be completed no later than November 17, 2028.
• 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 and licenses may constitute a maximum of 20 percent of a project party's budget.

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 mandatory attachments.

Applications that meet our eligibility requirements will proceed to assessment. In the assessment, we look at how much potential your 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.

Eftersom Vinnova is tasked with contributing to increased gender equality and climate change, and we always follow up and assess these perspectives.

Potential (weighted 40%)

• The project's potential to realize a scalable and sustainable business model.
• The project's potential to realize a competitive, sustainable and resilient solution.

• The project's potential significance for Swedish competitiveness, resilience and increased sustainability in the battery area and various areas of battery applications.

• The project's novelty value in terms of solution and business model.

• How well perspectives on sex, gender and climate change have been integrated into the project proposal, and what significance these have for the project's results.

Actors (weighted 30%)

• The project partners' ability and commitment to the work to realize the solution and business model.

• The project manager's ability and commitment as well as the project's overall expertise in business model innovation.

• How well the financial contribution, participation, power and influence are distributed in an equal manner in the project team.

Feasibility (weighted 30%)

• The realism of the project plan and the reasonableness of the budget.

• Approach and methodology as well as how appropriate the project content is for achieving the project goals.

• Approach, anchoring and involvement of project partners and other relevant actors.

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.

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 have reviewed the applications, we have an assessment meeting 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 applying funding for payroll costs must be registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency. If registration has not taken place at the time of the decision, the applicant must, at Vinnova's request, be able to demonstrate that notification for such registration has been made. Vinnova does not accept 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.
• 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 capacity 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 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 achieved results to us regularly during the project period.
• 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 start this well in advance of the project starting.
• How the results will be used.

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 be represented by at least one participant at the conferences and other activities convened by Vinnova. The costs of such participation are eligible for support.
• The coordinator must submit a special final report according to a template from Vinnova in connection with the final reporting of the project.

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