Policy and strategy for sustainable and competitive battery value chains

This call for proposals is aimed at contributing to policy and strategy development for competitive, sustainable and resilient battery value chains in Sweden and the EU.

The call for proposals should be seen against the background of batteries' strategic importance for fossil-free transition, energy systems, transportation, preparedness and security.

The projects are expected to focus on policy and strategy development in various areas such as research, innovation, industry, environment, climate and defense.

The implementation will be based on collaboration between experts and actors from politics, authorities and business. At least three participants will participate.

We finance project with up to 1.5 million SEK. The maximum project duration is 15 months.

Background

The call for proposals should be seen against the background of batteries' strategic importance for Sweden's and the EU's competitiveness, electrification and fossil-free transition in areas such as vehicles, energy and safety.

The battery sector is characterized by rapid technological development, falling prices, Chinese dominance and an uncertain supply of raw materials. In this situation, Sweden and the EU are intensifying efforts for domestic production, secure supply of raw materials and materials and strengthened competitiveness.

Call for proposals focus and aim

The call for proposals is focused on policy and strategy development that aims to provide direction, mobilize and accelerate the emergence of competitive, sustainable and resilient battery value chains in Sweden and Europe.

We fund broad analyses, collaboration between different actors and participation in policy and strategy processes. The projects are expected to focus on different battery value chains including applications in different sectors/industries.

In implementation, several policy areas such as research, innovation, industry, trade, defense, energy and transportation are expected to be addressed.

Furthermore, the projects are expected to contribute to the development of appropriate regulations and economic instruments as well as recommendations for reduced regulatory burden, removal of obstacles and more efficient government processes.

Other important issues to address are competitive conditions, stimulation of demand, supply of raw materials and materials, technology choice and standardization.

The projects should be anchored in knowledge of existing strategies, regulations and instruments as well as knowledge of batteries and the current areas of application.

Implementation should be based on broad collaboration and, if possible, be linked to ongoing policy and strategy development or other forms of utilization.

Performance target

The projects are expected to result in:

• Broad analyses and useful data of importance for policy and strategy development.
• Funding for and, if possible, direct participation in policy and strategy processes in Sweden and Europe.
• Increased collaboration and policy learning between experts, policy actors and stakeholders.

Impact goals

In the longer term, the projects are expected to collectively contribute to:

• Analyses and data have been used for policy and strategy development nationally and within the EU.
• Sweden and the EU are working more strategically and broadly across different policy areas to accelerate the emergence of and remove obstacles to the development of sustainable battery value chains.
• Strengthened battery value chains with effects in the form of increased competitiveness, sustainability and more resilient supply chains.
• New long-term collaborations between experts, policy actors and stakeholders.

Equal funding of innovations

Your project should integrate gender equality both in how your project team is composed and how you implement the project. This means that you need to:

• take into account the gender balance within the project team
• assess whether aspects of sex and gender are relevant to the design of the project and, if so, in what way.

By integrating different 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

Make scientific publications and results available

This the call for proposals will also contribute to making 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 collaborations between experts in different fields, policy actors and stakeholders in the battery value chain. Examples of categories of actors expected to participate are academia, research institutes, politics, authorities, companies and trade associations.

The projects should be implemented in broad collaboration between experts, policy actors and stakeholders. It is desirable to have a direct connection to policy and strategy processes or that other uses can be described in proposal.

At least three participants shall participate in the projects. In addition to the formal project partners, broader involvement via a reference group is welcomed.

For example, we finance:

• Analysis and preparation of data for policy and strategy development.
• Collaboration and policy learning between experts, policy actors and stakeholders.
• Funding for and participation in policy and strategy processes.

We do not finance:

• Project that focuses on knowledge development and production of reports without clear collaboration, connection to needs and utilization.
• Project which consists of specific interventions focusing on individual issues.

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, employer contributions and other salary-related 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.
• Other direct costs: Costs for, for example, materials, supplies and travel that are necessary to carry out the project.
• Indirect costs (overhead):Costs that are linked to the project but do not arise directly, such as premises and cleaning. Indirect costs may amount to a maximum of 30 percent of salary costs. Universities, university colleges, research organisations 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

What 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 your own funds intended for other project.
• You may not claim someone else's expenses as your own.

For more detailed information about which eligibility requirements, limitations and exceptions apply, see Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding

How much funding can the project receive?

The grant per project can amount to a maximum of 1.5 million SEKper project.

The grant can amount to a maximum of 80 percent of the project's total eligible costs.

How much funding can a participating organisation receive?

Minor Support to businesses

We can provide de minimis support, also known as support of minor importance. We can fund up to 100 percent of an organization's costs.

An organisation can receive a maximum of 300,000 euros over a three-year period in this form of support, regardless of the funder and project. This means that if the same organisation has received support of lesser importance in other project from other funders in the past, it will affect how large the support can be in this the call for proposals.

Submit a certificate of de minimis support when you submit proposal. This is required for us to be able to grant this support.

Certificate of de minimis support

Support to universities, university colleges and other public organisations with non-economic activities

We provide support to organisations that do not engage in economic activities. This means that the organisation does not offer a service or product to a market. This usually includes universities and university colleges, research institutes and other public 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 on participants

• All participating organisations must be legal entities. Individuals or sole proprietorships cannot participate. Foreign legal entities can apply for funding if they have a branch or establishment in Sweden and the costs arise at the branch or establishment. Other foreign legal entities are welcome to participate but cannot apply for funding.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden.
• At least three participants must participate in the project. This includes the coordinating party.

Eligibility requirements on the project

• The project may apply for a maximum of SEK 1,500,000.
• The project may start between November 5 and 19, 2026 and must be completed no later than February 18, 2028.
• The project may not begin before you have submitted your proposal.
• Costs for consulting services and licenses may not exceed 20 percent of an organization's budget.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal should follow the instructions under the heading “ 9 How to apply”.
• Proposal must contain all requested 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 the desired results.

Potential

• The project's potential to contribute to the call's results objectives.
• The project's potential to (in the longer term) contribute to the call's impact goals.
• How well proposal is anchored in existing knowledge, including the quality of the application's background description/ strategic analysis.
• How well the project proposal contributes to increased gender equality by integrating perspectives on sex and gender.

Actors

• Composition of competencies in relation to the project's focus.
• Composition of actors/experts and their ability to influence within current value chains and policy areas.
• How well the financial contribution, participation, power and influence are distributed equally between women and men in the project team.

Feasibility

• The quality and realism of the project plan in relation to the project objectives.
• Involvement and commitment of participants and other stakeholders in the implementation.
• Plans for utilization within and beyond the project period.
• How well gender perspectives have been integrated into the project plan.

How do we assess?

Once we have received the applications, we review them. We will 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 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 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. We may also ask small and medium-sized businesses to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to carry out the project.

In our assessment we check this:

• That organisations that are granted funding for payroll costs are registered as employers 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.
• That organisations is not insolvent, or undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring. You must also not have any significant unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• That the project manager is employed by the coordinating party in the project.
• That a limited liability company has not used up half or more of its share capital.

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 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 during the project period.
• How the results will be used and how scientific publication will take place.

See Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding

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 for 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 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.

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 supplement if we ask you to.

Who can read your proposal?

Your proposal will be read by employees at Vinnova 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. We keep certain types of information confidential if it can be assumed that it will cause financial damage to the individual if it is disclosed. This applies to information about business and operating conditions, inventions or research results.

General documents and confidentiality