Transport and mobility services - FFI - spring 2024

A call for proposals within FFI Fordonsstrategisk research and innovation, the sub-programme Transport and mobility services

Vehicle strategic research and innovation (FFI) is a collaboration between the state and the automotive industry to jointly finance research, innovation and development activities with a focus on making Sweden a leader in the global transition to sustainable road transport. FFI finances research and development activities for approximately one billion kroner per year, of which the government funding is 420 million kroner.

More about FFI

This the offer finances project that addresses the Transport and Mobility Services sub-programme. The purpose is to support the development of innovative services and transport solutions that contribute to more efficient vehicle use and parts of or entire transport systems. The projects will also contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of Swedish industry. Read more under 7 Assessment of received applications.

For complete information on the content of the sub-programme, refer to FFI's Roadmap, which you should read before writing your proposal

In this the call for proposals we particularly welcome feasibility studies that will lead to full-scale project that address the societal challenges described in the sub-programme's roadmap and focus areas. We would also like to see actors outside the traditional vehicle and mobility industry be part of the project constellation in order to increase the pace of innovation in the transformation of the road transport system through new perspectives.

The project that are financed must be of the nature;

• Pre-studies and smaller studies with a project duration of 6–9 months, as well as requested funds of a maximum of SEK 500,000.
• Full-scale project with project duration of a maximum of 4 years.

Vinnova intends to grant funding of a maximum of 50 percent for the sub-programme. Each individual project must have at least 25 percent business financing. The total grant budget for the call for proposals is approximately SEK 35 million.

For all project, an actor constellation consisting of at least two parties is required.

FFI's mission is to drive road transport innovations for a sustainable society. The program has a roadmap that sets the direction towards 2030. The long-term vision is that Sweden leads the global transition to sustainable road transport. Three impact goals and five sub-programmes guide the work.

In proposal, it must be clearly stated that the project's objective contributes to the program's impact goals, the subprogramme's section in FFI's Roadmap and the section "Important aspects for all subprogrammes".

More about FFI's Itinerary

We see a clear need for a broader system perspective where traditional and new actors need to collaborate, test and drive development in order to increase the pace of innovation. In addition to new technology, changes to regulations, infrastructure, business models and behaviors are required. The concept of innovation includes both process, product and organizational innovations. An 'innovation' is thus the implementation of a new or significantly improved product such as a good or service and process, a new marketing method or a new organizational method in business methods, workplace organization or external relations.

Transport and mobility services' mission is to develop and test new innovative services and sustainable transport solutions. They must contribute to streamlining and optimizing both vehicle use and parts of or entire transport systems.

The sub-program finances development projects and applied research that focus on service development and innovative transport solutions. They must contribute to the system gains in a sustainable and resource-efficient transport system based on the following challenges:

• Equal accessibility to the transport system.
• Conversion to a sustainable and energy-efficient transport system.
• Efficient resource utilization in the transport system, including logistics.
• Efficient collaboration with social actors and within FOI initiatives.

Examples of focus areas that the subprogram sees as central are:

Testing and development of transport and mobility services for a fossil-free and resource-efficient transport system

Higher utilization rate of the vehicles and more efficient logistics as well as collaborative and shared services for personal mobility and interoperability between vehicles and infrastructure. The focus is on the development of services and their enabling technologies, as well as testing the solution. Furthermore, this also includes technical functionality, user-friendliness and integration solutions of innovative services and their effects at the system level.

The whole-journey perspective

Solutions and services that contribute to a more sustainable and equal accessibility for different user groups. Includes more seamless services that solve passenger transport "from door to door" with a whole-journey perspective. Within this area, behaviour, culture and values form the basis for cooperation and collaboration between the transport system's various actors and their needs, both today and for a mobility system in change. These needs must be met as far as possible, but also balanced in a wise way, to ensure that we build a socially sustainable, equal and resource-efficient system.

Seamless freight and goods transport solutions

Increased efficiency in logistics flows from the first to the last mile through the development of new services and system integrations.

New forms of collaboration, business innovation and policy tests

New constellations and new partnerships to develop the business innovation capacity of the transport system. Business innovation can harness the potential of the serviceization of the transport system and ensure a wider impact of new services. In order to come up with working solutions, they often need to be tested in collaboration with partly responsible authorities for policy formulation and partly actors who influence the design of the regulations.

Investments in the development of digital platforms and enabling technologies based on an overall perspective

Development of necessary technologies, from a systems perspective, to build new types of services, business models and digital platforms. Digital infrastructure is a prerequisite and enabler for future mobility solutions. When developing and implementing new solutions, the need for investments in robust and secure digital infrastructure should be taken into account. Methods and technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital connectivity, cloud solutions, data collection, analysis, and collaborative ITS can be included here as technologies where innovative services can be developed and tested.

System innovation, sustainable growth and gender equality

The sub-programme also places great emphasis on integrating different aspects of system innovation and we see it as an advantage that the projects include two or more system perspectives in, for example, current situation description, goal setting, method, implementation and evaluation.

Agenda 2030

Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and community development, and our efforts are aimed at achieving the Agenda 2030 goals. Climate and gender equality are singled out for special consideration, and Vinnova follows up and assesses whether both women and men equally share in the contribution, participate in and have influence over the project, as well as gender or gender aspects that are relevant.

Read more about Vinnova's work with Agenda 2030
Read more equal innovation

Results from research and innovation that are made freely available increase the opportunity for more people to contribute to solutions to societal challenges. The call for proposals should contribute to making more results freely available to everyone and scientific publication should take place with open access.

This the offer is addressed to all groups of actors, who together intend to develop innovative solutions that focus on service development and transport solutions that demonstrate the system gains of a resource-efficient transport system.

In this the call for proposals we especially welcome feasibility studies that will lead to full-scale project that address the sub-programme's roadmap and focus areas.

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 place of business in Sweden, they cannot receive support from Vinnova in this call for proposals.

This offer funds research and development activities, the aim of which is to contribute to one or more of the above-mentioned focus areas within Transport and Mobility Services.

Activities for which funding can be applied for

Examples of activities for which it is possible to apply for funding are developing, testing and evaluating solutions and preparing for implementation and utilization.

The types of project activities that are approved within the framework of this call for proposals must be covered by one of the support bases Feasibility study, Industrial research or Experimental development. A brief description of these support bases can be found in Vinnova's tables of support levels for government support.

More information can be found in the document "Support levels, definitions and more for funding according to Vinnova" on the website about State support for economic activities.

In other words, the development and innovation project must aim to develop and validate technology, methods, processes or business models. Also conditions and strategy for spreading, scaling up and making use of the project's results.

Funding to parties that do not carry out economic activities, for example research organisations, academia and actors in the public sector, funding is granted with support of regulation (2009:1101) with instructions for the Agency for innovation system. Such actors can be granted funding with up to 100 percent of the eligible costs.

Here you will find the regulation

Eligible costs

Our funding takes place through funding. Funding for organizations that carry out economic activities is covered by rules on state support. The rules govern, among other things, which types of costs and what proportion of them may be covered by funding.

For a cost to be eligible for support, it must be actual, auditable and incurred within the project period. Accounting for project costs must be distinguishable from the company's other transactions. This also applies to any parties who are not beneficiary.

Read more about government support on our website
Current term and help to understand and meet the terms

Please note the following special conditions for FFI regarding:

• Personnel and salary costs: may amount to a maximum of SEK 950 per hour including indirect costs of a maximum of 30 percent.

How much funding a participant can be granted depends, among other things, on the size of the organization. The document table of support levels for government support clarifies what applies to various large organizations that carry out economic activities.

You can find the document under the heading Eligible costs on the website Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding

Each participant is responsible for ensuring that funding received does not exceed the aid intensity permitted according to the rules for state support. Please note that the maximum grant share per project is not the same as the maximum permitted support level per participant.

The following conditions apply to the call for proposals:

• Vinnova intends to grant funding of a maximum of 50 percent for the sub-programme. Each individual project must have at least 25 percent business financing.
• All costs in the budget must meet Vinnova's eligibility requirements at eligible costs. See section 4.
• Vinnova does not finance companies that are in financial difficulties.

Conditions for us to assess proposal

We will only assess applications that meet the following formal eligibility requirements:

• Beneficiary are legal entities with a Swedish corporate identity number. In this respect, a foreign organization that has a branch or place of business in Sweden is equated with a Swedish legal person. The costs in the project must be attributable to the branch's or establishment's activities.
• For all project, an actor constellation consisting of at least two parties is required.
• The project has not started before proposal is submitted.
• Proposal is written in Swedish or English.
• Applications must be received no later than 1:59 p.m. on the last application day via Vinnova's e-services.
• Proposal contains only the mandatory appendices, except for the applications based on previously funded project where a preliminary report on goal fulfillment can be submitted. See further in the project description template and section 9.
• All mandatory appendices follow the structure found in the respective template. Note a maximum of 15 pages for project description.

When the application period has expired, completion of proposal can only take place at the request of Vinnova.

What do we assess?

The project proposal must be in line with aim and vision for FFI's Roadmap and for the Transport and Mobility Services sub-programme. The applications will be assessed based on the main criteria potential, implementation, gender equality and actors.

Se FFI's Itinerary

The scale 1-5 is used for grading:

1. = Insufficient
2. = Weak
3. = Good
4. = Very good
5. = Excellent.

Criteria for full-scale project

Potential (weighted 40 percent)

• The project's potential to contribute to FFI's overall impact goalsthrough relevant issues and innovation level:
  - FFI has demonstrated solutions that make society's road transport fossil-free, safe, equal and efficient.
  - FFI has developed sustainable solutions that have been implemented and accepted by users and society.
  - Through innovation, partnership and collaboration, FFI has contributed to developing competence, infrastructure, policy, regulations and business models within the road transport system.
• The project's potential to contribute to the sub-programme's mission as described in FFI's Roadmap. If the project concerns a mature area: The project's potential to lead to major potential improvements in line with the vision in FFI's roadmap.
• The project's potential to develop nationally and internationally connected research and innovation environments.

Implementation (weighted 30 percent)

• The project has a well-thought-out strategy for realizing the potential and for the dissemination and utilization of results.
• The project takes its starting point from a solid monitoring of the surrounding world and a state-of-the-art description.
• Expediency of the project plan:
  - Reasonable project time and budget for the problems to be solved.
  - Adequate project plan with activities, work packages, milestones, division of responsibilities, specific project goals and plans for how goal fulfillment is to be measured.

Gender equality (weighted 15 percent)

• Assessment of equality aspects such as gender or gender perspectives that may be important to take into account linked to the project's problem area, solutions and effects.
• The composition of the team regarding gender distribution, as well as the distribution of power and influence between men and women.
• Assessment of how well equality aspects have been integrated into the project plan.

Actors (weighted 15 percent)

• Assessment of whether the right organizations and need owners are involved to the right extent and at the right time to realize the project's potential.
• The project participants' ability to carry out the project and achieve the project goals with regard to the composition of the project group and the competence and resources of the actors.
• Assessment of whether there is a clear collaboration between the project's parties.

Criteria for preliminary studies and minor studies

Potential (weighted 50 percent)

• The project's potential to contribute to the sub-programme's mission as described in FFI's Roadmap.

Implementation (weighted 30 percent)

• The project's positioning in relation to the state of knowledge nationally and internationally.
• The effectiveness of the project plan in terms of a reasonable project time and budget for the work to be carried out.

Gender equality (weighted 10 percent)

• Assessment of equality aspects such as gender or gender perspectives that may be important to take into account linked to the project's problem area, solutions and effects.
• The composition of the team regarding gender distribution, as well as the distribution of power and influence between men and women.
• Assessment of how well equality aspects have been integrated into the project plan.

Actors (weighted 10 percent)

• Assessment of whether the right organizations and need owners are involved to the right extent and at the right time to realize the project's potential.

How do we judge?

Proposal is assessed in competition with other received applications.

Quality review of proposal is based on the electronic proposal submitted to Vinnova and is handled in the part program applied for.

The decision process and handling of the applications is the same for all sub-programmes and looks as follows:

1. Proposal are submitted via Vinnova's e-services.
2. The applications that meet the formal requirements are assessed by independent experts from relevant areas and industries based on specified assessment criteria. The evaluators are appointed by Vinnova and work under confidentiality and confidentiality.
3. If clarification is needed, the project manager is contacted for additional and simpler questions digitally or by telephone in connection with the review meeting.
4. The independent the evaluators give a balanced judgment and recommendation on rejection or approval, which is then processed by the program council in the respective sub-programme within FFI. The program council consists of representatives from the contracting parties within the FFI program, i.e. Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency, the Swedish Transport Administration, AB Volvo, Volvo Personvagnar, Scania and FKG. The program council also includes a representative from Mobility Sweden, but without voting rights. If necessary, Vinnova requests written supplements
5. The Program Council assesses the application's relevance from a strategic perspective in relation to the current Roadmap and submits a recommendation to the responsible public authority. The Program Council's recommendation is based on the content of proposal, a written judgment from the evaluators and any additions and comments from FFI's office.
6. In case of disagreement, the matter is passed on to FFI's board of directors for assessment.
7. The decision to grant or reject the project application is made by Vinnova. The Swedish Transport Administration's decision is enforced by Vinnova.

Se FFI's Itinerary

This is how you apply

To apply for funding, you fill in a web-based form in Vinnova's e-service for applications, which you can find via the button Apply here.

There you also upload the following attachments:

• Project description according to template. Preliminary studies and smaller studies, alternatively full-scale project.
• CV attachment containing relevant CVs for project manager and all key personnel, according to the template.

You can find the templates here

Proposal must only contain the mandatory appendices, except for applications based on previously funded project where a preliminary report on goal fulfillment can be submitted, see further in the project description template. All mandatory appendices must follow the structure found in the respective template.

For the project description:applies

• For pre-studies and smaller studies, a maximum of 5 pages with 11-point font size applies, excluding cover page, summary and table of contents.
• For full-scale project, a maximum of 15 pages in 11-point font size applies, excluding cover page, summary and table of contents.

Keep in mind that it takes time to make a proposal. You can start filling in information, save and continue at a later time. When proposal is ready, you mark it as done. You can completely unlock proposal and make changes at any time, right up until the application deadline.

Please mark proposal well in advance before the call for proposals closes.

When the call for proposals has closed and proposal has been registered with Vinnova, a confirmation will be sent out by e-mail to you who are responsible for the user account, project manager and company signatory or head of department. It may take a few hours before you receive the email. If you have not received a confirmation within 24 hours after the call for proposals has closed, please contact us.

When the application period has expired, completion of proposal can only take place upon request from us.