Impact innovation: Educational collaboration for a competitive and resilient manufacturing industry with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2026

This the call for proposals is part of Net Zero Industrys's mission strategic efforts in competence. This call for proposals provides an opportunity for industry and academia/research institutes to collaborate to create innovative learning forms that clearly connect to the needs of the industry and that contribute to Net Zero Industrys's mission of a competitive and resilient Swedish manufacturing industry with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The collaboration will develop work-integrated learning together with the development of advanced level education for researchers and employees in industry. The call for proposals is part of Net Zero Industrys's mission strategic efforts in competence. Net Zero Industry is a programme within Impact Innovation, an initiative of the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas and Vinnova.

The project funded are expected to contribute to the following performance objectives:

• Develop and test interdisciplinary education as well as innovative models and methods for educational collaboration and work-integrated learning in line with Net Zero Industrys's mission of a competitive and resilient Swedish manufacturing industry with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
• Establish learning platforms that make educational programs available for continuous professional development of researchers and industrial employees in interdisciplinary areas that are together critical to Net Zero Industrys's mission. The learning platforms shall be available to universities and university colleges in Sweden.
• The project will stimulate all forms of knowledge dissemination and competence building at an advanced level for various target groups.
• An economically and resource-sustainable model for operations after the project ends and a clear plan for implementation and scaling up of working methods and training packages.
• Strengthened cooperation between business and academia/institutes, for example locally or sectorally.
• Collaboration with Net Zero Industrys program office.

Funding can be granted with a maximum of 80 percent of the project's total eligible costs and a maximum of 8 million per project. Read more under What is required for us to assess you proposal?

Your project is expected to have a maximum implementation time of 30 months. The project will be implemented during the period 16 November 2026 to 16 May 2029. A Swedish higher education institution (university or university college) must be coordinator. At least three participants must participate in the project, including the coordinator. At least two parties must be manufacturing companies. It is an advantage if small and medium-sized manufacturing companies are included in the project group. actors from research institutes, industry associations, trade unions, regional actors, the public sector or civil society can also participate with advantage.

This call for proposals addresses the challenges described in Net Zero Industrys Manufacturing Outlook 2026:

Critical competence can be enabled through knowledge exchange and contacts between higher education institutions and industry. Educational collaboration can encompass different educational specializations and organisations in different sectors of society.

This call for proposals enables the development and testing of interdisciplinary education and innovative teaching methods for educational collaboration and work-integrated learning in line with Net Zero Industrys's mission. A aim is to enable the development of interdisciplinary educational materials needed for pedagogical and accessible knowledge dissemination.

Manufacturing Outlook 2026 describes where the largest emissions in the Swedish discrete manufacturing industry are located. The goal is for the training to combine skills that enable researchers, industrial employees and advanced-level leaders to accelerate the transition towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, thereby strengthening competitiveness and resilience.

We see a need for industry to gain faster access to new knowledge and expertise and want to strengthen the role of higher education institutions in providing skills and contribute to increased expertise on how the transition towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions is accelerated and how it strengthens the competitiveness and resilience of the manufacturing industry.

Examples of areas for educational collaboration are circular business, product and production models in a life cycle perspective. All areas can be relevant based on their connection and funding to acceleration towards Net Zero Industrys's mission at the system level. Read more under Who are we targeting?

The projects will thus contribute to the development of competitive and relevant education and training that promotes lifelong learning for individuals and skills provision for employers in line with the Net Zero Industrys mission and Agenda 2030.

To meet the challenges of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, the development of future research leaders, change leaders and specialists is needed. By preparing researchers and industrial employees to work holistically and interdisciplinary, a strong foundation can be created to drive future sustainable industrial development.

What are the projects expected to result in?

Project funded is expected to contribute to the following performance objectives:

• Develop and test interdisciplinary education as well as innovative models and methods for educational collaboration and work-integrated learning in line with Net Zero Industrys's mission of a competitive and resilient Swedish manufacturing industry with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
• Establish learning platforms that make educational programs available for continuous professional development of researchers and industrial employees in interdisciplinary areas that are together critical to Net Zero Industrys's mission. The learning platforms shall be available to universities and university colleges in Sweden.
• The project will stimulate all forms of knowledge dissemination and competence building at an advanced level for various target groups.
• An economically and resource-sustainable model for operations after the project ends and a clear plan for implementation and scaling up of working methods and training packages.
• Strengthened cooperation between business and academia/institutes, for example locally or sectorally.
• Collaboration with Net Zero Industrys program office.

What does Net Zero Industry want to achieve?

Project funded is expected to contribute to the following impact goals:

• New innovative learning forms for educational collaboration that include a design for work-integrated learning within existing advanced level education programs.
• Developed working methods and structures for knowledge sharing for competence on how the transition towards a competitive and resilient manufacturing industry with net zero greenhouse gas emissions is accelerated among students, doctoral students, educational providers and in working life. Interdisciplinary relevant education and innovative teaching methods for educational collaboration and work-integrated learning that promote lifelong learning in line with the Net Zero Industrys mission.
• Strengthened cooperation and knowledge exchange between educational institutions and industrial companies.
• Broad understanding of the industry's current challenges and solutions to achieve Net Zero Industrys's mission.
• Impact on the supply of skills-enhancing initiatives that contribute to accelerating the fulfillment of Net Zero Industry's mission.

Impact Innovation – Sweden's major innovation initiative

This call for proposals is carried out within the framework of the Net Zero Industry program, part of Impact Innovation – an initiative of the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas and Vinnova.

Impact Innovation is Sweden's major innovation initiative to tackle the challenges of our time and the future. In collaborations between actors in private, public and non-profit organisations, 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.

About Impact Innovation

The manufacturing industry is defined within the program as companies that perform discrete manufacturing, where products with their own and often traceable identity are produced. This also includes product development, related services, product-as-a-service and manufacturing-related circular activities. Companies representing the food, pharmaceutical and process industries are not relevant for this call for proposals.

Important partners for the manufacturing industry are suppliers and customers, who are essential for reducing emissions in the value chains, upstream and downstream, in which manufactured products exist. These organisations are not included in the core of the system, but can apply together and in close cooperation with companies that are included in the above definition of the manufacturing industry.

Manufacturing-related circular activities include remanufacturing, refurbishment, repair, disassembly and reuse for the same or different use if they are carried out in a manner similar to discrete manufacturing.

A Swedish higher education institution (university or university college) should be coordinator. At least three participants should participate in the project, including the coordinator. At least two parties should be manufacturing companies. It is an advantage if small and medium-sized manufacturing companies are included in the project group. actors from research institutes, industry organizations, trade unions, regional actors, the public sector or civil society can also participate with advantage. Broad consortia with many actors are seen as a strength.

This call for proposals provides an opportunity for universities, university colleges and research institutes to, in collaboration with industry and possibly other types of organisation, develop and test innovative models and methods for educational collaboration within the Net Zero Industrys mission. The collaboration will develop work-integrated learning and advanced-level education for researchers and personnel in industry.

The aim is to strengthen knowledge exchange and contacts between higher education institutions and organisations in different sectors of society. The projects will contribute to the development of competitive and relevant education and training that promotes lifelong learning for individuals and skills supply for employers, in line with the Net Zero Industrys mission and Agenda 2030. Activities that can be financed include:

• Research or critical analysis to improve or create new models and methods for educational collaboration and work-integrated learning.
• Development of new advanced level education programs for researchers and personnel in industry.
• Design of prototypes, testing and validation of new models and methods for educational collaboration and work-integrated learning.
• Design of prototypes, testing and validation of new advanced level education for researchers and personnel in industry.
• Demonstration of training in environments that correspond to a lab environment or realistic industrial operating conditions.
• Making the training available in different formats.

What costs can Vinnova finance?

Vinnova's funding is covered by rules about state aid. The rules govern what types of costs can be financed. 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 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 not exceed 30 percent of salary costs. Universities, university colleges, research organizations and government agencies may have higher permitted levels, depending on activities.

For more detailed information about which costs Vinnova can finance, see

Which eligibility requirements applies to costs financed by Vinnova?

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 posted correctly and under a separate project code in the accounting.
• You may not cover project costs with other public funding or 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 our general terms and conditions.

The rules on state aid govern how large a proportion of the costs Vinnova can finance. This is determined individually for each organisation. Vinnova therefore differentiates between how large a funding project can receive, and how much each participant organisation can receive.

How big funding can the project get?

Funding is granted with a maximum of 80 percent of the project's total eligible costs and a maximum of 8 million per project.

How much funding can a participant organisation get?

How much funding a participant organisation can receive depends mainly on:

• the organisation's size and activities
• which activities the organisation will carry out in the project.

Descriptions in the following sections about which support can be given are simplified. For complete information, see Support grounds and levels for funding.

Support to companies for research and development

In this the call for proposals Vinnova provides support to experimental development.

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

How large a proportion of the costs can Vinnova finance?

The organisation's The size and type of activity determine the proportion of the costs that Vinnova can finance. This is called the maximum support level.

• Small business 60%
• Medium-sized company 50%
• Large company 40%

For help in determining whether a company is small or medium-sized, see How the EU defines small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

If a small or medium-sized company is applying for more than 40% funding a model declaration is needed that verifies the company's status as an SME according to the template found here: Template model declaration SME

Support of minor importance to businesses

In this the call for proposals Vinnova can also provide de minimis-support, also called support of minor importance. Vinnova can finance up to 100 percent of an organization's costs.

A 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 before, it affects 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 Vinnova to be able to grant this support.

Certificate of de minimis-support

Support to universities, university colleges and other public organisations

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

This support is not covered by the state aid rules. Vinnova can therefore finance up to 100 percent of such an organization's costs. The support is often called "not state aid."

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

A organisation that offers any form of service or product in a market is considered to be engaged in economic activities and cannot be granted this form of support.

It does not matter how the 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.

Whether a organisation engages in economic activities is determined by their regular activities, not by the activities in the project.

Some organisations conduct both economic and non-economic activitiesactivities, such as research institutes. In that case, it is important that you know in which of these activities you are applying.

If you are unsure whether a organisation in your project conducts economic activities, contact call manager. However, The organisation is responsible for assessing whether it conducts economic activities.

In order for Vinnova to assess your proposal it must meet certain formal eligibility requirementsrequirements. If the requirements are not met, the proposal will be rejected immediately.

Eligibility requirements on participants

• All participants organisations must be legal entities. Natural persons or individual companies cannot participate. Foreign legal entities can also participate. However, foreign actors that receive funding from Vinnova must have a branch or establishment in Sweden, and the costs must be incurred by the branch or establishment.
• A Swedish higher education institution (university or university college) should be coordinator.
• At least three participants must participate in the project, including the coordinator. Different parts of a organisation are the same legal entity and are counted as one participant, for example two departments at a university.
• At least two parties must be manufacturing companies.

Eligibility requirements on the project

• The project may apply for a maximum of 8,000,000 SEK in funding.
• The project must start on November 16, 2026 and be completed no later than May 16, 2029.
• The project must not have started before you submit your proposal.
• Costs for consulting services and licenses may not exceed 20 percent of an organization's budget.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal should be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal should follow the instructions under How to apply.
• Proposal should contain all requested attachments.

Applications that meet the requirements will be forwarded to assessment. They will assess how big potential your idea is, how realistic it is and who will implement the project.

Vinnova also looks at how well your project integrates gender equality, both in how your project group is composed and how you implement the project. By integrating sex and gender 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

What does Vinnova assess?

The assessment of applications is made according to three main criteria:

• Potential: What effects and what value can be expected from the project.
• Actors: The participants' competence and ability to implement the project and achieve the desired results and effects.
• Feasibility: How realistic and credible the project plan is, both for implementing the project and for achieving the desired results.

Potential

• How large potential the project proposal has to achieve the call's objective and aim.
• The project's potential to contribute to the call's performance goals and long-term impact goals.
• The project's potential is to contribute to the program's mission based on the current situation description given in Manufacturing Outlook 2026.
• The project's novelty value and level of innovation.
• How well the project proposal contributes to increased gender equality by integrating perspectives on sex and gender.

Actors

• To what extent the organisations in the project has the resources and capacity to implement the project.
• To what extent the project manager and other key individuals have the skills and shared ability to implement the project.
• How well and broadly is the consortium anchored in the Swedish manufacturing industry, academia and institutes and addresses national needs for transformation.
• How well the financial contribution, participation, power and influence are distributed equally between women and men in the project team's key personnel.

Feasibility

• The proposal is clear, open and designed in a way that actors outside the project consortium can follow the progress of the project and take part in the work and results.
• To what extent is the project based on a credible project plan and budget where the activities are linked to project objectives and desired results and long-term effects.
• Commitment and involvement of relevant stakeholders and also the degree of collaboration between participants actors.
• Designing the project so that it takes into account the system perspectives.
• How well aspects related to gender equality are integrated into the project plan.
• How well the project plan shows how the results will be anchored and disseminated to important actors within the area.

How are applications assessed?

When Vinnova has received the applications, they will be reviewed. Applications that are incomplete or do not meet the requirements under What must we consider in order for us to assess you? proposal? will be sorted out.

The applications that are correct and complete are distributed among different evaluator and assessed in competition with each other. The evaluators are appointed based on their expertise in the field. Each proposal is assessed by at least three evaluator.

Once the evaluators has reviewed the applications, the evaluators recommends which applications should be granted in an assessment meeting.

How does it affect an organization's financial status?

Innan Vinnova decides whether funding a comprehensive assessment of the organizational and financial status of those who receive fundingis also made.

Vinnova uses information from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet.

The assessment checks this:

• Organisations who are granted funding for salary costs must be registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency. If such registration does not exist when Vinnova makes a decision, you must be able to show that a notification has been made. Vinnova does not approve 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.
• The project manager should be employed by a participant, preferably the coordinating party.
• Limited liability companies must not have used up half or more of their share capital.

Vinnova may also ask small and medium-sized companies to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to carry out the project.

Once Vinnova has assessed all applications, a decision will be sent in which your proposal application is either granted or rejected. Since applications are assessed competitively, you may be rejected even though you meet all eligibility requirements and criteria.

The decision states how large a proportion of the costs Vinnova will cover for each organisation.

You cannot appeal Vinnova's decision, but you are welcome to apply again at another time.

What happens if you are granted funding?

If your proposal is granted, you must follow both Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding and the special conditions that apply to Impact Innovations calls for proposals.

Vinnova's general terms and conditions

The general 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 report how things are going, your costs and achievements to us during the project period.
• If you are several parties, you must have a written project agreement that regulates your mutual rights and obligations in the project. All parties must sign the agreement before you submit your first progress report. Since it can take time to develop and negotiate an agreement, Vinnova recommends that you start with this as soon as possible.
• How the results will be used and that scientific publication will be open access so that the results are made freely available to everyone.

See our general terms and conditions

Impact Innovations special conditions

Since the call for proposals is included in the Impact Innovation investment, these special conditionsalso apply:

• At least one participant will represent the project at Net Zero Industrys conferences and activities, approximately once or twice a year. Your costs for such participation are eligible for support.
• You will have a continuous dialogue with the Net Zero Industrys program office throughout the project. A maximum of three mandatory workshops will be organized by the program office.
• When information or results from the project is shared, it should be stated that the work was carried out within the Impact Innovation program Net Zero Industry, an initiative of the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas and Vinnova.
• When you submit your final report to Vinnova, you must also send a summary of the project results to Net Zero Industry. See template on Impact Innovations website. The summary should be freely distributable and must not contain confidential or sensitive information.
• The project will contribute to a joint reporting of results in a common format that the program office coordinates and compiles.

Vinnova 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 Vinnova's term, you may be required to repay.

When the call for proposals closes, you will be registered as proposal. Vinnova 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 after the call for proposals closes, please contact Vinnova.

When the call for proposals is closed, you cannot change anything in proposal. Then you can only supplement if Vinnova asks for it.

Who can read you proposal?

Your proposal will be read by employees at Vinnova and those evaluator who participate in this the call for proposals. Everyone works under a duty of confidentiality.

Applications submitted to Vinnova become public documents. This means that Vinnova must disclose them if requested. Men Vinnova classifies certain types of information as confidential if it can be assumed that disclosure would cause financial damage to the individual. This applies to information about business and operational conditions, inventions or research results.

Documents you send to Net Zero Industry are not covered by Vinnova's confidentiality regulations. Therefore, they should not contain confidential or sensitive information.