Impact Innovation: Efforts within competence for Net Zero Industry

Offer 1: Method for evaluation manufacturing industry against Net Zero Industrys mission 

When it comes to methods for evaluating the readiness or maturity level of an industry or company, there are a number of such methods developed around, for example, digitalisation, sustainability, automation, lean and efficiency. However, there is no method that evaluates the maturity level of companies and points to development stages, based on greenhouse gas emissions, resource efficiency, resilienceand competitiveness from an Net Zero Industry-perspektiv. Resilient production is characterized by the ability to react to external disturbances regarding, for example; environment, geopolitics, energy supply, finances, equipment, raw materials, skills, distribution, logistics, customer markets and partners in order to be able to return to the original state or move to a new and more desirable state.

The program therefore sees a need for an operational method with both structure and process that in the coming years can contribute to the program's future work on Swedish industry's journey towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions and resilience at the national level. 

The purpose of the effort is to contribute to the development of a method that can help companies identify their needs and build their strategy and competence by evaluating the current situation and areas for improvement, as well as later evaluating outcomes in progression in relation to starting values. 

The evaluation method should be based on the manufacturing industry's activities and create conditions for measuring how companies and organizations stand today and their progression forward. There is also a need for the method to function as a dialogue instrument and is adapted to help companies in their strategic process to achieve competitiveness, climate neutrality, resource efficiency and resilience in line with the Net Zero Industrys mission. The development of the evaluation method should also help academia and institutes in their strategic process to develop new knowledge and research. The projects funded within the call for proposals are expected to meet all of the performance objectives specified below and also, in the long term, contribute to meeting the specified long-term impact objectives below. 

Result target: 

• A method for evaluation companies' current situation and improvement efforts towards the Net Zero Industrys mission. 

• Strengthened cooperation between business and academia/institutes. 

• Developed working methods and structures for knowledge sharing. 

• Collaboration with the Net Zero Industry

• Plan to work on further in a possible follow-up project for implementation and validation. 

The projects funded within the call for proposals will be coordinated by the program office to collect the results produced in a common format. 

Expected long-term impact goals after the intervention are: 

• Qualified individuals (in industry, academia, institutes) who collaborate to develop methods and know what is required in terms of execution to achieve Net Zero Industrys's mission at the corporate level. 

• Increased awareness and knowledge among actors operating within and linked to the Swedish manufacturing industry's value chains regarding the status in relation to the Net Zero Industrys mission, what needs to be done and how to get there. 

• Impact on the supply of skills-enhancing interventions that contribute to the fulfillment of the Net Zero Industry mission. 

• Collaboration between industry, academia and institutes so that relevant efforts in education, role models and direct project are developed. 

• 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. 

Offer 2: Educational collaboration for net zero greenhouse gas emissions and resilience 

This offer addresses the challenges related to knowledge exchange and contacts between higher education institutions and industry. Educational collaboration can encompass different educational fields and organizations in different sectors of society. 

This offer enables the development and testing of interdisciplinary education as well as innovative models and methods for educational collaboration and
Work-integrated learning in line with Net Zero Industrys's mission. One aim is to enable the development of educational materials needed for educational and accessible knowledge dissemination. These courses can combine skills in digitalisation and sustainability for researchers, industrial employees and leaders at advanced levels. 

We want to strengthen the role of higher education institutions in providing skills, and contribute to increased sustainability-oriented skills among researchers, industrial employees and leaders. Examples of areas for educational collaboration are circularity, product and production development, production, materials, organization, business models and value chains. All areas can be relevant based on their connection and funding to a net zero and resilient manufacturing industry according to the Net Zero Industrys mission at the system level (see chapter 3). 

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 doctoral students and industrial experts to work holistically and interdisciplinary, a strong foundation can be created to drive the sustainable development of the future of industry. 

The funded Project is expected to contribute to the following results- and impact goals: 

Result target: 

• Develop and test interdisciplinary education as well as innovative models and methods for educational collaboration and work-integrated learning in line with the Net Zero Industrys mission. 

• Established platforms that make the training programs available for continuous development of experts in the field even outside the consortium. 

• An economically and resource-sustainable model for operation after the project ends 

• A clear description of implementation and scaling up of working methods and training packages. 

• Strengthened cooperation between business and academia/institutes. 

• Developed working methods and structures for knowledge sharing. 

• Collaboration with the Net Zero Industry program office. 

Expected long-term impact goals: 

• New innovative models and methods 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 sustainability-oriented competence among students, educational providers and in working life. Interdisciplinary relevant education and innovative models and 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 interventions that contribute to the fulfillment of the Net Zero Industry mission. 

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 organizations, 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.

Read more about Impact Innovationhere. 

This the call for proposals within the joint effort of the Swedish Energy Agency, Forma and Vinnova Impact Innovation is linked to the programs' need for so-called strategic efforts for transition. 

The purpose is to finance project with defined activities or results that are needed to achieve stated objective and milestones, i.e. to contribute to the program's mission. 

What characterizes strategic initiatives within Impact Innovation? 

Strategic efforts for transformation within Impact Innovation: 

• Responds to specific needs that Net Zero Industrys program office has identified in collaboration with the actors in the program with significance for the program's mission and the transformation that the program wants to achieve. 

• Consists of activities that contribute to identified objective, or bridge critical knowledge or development gaps. The result is beneficial to the entire program and mission and not just to individual actors. There should be clear added value at the system level and include joint learning and dissemination of results to actors also outside the project. 

• The purpose can be addressed by a few project and is therefore not suitable for a traditional call for proposals. It is positive when actors find each other and create a consortium for the task. 

The financing activities shall not be primarily technologically oriented. They shall consist of research, development and innovation or knowledge and skills development. 

What should the strategic effort achieve? 

Within the framework of Net Zero Industry, there is a need for a coherent and common long-term national structure to build and disseminate competence and knowledge that contributes to the program's mission. These offerings are the first steps in realizing the program's strategic efforts in competence. 

What is important in Impact Innovation? 

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 organizations, Impact Innovation meets real technological and societal needs with groundbreaking solutions. Society is on its way to a sustainable, resource-efficient and competitive Sweden, attractive to live in for everyone. Together we show what is possible, and are ahead internationally. 

Each offer to implement a strategic effort is unique, but below are listed some points that are generally important to the Impact Innovation effort as a whole. 

The importance of a systems perspective and foresight 

Problems with a clear solution are not in focus for Impact Innovation. The challenges of the programs are difficult to grasp, change over time, difficult to describe completely or are visibly self-contradictory. Having a systems perspectiveis therefore important: that is, looking at the whole and not just the parts and the downpipes but their mutual connections. The systems perspective is a prerequisite for social impact. 

In order to make the decisions required for system transformation, we need tools that can help us try to imagine what lies ahead. Foresight can prepare for possible events in the future, how to handle them and create a basis for strategic decisions. Interesting future images or future scenarios can, for example, concern changed behaviors, new business models or new services and technologies. 

The importance of active participation, user involvement and policy development 

In order to influence the whole of a system, actors with different perspectives and working in different sectors, industries and parts of the value chain need to be involved. The actors need to participate actively with both authority and responsibility. Not only are the creators and enablers needed, but also the users must be involved early. This is to ensure that the right solutions are developed but also to create sustainable financing models over time and management structures for the solutions. In this way, they can be scaled up, distributed and utilized for the greatest effect in the system. 

In addition, active work is required to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the solutions by means of policy development, for example to adapt laws and regulations. This means that it is important to involve, for example, system administrators and developers, problem owners, suppliers and users already in the formulation of the challenge. 

The importance of having internationalisation as a starting point 

Impact Innovation programs have a strong international perspective, in order to contribute to their missions and objectives. Solutions or contexts may exist internationally, or future new solutions may create international interest or competitiveness and the need to connect with international actors. The programs within Impact Innovation therefore work with an international perspective and active monitoring of the world around them. 

The importance of sustainable system transformation 

Impact Innovation will contribute to global competitiveness through transformation for sustainable development. Through our efforts, we contribute to the global commitment to achieving the goals in Agenda 2030. To achieve sustainable system transformation, it is important that project in the design of new solutions manage goal conflicts and minimize the risk of unintended negative effects. 

One aspect that Impact Innovation follows up and assesses is whether both women and men equally benefit from the contribution, participate in and have influence over the project, see section 7 and criteria foractors . 

Another aspect is to analyze and decide whether there are sex or gender aspects that are relevant to the project's problem area, solutions and utilization. This question is mandatory for all applicant and is found under the heading " Project tasks". When the question forms the basis for assessment, it is evident from the description of the respective offer. 

Gender-equal innovation – what it means for those seeking funding from us 

An innovative force in a sustainable world | Vinnova 

More information about Net Zero Industry 

https://www.netzeroimpact.se  

The mission is a competitive and resilient Swedish manufacturing industry with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. 

For questions about the background, aim and desired effects of the offer, contact Net Zero Industrys coordinator for calls for proposals and project Cecilia Ramberg at
utlysningar@netzeroimpact.seor 010-228 47 05. 

Free access to scientific publications and results 

Results from research and innovation that are made freely available increase the opportunity for more people to contribute to solutions to societal challenges. This the call for proposals will contribute to making more results freely available to everyone. Therefore, all scientific publishing should be open access. 

Those of you who apply together do so as project partners, where one of you acts as coordinator. A participant is actively involved in the project and shares risks and results. It is important that project partners and key people participate with active commitment. Foreign actors are welcome to participate in project on the following term: 

• A foreign actor cannot be coordinator. 

• In order for foreign actors to be granted funding, they must have a Swedish business registration number and that the costs of participating in the project are incurred in a Swedish branch or establishment. 

Manufacturing industry below refers to companies that perform discrete manufacturing. This also includes product design, related services, product-as-a-service and manufacturing-related circular activities. Companies representing the food, pharmaceutical and process industries are not eligible for this call for proposals.

Offer 1: Method for evaluation manufacturing industry against Net Zero Industrys mission 

The offer is aimed at actor constellations consisting of at least 4 parties (legal entities). At least 2 parties must be manufacturing companies.At least 2 parties must belong to research institutes or academia. It is an advantage if small and medium-sized organizations are included in the project group. 

Offer 2: Educational collaboration for net zero greenhouse gas emissions and resilience 

The offer is aimed at actor constellations consisting of at least three parties (legal entities). At least two parties must be manufacturing companies. At least one party must belong to the category of research institute or academy, preferably from different scientific fields. It is an advantage if small and medium-sized organizationsare included in the project group.

User guide on the definition of SME

Industry organizations, trade unions, regional actors, the public sector or civil society can also participate with advantage. A university or a university college should be coordinator in offer 2. 

Offer 1: Method for evaluation manufacturing industry against Net Zero Industrys mission  

This offer is about developing a method to evaluate manufacturing companies' readiness and status in relation to the Net Zero Industrys mission. This can be used to map the current situation, find areas for improvement, and also later evaluate outcomes in progression in relation to starting values. 

Activities that can be financed include: 

• Research or critical analysis to improve or create new evaluation methods within the manufacturing industry. The method should be able to evaluate the current situation and improvement potential of companies for:
  - net zero greenhouse gas emissions
  - competitiveness
  - resource efficiency
  - resilience

• Design of prototypes, demonstration, testing and validation of new or improved evaluation methods. The methods should be used in environments that correspond to laboratory environments or realistic operating conditions. The methods can be in the form of products, processes or services.

Offer 2: Educational collaboration for net zero greenhouse gas emissions and resilience

This offer provides an opportunity for universities, university colleges and research institutes to collaborate with industry or other organizations to 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 industry personnel.

The aim is to strengthen knowledge exchange and contacts between higher education institutions and organizations 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 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 the regular business premises. 

• Consulting and licensing costs:Consulting services, knowledge and patents purchased or used under license from a third party. Costs for consulting services from third parties may constitute a maximum of 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 an immediate consequence 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. 

What eligibility requirements apply to costs we finance? 

For a cost to be eligible, it must be: 

• necessary for the activities of the project 

• recorded correctly and separately from the organization's other costs. 

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

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

What activities do we want to finance? 

The intention of the offer is to primarily finance activities that are carried out as non-economic activities. Other activities must fall within the definition of what is described in the GBER and which can be used according to Vinnova's support scheme. More information and definitions of relevant articles in the GBER can be found in Chapter 5.

The state aid rules also govern how much of the costs we can finance. This is determined individually for each organization. We therefore differentiate between how much funding the projectcan receive, and how much each participantcan receive. 

How much funding can the project receive? 

Maximum funding and aid intensity varies depending on offer. 

In offer, funding can be granted with a maximum of 50 percent of the project's total eligible costs and a maximum of 5 million SEK per project.

In offer 2, funding can be granted with a maximum of 70 percent of the project's total eligible costs and a maximum of 6 million per project.

How much funding can a participant receive? 

How much funding each participant can receive depends mainly on: 

• what activities the party will carry out in the project 

• party size and activities. 

In this the call for proposals we provide support to both organizations that engage in economic activities and organizations that do not engage in economic activities. 

How do you determine whether an organization is engaged in economic activities? 

An organization that offers some kind of service or product in a marketis considered to be engaged in economic activities. It does not matter how the organization is financed, whether it is public or private, or whether it has a profit motive. It also does not matter what legal form the activity 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 organization in your project is conducting economic activities, contact call manager at the responsible public authority. However, the organization itself is responsible for assessing whether it is conducting economic activities. 

Not state aid  

In the offer we provide support to organizations that do not conduct economic activities. This usually includes universities and university colleges, research institutes and other organizations that do not offer a service or product on a market. 

Read more about our rules for state support

We can fund up to 100 percent of such organizations' eligible costs. 

State aid  

In the offers we grant funding in accordance with the Regulation (2015:208) on support for research and development and innovation (GBER § 9 / art. 25). 

More information and definitions about state aid. 

In this the call for proposals organizations engaged in economic activities can receive support for industrial researchand experimental development.  

Industrial research (NOTE! Offer 1 only)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 ( Offer 1 and 2)can be simply described as combining, shaping and using existing knowledge to develop new or improved products, processes or services. 

For full definition, seefunding bases and levels  

The size of the organization and type of activity determine how large a proportion of the costs we can finance, i.e. the maximum level of support. 

We grant funding in accordance with Article 25 of the EU Commission's General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). 

De minimis support ( support of minor importance) 

In the offer we can also provide support of minor importance, also called de minimis support. We can finance up to 100 percent of a project party's costs. 

An organization 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 organization has received support of lesser importance in other project from other funders, 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  

We grant funding in accordance with the EU Commission Regulation (2023/2831) on de minimis support. 

More information and definitions. 

For full definition, seefunding bases and levels 

In order for us to take a position on and assess your proposal, it must meet certain formal eligibility requirements. If the requirements are not met, proposal will be rejected immediately. 

Eligibility requirements on organizational form of project partners 

• All project partners must be legal entities. Natural persons or individual companies cannot participate as project partners. 

• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden. 

• Universities and university colleges shall be coordinator in offer 2. 

Eligibility requirements on the project 

• The project manager must be employed by the coordinating party in the project. 

• The project may not be started before proposal is submitted. 

• Costs for consulting services from outside parties 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 10. 

• Proposal must contain all requested attachments. 

What do we assess? 

Your proposal will be assessed based on the criteria potential, actors and feasibility. The assessment criteria for Impact Innovation: efforts within competence for Net Zero Industry are: 

Potential 

• To what extent does the project have potential to deliver benefits according to the chosen offer. 

• The project's potential to contribute to the call's outcome goals and long-term impact goals. 

• The project's potential to contribute to the Net Zero Industry mission program. 

• The project's novelty value and level of innovation. 

• How well the project is assessed to contribute to increased gender equality. 

Actors  

• To what extent the organizations in the project have the resources and capacity to implement the project. 

• To what extent the project manager and other key individuals have the competence and shared ability to implement the project. 

• How well the team (key people) is composed in terms of gender distribution, and how well power and influence are distributed between women and men. 

• How well is the consortium anchored in Swedish manufacturing industry, academia and institutes and addresses national needs for transformation. 

Feasibility 

• The proposal is clear, open and designed in a way that allows actors outside the project consortium to follow the project's progress 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 as well as desired results and long-term effects. 

• Commitment and involvement of relevant stakeholders and also the degree of collaboration between participating actors. 

• The design of 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 do we assess? 

All applications that meet the formal requirements will be assessed. Competition between applications within the same offer may arise. In such cases, funds will be awarded to the applications that best meet the assessment criteria. 

The evaluators consist of a group of Vinnova appointed experts and programme manager from Formas, the Swedish Energy Agency and Vinnova. The evaluators have experience in business, public activities, academia and civil society as well as knowledge linked to a wide range of areas and industries. 

Since applications may concern different types of project, consideration will be given to the different conditions that apply to each project. This includes classifying basis for support based on the project's planned activities. 

Schematically, the decision-making process looks as follows: 

• Only applications that, after review, meet the formal requirements set out in Section 6 will be assessed. 

• The assessments are made using the criteria set out in Section 7. 

• Based on the assessors' recommendations, decisions are made about which project should be granted funding and which should be rejected. 

• In a competitive situation, the overall portfolio perspective will be taken into account. 

• Decisions will be sent to those who have applied funding and information about approved project will be available atwww.vinnova.seand
  www.netzeroimpact.se  

We also assess financial status 

Before we decide on funding, we also make 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 this applies: 

• Organizations seeking funding for personnel costs must be registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency. 

• Organizations must not be insolvent, or undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring. They must also not have any significant unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority. 

• 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 implement the project according to their budget in proposal. They cannot use public funding or their own funds intended for other project to cover project costs in this call for proposals. 

To apply for funding you fill out a proposal in our e-service. Proposal contains questions about the project, participating project partners and budget. 

Please also attach these attachments to proposal: 

• Project description: according to template, maximum 10 pages with 12 point text. 

• CV attachmentfor key personnel: use the specified template, maximum 1 page per person 

• Impact logic, maximum 1 page. The purpose of the impact logic is to visualize in a simple way an overall picture of how the project is expected to contribute to the call's results and long-term impact goals. An example template is available on the call page. 

• Letter of intent, one from each party justifying their participation and quantifying the needs 

• If organizations with economic activities are applying for de minimis support support a certificate of de minimis support support be submitted when submitting proposal. 

Please note: If attachments in addition to these, or exceeding the number of pages, are submitted, these will not be read or assessed. 

The templates can be accessed via the call's website. 

At the same time as proposal is sent to Vinnova, a non-confidential public project description on two pages must also be sent to the Net Zero Industry program office via e-mailutlysningar@netzeroimpact.se. The content of the two pages sent to the program office must be freely distributed and published and must not contain confidential or otherwise sensitive information. 

Start proposal well in advance 

Keep in mind that it takes time to make a proposal. Filling out templates can take several days, as it is based on the analyses you will do. Therefore, start well in advance. 

In our e-service you can start filling in the details and then continue at a later time. You can also distribute permissions to others who you want to contribute to proposal. When proposal is complete, mark it as complete. 

You can unlock proposal and make changes at any time, right up until the last application date. If you unlock proposal, you must then mark it as ready for it to be registered when the call for proposals closes. 

Please mark proposal well in advance before the call for proposals closes. Please note that the call for proposals closes at 1:59 p.m.