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Planning grant for international proposal 2026

Do you want to make better project applications and increase the opportunities for funding through international calls for proposals? Then this is a offer for you. With a planning grant, you can work in a project to develop a competitive proposal with Swedish participation to an international call for proposals. 

This web page has been machine translated. If there are any uncertainties, please refer to the Swedish text.

The offer in brief

What can you apply for?

Support to develop and strengthen a project application for a published international research and innovation call. The planning project can last up to 12 months.

Who can apply?

Swedish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), stakeholders in academia, research institutes, the public sector or civil society who are preparing a proposal for an international research and innovation call.

How much can you apply for?

Up to 300,000 SEK if you plan to participate as a participant in an international call for proposals. Up to 500,000 SEK if you plan to coordinate an international project with at least three actors from three countries.

Important dates

In this call we assess incoming applications on a number of occasions.That's why we've divided this call into several application periods. This means that if you submit your application before the last day of one of these application periods, you can have it assessed close to that date. But you can submit your application at any time until the very last application date. In the timeline you can see the next application period.

  • Read the call text

    Tip: To create a PDF with all the information about the offer, click Ctrl+P and select PDF to save the content.

    • This the offer is aimed at actors who plan to apply for funding for research and innovation projects in a published international call for proposals. The planning grant gives those of you who have a developed project idea the opportunity to deepen, strengthen and further develop your upcoming project application.

      The goal is to increase the number of internationally competitive applications with Swedish participation. In the planning grant proposal, you should describe the activities that will be carried out to develop the main project and the role of the Swedish project partners in the preparatory work.

      The planning project may last for a maximum of twelve months and will be completed no later than one week after the international the call for proposals has closed and the project application has been submitted.

      The offer can be applied for by small and medium-sized companies, research institutes, the public sector, academia and civil society.

      Actors who participate as participant can apply for up to 300,000 SEK, while actors who coordinate an international project can apply for up to 500,000 SEK.

    • By participating in international research and innovation collaborations, Swedish organisations have better opportunities to contribute to global sustainability and at the same time strengthen Sweden's competitiveness. With this the call for proposals we want to encourage international partnerships for Swedish actors. We also want to help Swedish actors develop competitive project applications for published international calls for proposals. An international call for proposals means that applications are assessed in international competition and by an external, international assessment group. Please note that Eureka's programme, such as Eureka Eurostars, are not covered by this offer.

      The planning grant supports the work of developing a strong and well-coordinated proposal. It increases the chances of participating in high-quality international research and innovation projects and of obtaining international funding. The call for proposals thus strengthens the role of Swedish actors in collaborations that can make a real difference – both for sustainable social development and for Swedish innovative power.

      A special effort is made on planning grants for applications within all specializations of Horisont Europa. In addition, a targeted effort is made on project that include actors from any of the following countries: Brazil, Israel, Japan, Canada, Singapore, the United Kingdom, South Korea or Ukraine.

      The planning project focuses on developing proposal for the main project – the project you will later seek funding for. The work can last up to twelve months and should result in a competitive proposal where roles, collaborations and project content are clearly formulated.

      Definition of planning projects and main projects

      This call for proposals mentions planning projects and main projects. Within the framework of the call for proposals Vinnova finances the work on the planning project. The difference between planning projects and main projects is described as follows:

      Planning project
      • AimTo develop and strengthen a project application to an identified international call for proposals.
      • ContentWithin the planning project, you work on developing and strengthening a competitive project application for a specific published international call for proposals.
      • TimeframeThe planning project may last for a maximum of 12 months. The starting date for the planning project may not be earlier than the decision date on whether a planning grant is granted. The end date may not be later than one week after the international the call for proposals has closed.
      Main project
      • AimThe project that you will apply for funding for in the next step in a published international call for proposals.
      • ContentThe main project is described in the project application that is developed during the planning project and submitted to the international the call for proposals.
      • TimeframeThe main project's timeframe is set by the international the call for proposals.

      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

      An innovative force in a sustainable world

    • This offer is aimed at those of you who are planning to apply for funding for a research and innovation project in an international call for proposals. The planning grant gives you, with a developed project idea, the opportunity to further develop and strengthen your upcoming project application for a published international call for proposals, so that it stands up well in international competition.

      Who can apply?

      The offer can be applied for by research institutes, the public sector, actors in academia or civil society, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sweden.

      All participants must be legal entities. Natural persons and individual companies cannot participate. The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden. The project manager must be employed in an operational role at the organisation coordinating the planning project.

      Foreign actors without a registered branch or establishment in Sweden may participate as participants, but cannot receive funding from Vinnova.

      Extra support for small and medium-sized businesses

      Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can receive free expert advice through EU SME Support. The support includes help with your first EU proposal, reworking after rejection and questions about EU funding.

      Read more: EU SME Support

    • The planning project will aim to implement activities that have potential to strengthen a competitive proposal with Swedish participation in an international call for proposals. An international call for proposals means that applications are assessed in international competition and by an external, international assessment group.

      Approved project activities within the framework of this the call for proposals are, for example:

      • Activities to strengthen the consortium's composition and collaboration, such as meetings and discussions with potential international partners.
      • To develop and strengthen a project idea and to write and submit a proposal to the announced international the call for proposals. If external expertise is hired to strengthen the project content (for example intellectual property rights (IPR) and technical consultation), it is important to describe their competence and previous experience in the area. Please note that costs for writing consultation may amount to a maximum of SEK 75,000.
      • Development of the scientific or technical basis for the project by, for example, conducting pilot or "proof of concept" studies. It is important to explain why this is required for a successful proposal, or if the international the call for proposals specifically requests this.
      • Activities to strengthen business case, such as conducting IPR analyses, user interviews or developing an initial business plan. It is important to justify why these measures are needed for a successful proposal, or if the international the call for proposals specifically requires them.

      What cannot be funded in this the call for proposals is, for example:

      • Planning project that does not aim to submit a proposal to a published international call for proposals.
      • Development of proposal directed to Eureka's programme, for example Eureka Eurostars.

      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.
      • Material costs: Costs for instruments and equipment.
      • Consulting costs:Consulting costs may include knowledge, services or patents acquired from external parties that are relevant to strengthening the project's content (for example, IPR support or technical specialist expertise). You must justify the need for consulting services in proposal and the justification will be taken into account in our assessment. Please note that costs for writing consulting, i.e. consulting services that directly support the design of proposal for the international the call for proposals, may amount to a maximum of SEK 75,000.
      • 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 on which eligibility requirements, limitations and exclusions apply, see our general terms and conditions.

    • state aid rules govern how much of the costs we can finance. This is determined individually for each organisation. We therefore differentiate between how much funding the project can receive, and how much a participating organisation can receive.

      How much funding can the project receive?

      The offer has two contribution levels, depending on the role the Swedish actor or the actors have:

      Actors who plan to participate as participant in a proposal for an international call for proposals can apply for up to 300,000 SEK.

      Actors who plan to participate as coordinator in a proposal for an international call for proposals can apply for up to SEK 500,000. The project proposal must include at least three actors from three different countries.

      The planning grant may constitute a maximum of 80 percent of the total eligible costs of the planning project. The remaining amount, corresponding to at least 20 percent of the planning project costs, shall be self-financed by the project parties.

      How much funding can a participant receive?

      The amount of funding a participating organisation can receive depends primarily on:

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

      Please note that the maximum contribution rate per planning project is not the same as the maximum allowable support level per participant.

      In this the call for proposals we provide support under two funding grounds; de minimis support support and non- state aid.Descriptions in the following sections of these two funding grounds are simplified. For full information, see funding grounds and levels.

      For companies: De minimis Support (De minimis support)

      Companies carrying out economic activities receive support under the de minimis rules. These organisations can be financed with up to 100% of their costs as long as the organisations do not exceed the ceiling of 300,000 Euro over a three-year period.

      A company may receive a maximum of 300,000 euros in de minimis support over a three-year period, regardless of the financier and project. Previously granted de minimis support from other financiers thus affects how muchsupport the company can receive in this call for proposals

      For companies, it is mandatory to submit a signed Vinnova certificate of Support of minor importance (de minimis support) when you submit proposal (see tab 9 How to apply). This is required in order for us to be able to grant this support.

      For universities, university colleges and other public organisations with non-economic activities: Not state aid

      Organisations that do not carry out economic activities can receive support that is not considered state aid. This usually applies to universities and university colleges, research institutes and other public organisations.

      These organisations can be financed with up to 100% of their 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 itself 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.
      • The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden.
      • Foreign actors without a registered branch or establishment in Sweden are allowed to participate as participants, but cannot receive funding from Vinnova.

      Eligibility requirements on the project

      • The project manager must be employed by the coordinating party.
      • The planning project may last for a maximum of 12 months.
      • The planning project must be completed no later than one week after the closing date of the international the call for proposals (to which the main project proposal refers)
      • Costs for writing consultation may not exceed SEK 75,000 according to the budget.

      Eligibility requirements on proposal

      Proposal must meet the following eligibility requirements:

      • Proposal should refer to a planning project for an international call for proposals. International call for proposals refers to a call for proposals where applications are evaluated in international competition.
      • Proposal shall refer to a planning grant for either:

        - En Horisont Europa‑utlysning. This can be an open and published call for proposals or a call for proposals published in a work programme. A link to the specific the call for proposals or to the relevant work programme should be attached.

        - Another international call for proposals. A direct link to the published and open the call for proposals should be attached.
      • Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
      • Proposal should follow the instructions under the heading “ How to apply”.
      • The grant applied for may constitute a maximum of 80 percent of the planning project's eligible costs. This requires at least 20 percent own funding from the applicant party or parties.
      • Companies must attach a signed Vinnova certificate of Support of minor importance (de minimis support) as an attachment to proposal.
    • 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?

      The planning project should be in line with aim and objective of the identified international the call for proposals and is assessed against the criteria below. If the international proposal has specific eligibility requirements for self funding, it is important that the applicant describes how they plan to meet these eligibility requirements and secure the necessary self-funding to carry out the main project.

      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

      Planning project potential

      • How much potential the planning project has to develop and strengthen a competitive project application for an international call for proposals.
      • How much potential does the planning project have to engage relevant actors, nationally and internationally, to create a strong consortium and credible implementation.
      • How well the planning project analyzes needs, challenges and conditions for the main project, and how realistic the project's plan is for addressing these.

      Main project potential (as described in the planning project)

      • The likely competitiveness of the main project and potential to be granted international funding in the call for proposals proposal is aimed at.
      • The level of innovation of the main project, in relation to existing solutions, state of knowledge and ongoing international initiatives.
      • How credible the main project's problem solution and expected results are, including how clearly they are described during the planning project.
      • The main project's potential to contribute to increased gender equality, sustainable social development and global sustainability.
      Actors
      • How good is the project team's (including consultants hired by the project) capacity, competence and ability to develop and strengthen a competitive international proposal.
      • How well the need for consulting services has been justified (if a project party's budget includes consulting costs).
      • How well the financial contribution, participation, power and influence are distributed equally between women and men in the project team.
      Feasibility
      • How realistic, credible and appropriate is the planning project's schedule and budget.
      • How effective are the planning project's activities in strengthening an international proposal and, if relevant, in creating deeper collaborations.
      • How well the need for consulting services and licenses is justified. This only applies if an organization's budget includes more than 20 percent consulting and license costs
      • How well the gender distribution in the project team and perspectives on sex and gender have been integrated into the project plan.

      How do we assess?

      When we have received the applications for planning grants in Vinnova's e-services, we review them. We sort out all applications that are incomplete or do not meet our eligibility requirements. The applications that are correct and complete are distributed between different evaluator and are assessed based on the assessment criteria in competition with each other. The assessment group consists of external evaluator and employees at Vinnova. The overall evaluation results in a recommendation, based on which Vinnova makes a decision. Vinnova reserves the right to apply a portfolio perspective when selecting planning grants.

      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.
      • SMEs must, upon our request, be able to demonstrate that they have the financial means to carry out 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.
    • Once we have assessed all applications, we will send you a decision either granting or rejecting your proposal. Since applications are assessed competitively, you may be rejected even though you meet all eligibility requirements and criteria.

      In the decision we state how much of the costs we cover for each organisation. You cannot appeal our decision, but you are welcome to apply to us again at another time.

      Our goal is for decisions to be announced no later than 4 to 5 weeks after closing.

      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.

      See our general terms and conditions

      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.

    • To apply for funding, you fill out a proposal in our e-service. In proposal, you answer questions about the project, participating organisations, and budget.

      Only two attachments can be attached to the proposal, one of which is mandatory for companies:

      1 Signerat Vinnova certificate of Support of minor importance (de minimis support)

      For companies, it is mandatoryto attach a signed Vinnova certificate of Support of minor importance (de minimis support)as an attachment to the proposal.

      2 Supplementary graphic material

      If necessary, you can attach explanatory graphics that support and clarify proposal.

      The following eligibility requirements apply:

      • Only graphics that are directly linked to a specific section of proposal (e.g. a work package) may be attached.
      • The attachment must have a clear reference in proposal, and proposal must in turn refer to the attachment. The attachment is only accepted if this bidirectional reference is included.

      OBS! CV or other text documents may not be attached to.

      How long does proposaltake?

      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.

      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, it is important that you 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 clear it again so that it is registered when the call for proposals closes. Clear proposal well in advance of the call for proposals closing.

    • 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. However, we keep certain types of information confidential if disclosure could be expected to cause financial harm to the individual. This applies to information about business and operational conditions, inventions or research results.

      General documents and confidentiality

    How to apply

    To apply for funding, you need to log in and complete an application form in our eServices portal. The application form contains questions about your project, the participants taking part in the project and your budget. 

    How to apply for funding

    Any questions?

    If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

    Jennika Gill Noltorp

    Utlysningsansvarig

    Lars Resman

    Hållbar produktion/ Hållbara material

    Kajsa Nimvik

    Hälsa / Life Science

    Andrea Birch-Jensen

    Digitalisering

    Maria Mützell

    Administrativa frågor

    Yusra Imsheiel

    Matsystem/ Samhällsutveckling

    Daniela Dimitrova

    Hållbar produktion/ Hållbara material

    Nationell kontaktperson Horisont Europa

    Frågor om Horisont Europa

    Reference number 2026-00484