Planning grant for international proposal 2026

This the call for proposals is aimed at actors who plans 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 proposal on planning grants, you should describe the activities to 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 a maximum of twelve months and end no later than one week after the international the call for proposals closes and the project application has been submitted.

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

Actors participating as participant can apply up to 300 000 kr, while actors coordinating an international project can apply up to 500 000 kr.

Participating in international research and innovation collaborations will give Swedish organisations 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. For Horizon Europe Pillar 1 planning projects, only the following programme are searchable: MSCA Doctoral Networks, MSCA Cofund, ERC Synergy Grant. Please note that Eureka's programme, such as Eureka Eurostars, is not covered by this call for proposals.

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

A specific effort is made on planning grants for applications in all areas of Horizon europe. In addition, a targeted effort is made at project that includes 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 into the main project – the project you later seek funding for. The work can last up to twelve months and will 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 distinction between planning projects and main projects is described as follows: 

Planning project

• Aim Developing and reinforcing a project application to an identified international call for proposals. 
• Content Within the planning project, you are working to develop and strengthen a competitive project application for a specific published international call for proposals.
• Time frame The planning project may last for a maximum of 12 months. The starting date of the planning project may not be earlier than the decision date if the planning grant is awarded. The end date must be no later than one week after the international the call for proposals closed. 

Main Project

• Aim The project for which you apply for funding in the next step in a published international call for proposals. 
• Content The main project is described in the project application developed during the planning project and submitted to the international the call for proposals. 
• Time frame The time frame of the main project is set by the international the call for proposals.

Compared funding of innovations

Your project will integrate gender equality both in how your project group 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 gender and gender aspects are relevant to the project design, and if so, how. 

By integrating different perspectives, more inclusive and relevant solutions are developed. It strengthens both the innovation capacity and the results of the project.

Gender equality as a tool for innovative societal development

An innovative force in a sustainable world

This call for proposals is aimed at those who plan 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 to a published international call for proposals, so that it stands well in international competition.

Who can apply?

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

All participants must be legal entities. Therefore, natural persons and sole proprietorships cannot participate. The coordinating party shall be a Swedish legal entity and operate activities in Sweden. The project manager must be employed in an operational role at the organisation that coordinates the planning project.

Foreign actors without a registered branch or place of business in Sweden may participate as participants, but cannot obtain funding from Vinnova.

Extra support for SMEs

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can receive free expert advice through EU SME Support. Support includes assistance for your first EU proposal, revision 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 used to strengthen the content of the project (e.g. intellectual property rights (IPR) and technical consultation), it is important to describe their skills and previous experience in the field. Please note that the cost of writing consultation may amount to a maximum of SEK 75,000.

• Development of the scientific or technical base of 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 sense, 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 financed in this the call for proposals is, for example:

• Planning projects that do not aim to submit a proposal to a published international call for proposals.
• Development of proposal directed to Eureka's programme, such as Eureka Eurostars.

What costs can we finance?

Our funding is subject to rules on state aid. The rules govern the types of costs that we can finance. These are called eligible costs.

In this the call for proposals, these types of costs are eligible:

• Remuneration costs: Gross wages and salaries paid, employer's contributions and other non-wage labour costs.
• Material costs: Costs of instruments and equipment.

• Consultancy costs: Consultancy costs may include acquired knowledge, services or patents from external actors that are relevant to strengthen the content of the project (e.g. IPR-support or technical expertise). You must justify the need for consultancy work in proposal and the justification is taken into account in our assessment. Please note that costs for writing consultation, i.e. consultancy work that directly supports the design of proposal for the international the call for proposals, may amount to a maximum of SEK 75 000.
• Other direct costs: Costs such as materials, supplies and travel necessary to carry out the project.
• Indirect costs (overhead): Costs associated with the project do not occur directly, such as premises and cleaning. Indirect costs may not exceed 30% of wage costs. Universities, university colleges, research organisations and government agencies may have higher permitted levels, depending on activities.

For more detailed information on what costs we can finance, see Instructions to eligible costs

What eligibility requirements applies to costs we fund?

For your costs to be eligible, this applies:

• They must be actual, reasonable and necessary for the activities in the project.
• They must be correctly recorded and on a separate project code in the accounts. You may not cover project costs with other public funding or own funds intended for other project.
• You may not include someone else's costs as your own.

For more detailed information on which eligibility requirements, restrictions and exceptions apply, see our general terms and conditions.

The rules about state aid determine how much of the costs we can finance. This is determined individually for each organisation. We therefore distinguish between how big the funding project can get, and how much a participating organisation can get.

How big funding can the project get?

The call for proposals has two contribution levels, depending on the role of the Swedish actor or the actors:  

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

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

The planning grant may represent a maximum of 80% of the total eligible costs of the planning project. The remaining amount corresponding to at least 20 per cent of the costs of the planning project shall be self-financed by the project partners. 

How big funding can a participant get?

How big funding a participating organisation can get depends mainly on:

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

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

In this the call for proposals we give support according to two support bases; support of minor importance (de minimis-support) and not state aid. Descriptions in future sections on these two aid grounds are simplified. For full details, see Basis and rates of support for funding.

For enterprises: Support of minor importance (De minimis-support)

Undertakings engaged in economic activities receive support under the de minimis rules. These organisations can be financed up to 100% of their costs as long as the organisations does not exceed the ceiling of 300,000 Euros 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 funders thus affects how big support the company can get in this call for proposals

For companies it is mandatory to submit a signed Vinnova certificate of Support de minimis-support) when you submit proposal (see tab 9 How to apply) It is required 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 does not engage in economic activities can get support that is not considered state aid. This is usually the case for universities, research institutes and other public organisations.

These organisations can be financed up to 100% of their costs.

How to determine whether a organisation conducts economic activities?

A organisation offering any kind of service or product on a market is considered to conduct 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 is profit-making. Nor does it matter what legal form the activity takes. For example, if it is a limited company, a partnership, an economic association, a non-profit association or a foundation.

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

For us to judge your proposal, it must meet some formal eligibility requirements. If the requirements are not met, we will reject proposal directly.

Eligibility requirements on participants

• All participating organisations shall be legal entities. Natural persons or sole proprietorships cannot participate.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and operate activities in Sweden.
• Foreign actors without a registered branch or establishment in Sweden may participate as participants, but cannot receive funding from Vinnova. 

Eligibility requirements on the project

• The project leader 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's proposal relates)
• Costs for writing consultation may not, according to budget, exceed SEK 75 000.  

Eligibility requirements on proposal

Proposal shall fulfil the following eligibility requirements:

• Proposal shall 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 before either:
  - A call for proposals within Horizon europe or another relevant funding programme from the European Commission, such as LIFE, Digital Europe or RFCS. Proposal may refer to an open and published call for proposals, a call for proposals in a published work programme or a recurring call for proposals within an established programme. Link to the specific the call for proposals should be attached. If the the call for proposals in question has not yet been published, the applicant must attach a link to the relevant work programme or to the corresponding call for proposals from previous years​
  - Another international call for proposals. A direct link to the published and open the call for proposals should be attached.​
• Proposal should be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal should follow the instructions under the heading "How to apply".
• The grant applied for may represent a maximum of 80% of the eligible costs of the planning project. A minimum of 20% own funding from that applicant party or parties is therefore required.
• Companies should attach a signed Vinnova de minimis-Support certificate as an annex to support. 

The applications that meet our eligibility requirements will proceed to assessment. In the assessment, we look at how big 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 for the identified international the call for proposals and assessed based on the criteria below. If the international proposal has specific eligibility requirements on their own funding, it is important that those applicant describe how they plan to meet these eligibility requirements and secure the necessary self-financing to carry out the main project.   

When assessing applications, we look at three main criteria:

• Potential: We analyse what effects and what value we can expect from the project.

• Actors: We assess the participants' competence and ability to implement the project and reach the desired results and effects.
• Implementability: We assess how realistic and credible the project plan is, both to implement the project and to achieve the desired results.

Potential

Planning Project potential

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

Main Project potential (as described in the planning project)/p>

Main Project's likely competitiveness and potential to be granted international funding in it is directed towards call for proposals proposal.
• Head Project, Innovation, in relation to existing solutions, the state of knowledge and ongoing international initiatives.
• How credible the main project's problem solving and expected results is, including how clearly they are described during the planning project.
• Main project potential to contribute to increased gender equality, sustainable social development and global sustainability.  

Actors

• How good is the capacity, competence and ability of the project team (including consultants contracted by the project) to develop and strengthen a competitive international proposal. 
• How well the need for consulting services has been justified (if a project partner's budget includes consultancy costs).
• How well the financial contribution, participation, power and influence are distributed equally between women and men in the project team.

Implementability

• How realistic, credible and effective is the schedule and budget of the planning project.
• How effective are the activities of the planning project to strengthen an international proposal and, if relevant, to create deeper collaborations.  
• How well the need for consulting services and licenses is justified. This only applies if an organisation's budget includes more than 20 percent consultancy and licensing costs
• How well the gender balance in the project team and perspectives on gender 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 among different evaluator and assessed on the basis of 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, on the basis of which Vinnova makes decisions. Vinnova reserves the right to apply a portfolio perspective when selecting planning grants. 

How does an organization's financial status affect?

Before deciding on funding, we also make an overall 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 can also ask small and medium-sized enterprises to show that they have financial coverage to carry out the project.

In our assessment, we check this:

• That organisations granted to funding for wage costs is registered as an employer with the Swedish Tax Agency. If such a registration does not exist when we make a decision, you must be able to show that a notification has been made. We do not accept retroactive registration.

• That organisations is not insolvent, or undergoing liquidation or corporate reorganisation. You may also not have unpaid debts of significance to the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• That the project manager is employed by the coordinating party in the project.

• That limited companies have not used up half or more of their share capital.

• Small and medium-sized enterprises must, at our request, be able to show that they have financial cover to carry out the project according to their budget in proposal. They cannot use public funding or 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 in which we either approve or reject your proposal. Since the applications are assessed in competition, you may be rejected even though you meet all eligibility requirements and criteria.

In the decision, we specify 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 that decisions will be announced no later than 4 to 5 weeks after closing.

What if you are granted funding?

If we grant you proposal, you must follow our general terms and conditions for funding. The terms and conditions include:

• That you sign a special document in which you accept your participation and commit to implementing the project.

• That you report to us on the progress, costs and achievements of results during the project period.

See our general terms and conditions

We may also decide to add complementary special conditions for individual project. If so, they are set out in the decision.

Can you have to repay funding?

If you have received more money than you are entitled to or if you do not follow our term, you may be liable to repay.

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

To proposal, only two appendices can be attached, one of which is mandatory for companies:

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

2 Complementary graphic material

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

NOTE! CV or other text documents cannot be attached.

How long does proposal take?

Keep in mind that it takes time to make a proposal. Filling in templates can take several days, as it is based on analyses you should do.

In our e-service you can start filling in tasks and then continue at a later date. You can also give permissions to others that you want to contribute in proposal. When proposal is finished, it is important that you clear it.

You can unlock proposal at any time and make changes, right up to the last application date. If you unlock proposal, you must then clear it again for it to be registered when the call for proposals closes. Clear proposal well before the call for proposals closes.

10 August 2026

Under point 6, the following has been added: A call for proposals within Horizon europe or other relevant funding programme from the European Commission, such as LIFE, Digital Europe or RFCS. Proposal may refer to an open and published call for proposals, a call for proposals in a published work programme or a recurring call for proposals within an established programme. 

Under point 2, the following text has been added: For Horizon Europe Pillar 1 planning projects, only the following programme are searchable: MSCA Doctoral Networks, MSCA Cofund, ERC Synergy Grant.