Funding
Cluster of Excellence for Strategic Technology
Accelerating technological development, geopolitical uncertainty and the global arms race have increased the importance of an ambitious and goal-oriented technology policy. To secure Sweden's role as a leading knowledge and technology nation, we are now investing in clusters of excellence – powerful environments where research and innovation work together to accelerate development in strategically important technology areas. The aim is for Sweden to become competitive and a world leader in selected strategic technology areas.
New government assignment
International reports on the conditions for competitiveness clearly point to the need for large, synchronized investments in research and innovation. Most leading innovation countries now pursue active technology policies.
Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council have been commissioned by the government to carry out a large-scale effort on clusters of excellence for groundbreaking and strategic technology. The Swedish Research Council and Vinnova will also create a joint program office for the initiative. The office will coordinate, evaluate the initiatives and work for synergies. It will also support the initiative's high ambitions - to create bold world-leading environments.
Read the government assignment
The investment in the government's research and innovation bill
What is a cluster of excellence?
A cluster of excellence refers to a powerful concentration of resources and capabilities that together can establish a very strong position within their field of technology.
The cluster's ambition is to become a world leader in its field. It will also successfully attract capital and significant international talents and actors to Sweden. Vinnova's part of the investment in clusters of excellence will serve as a clear increase in ambition for Swedish innovation and competitiveness.
Vinnova's objective with its part of the initiative is that there will be up to five world-leading clusters of excellence in Sweden by 2035. Over the next four years, Vinnova will invest approximately one billion kronor in their establishment.
Six strategic technology areas
The following six technology areas are identified as strategically important for Sweden in the government's assignment to Vinnova, and it is these areas that the initiative focuses on:
- Artificiell Intelligens (AI) and autonomous systems
- Advanced digital technology, including semiconductors
- Quantum technology
- Energy technology
- Materials and production technology
- Biotechnology
First call for proposals to formulate visions
In the first of several call for proposals applicant can receive planning grants to formulate a bold vision for a cluster of excellence, mobilize the right actors, and develop an overall plan to realize the vision.
We plan to finance approximately 30 planning projects with a maximum of SEK 1.5 million each. The projects must start no later than November 14 and end no later than March 31, 2026. Even project that did not apply in the first the call for proposals can apply funding in the next stage.
In parallel, the Swedish Research Council has an open call for proposals to create an opportunity for a constellation of researchers to plan for a future proposal for funding for the establishment of clusters of excellence for groundbreaking technology, with a focus on future technology areas.
Last updated 26 August 2025