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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.

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

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

Live broadcast from Almedalen 2025: Gathering forces for groundbreaking technology – join us and secure Sweden's competitiveness

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 call for excellence clusters, applicants could receive planning grants to formulate a bold vision for an excellence cluster, mobilize the right actors, and develop an overall plan to realize the vision.

The call opened on June 10 and closed on September 4. Decisions will be announced on October 17. Projects could be awarded up to SEK 1.5 million each, must start no later than November 14, and end no later than March 31, 2026. Projects that did not apply in the first call may also apply for funding in the next stage.

Read the call for proposals

A joint assignment with the Swedish Research Counil

In August, the Swedish Research Council (VR) closed its first open call. The call aimed on 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.

Result from the first call

VR's first call: Network grant for planning future excellence clusters for groundbreaking technologies

Last updated 10 September 2025