Information about the next call
The Swedish Research Council and Vinnova will soon open a call for proposals to finance clusters that can make Sweden a world leader in groundbreaking technologies.
Some basic conditions have already been decided:
- Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council are implementing the initiative on clusters of excellence for cutting-edge technology as a joint programme with a coherent process.
- The call for proposals for the establishment of a cluster of excellence that opens this spring is joint.
- The call for proposals and the applications are handled and assessed by both authorities together.
- Applications should describe clusters of excellence that over time encompass both research and innovation.
- Applications are assessed simultaneously on both research excellence and innovation potential.
- In terms of innovation potential, this means that initially more research-oriented clusters still need to have a clear intention, readiness and plan for innovation. Early involvement of innovation actors and visionary companies regarding the direction and plan of the cluster of excellence will likely strengthen the application's assessed innovation potential.
- Clusters of excellence that are ripe for early building of extensive innovation capabilities should have formed a broad collaboration between research, business and innovation actors, etc., prior to proposal. The broad collaboration should be reflected in the cluster of excellence's vision and steering group.
- Proposal are sent via the Swedish Research Council and the Prisma system.
- When a proposal to start a cluster of excellence has been granted, it means that:
- The Cluster of Excellence has been granted. The cluster is now part of the initiative.
- The research plan in proposal has received funding.
- The Cluster of Excellence can initiate a process directly with Vinnova to apply for the innovation funding described in proposal. The first innovation funding will therefore come a few months later than the research funding.
- The call for proposals is open to everyone, including consortia that did not participate in the initiative's previous network and vision grant in 2025.
Latest update: 2026-02-01.
What happens in spring?
There is now a more detailed schedule for the next call for proposals:
- March 3: Full information about the program is published.
- March 4 and 10: Information meetings.
- March-April: Dialogue meetings.
- April: The call for proposals opens.
- Before Midsummer: The call for proposals closes.
- End of the year: Kickoff for new clusters.
Information meetings
Dialogue meetings this spring
Are you interested in meeting other actors in a specific technology area or application? We are currently investigating the interest in and need for physical dialogue forums during the spring.