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Call process and requirements

A proposal to start a cluster of excellence should contain several different parts, including a research and innovation plan. Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council jointly finance a wide range of activities and project within the clusters.

Applications to establish Clusters of Excellence in 2026 are submitted via the Swedish Research Council's application system Prisma, where the final information about the call will be published. The call is open to all, including consortia that did not participate in the initiative's previous grants in 2025, i.e.:

  • Networking grant for planning future clusters of excellence for groundbreaking technologies (Swedish Research Council).
  • Visions for world-leading research and innovation in strategic technology areas (Vinnova).

The following information is preliminary and may be corrected until the call for proposals opens on April 1, 2026.

To the call page on the Swedish Research Council's website

Proposal, requirements and governance

  • An application consists of:

    • A web form with general questions regarding applicants, the cluster of excellence proposal and a popular science description.
    • A research plan with the following preliminary headings:
      • Relevance to the call (groundbreaking technology)..
      • Background and state-of-the-art.
      • Description of the novelty of the research. Important information related to this can be found in the section on handling sensitive data.
      • A plan for the research in engineering sciences and for research in the humanities and social sciences.
      • The merits of the project manager and the participating researchers.
      • Feasibility (research organisation and access to infrastructure).
    • Description of activities in a possible graduate school.
    • A well-prepared innovation plan outlining the cluster's innovation strategy under the following preliminary headings:
      • Business intelligence .
      • Vision.
      • Strategy and implementation.
      • Organization and management.
      • Participating parties.
      • Overview of the project plan and budget.
    • A CV appendix of no more than 15 pages with short CVs for the cluster's management and key people in the innovation support work. The focus should be on the participants' skills and experience in innovation.
    • An appendix for the Letter of Intent of no more than 15 pages that describes the commitment of the most important actors who will be involved in the cluster. These can come from business, the public sector, and other parts of the innovation ecosystem.

    An application consists of:

    • A web form with general questions regarding applicants, the cluster of excellence proposal and a popular science description.
    • A research plan with the following preliminary headings:
      • Relevance to the call (groundbreaking technology)..
      • Background and state-of-the-art.
      • Description of the novelty of the research. Important information related to this can be found in the section on handling sensitive data.
      • A plan for the research in engineering sciences and for research in the humanities and social sciences.
      • The merits of the project manager and the participating researchers.
      • Feasibility (research organisation and access to infrastructure).
    • Description of activities in a possible graduate school.
    • A well-prepared innovation plan outlining the cluster's innovation strategy under the following preliminary headings:
      • Business intelligence .
      • Vision.
      • Strategy and implementation.
      • Organization and management.
      • Participating parties.
      • Overview of the project plan and budget.
    • A CV appendix of no more than 15 pages with short CVs for the cluster's management and key people in the innovation support work. The focus should be on the participants' skills and experience in innovation.
    • An appendix for the Letter of Intent of no more than 15 pages that describes the commitment of the most important actors who will be involved in the cluster. These can come from business, the public sector, and other parts of the innovation ecosystem.

  • Eligibility requirements on applicant

    Grants to establish clusters of excellence can be applied for by a Swedish university or college, or another Swedish organisation that is an administrating organisation of grants from the Swedish Research Council.

    Read about fund managers on the Swedish Research Council's website

    The application must include a named researcher (project manager) with responsibility for research coordination in the cluster. The project manager must be employed by the administrating organisation at the start of the grant period but does not need to be employed by the administrating organisation at the time of application. The employment and activity level of the project manager in the cluster must correspond to at least 50 per cent of a full-time employment.

    Participating researchers in the application must be 5 to 15, and be employed at a Swedish higher education institution, or other approved administrating organisation when the grant period begins. Please note that each named project manager may only participate in one (1) application to the Cluster of Excellence. Participating researchers can participate in two applications. A possible exception could be individuals who conduct research in an enabling technology that is a prerequisite for a number of clusters of excellence. These cases must be carefully justified in the application.

    Requirements for participants in the excellence cluster who are not applicant researchers

    Other active participants in the cluster of excellence, whose involvement is part of the application's innovation plan, play a central role in the credibility of the cluster's innovation parts. This could include other researchers, companies, and innovation support actors and entrepreneurs.

    Actors who will take key roles in the cluster's governance, structure and future applications for innovation funding must be clearly described in the innovation plan. CVs and letters of intent that substantiate their commitments must be attached to the application.

    Eligibility requirements on applicant

    Grants to establish clusters of excellence can be applied for by a Swedish university or college, or another Swedish organisation that is an administrating organisation of grants from the Swedish Research Council.

    Read about fund managers on the Swedish Research Council's website

    The application must include a named researcher (project manager) with responsibility for research coordination in the cluster. The project manager must be employed by the administrating organisation at the start of the grant period but does not need to be employed by the administrating organisation at the time of application. The employment and activity level of the project manager in the cluster must correspond to at least 50 per cent of a full-time employment.

    Participating researchers in the application must be 5 to 15, and be employed at a Swedish higher education institution, or other approved administrating organisation when the grant period begins. Please note that each named project manager may only participate in one (1) application to the Cluster of Excellence. Participating researchers can participate in two applications. A possible exception could be individuals who conduct research in an enabling technology that is a prerequisite for a number of clusters of excellence. These cases must be carefully justified in the application.

    Requirements for participants in the excellence cluster who are not applicant researchers

    Other active participants in the cluster of excellence, whose involvement is part of the application's innovation plan, play a central role in the credibility of the cluster's innovation parts. This could include other researchers, companies, and innovation support actors and entrepreneurs.

    Actors who will take key roles in the cluster's governance, structure and future applications for innovation funding must be clearly described in the innovation plan. CVs and letters of intent that substantiate their commitments must be attached to the application.

  • The funding from the Swedish Research Council must comprise at least SEK 40 million per year per cluster of excellence. The funding is awarded for five years and can, after evaluation and a new decision, be awarded for a further five years.

    The funding can finance, among other things, salary costs, operating costs, equipment and other infrastructure for research and its operation. The funding can finance graduate schools, organization and management functions, such as cluster leaders, project coordinators, finance functions, internal and external communication, and costs for external members of the cluster's board. The grant can also be used for early innovation activities and verification.

    The funding from the Swedish Research Council must comprise at least SEK 40 million per year per cluster of excellence. The funding is awarded for five years and can, after evaluation and a new decision, be awarded for a further five years.

    The funding can finance, among other things, salary costs, operating costs, equipment and other infrastructure for research and its operation. The funding can finance graduate schools, organization and management functions, such as cluster leaders, project coordinators, finance functions, internal and external communication, and costs for external members of the cluster's board. The grant can also be used for early innovation activities and verification.

  • An important part of the assessment is the governance of the cluster. The applications must clearly describe how the entire cluster of excellence is to be organized and managed in an appropriate manner. The proposed management must have experienced, strong and driven leadership. It shall reflect in a balanced way the actors and needs that a successful cluster of excellence needs during its development.

    The researchers, companies and actors who have developed the cluster of excellence's overall vision and plan need to have a board that will be able to take office when the cluster of excellence has been granted. The project manager of the application and an additional representative from the administrating organisation must be part of the group. The intended board must be presented in the application together with a prospective  coordinator or similar function with operational responsibility. The Board and the project manager are responsible for the cluster of excellence's vision, goals and the application's innovation plan.

    Each cluster of excellence must also propose an initial organisational structure in its application, and how they intend to change the organisation's composition and organisational home as the cluster develops.

     

     

    An important part of the assessment is the governance of the cluster. The applications must clearly describe how the entire cluster of excellence is to be organized and managed in an appropriate manner. The proposed management must have experienced, strong and driven leadership. It shall reflect in a balanced way the actors and needs that a successful cluster of excellence needs during its development.

    The researchers, companies and actors who have developed the cluster of excellence's overall vision and plan need to have a board that will be able to take office when the cluster of excellence has been granted. The project manager of the application and an additional representative from the administrating organisation must be part of the group. The intended board must be presented in the application together with a prospective  coordinator or similar function with operational responsibility. The Board and the project manager are responsible for the cluster of excellence's vision, goals and the application's innovation plan.

    Each cluster of excellence must also propose an initial organisational structure in its application, and how they intend to change the organisation's composition and organisational home as the cluster develops.

     

     

  • The boards of the granted clusters of excellence will immediately initiate an individual process with Vinnova to build up their innovation and ecosystem capabilities. This is done in line with the innovation plan described in the application. The size of the innovation funding may vary over time depending on the technology maturity and development potential of the cluster, but the requested funding in the application's innovation plan must not exceed the size of the requested research grant.

    Vinnova will offer the funding instruments and application procedures that correspond to the clusters' combined plans and needs over time. Granted clusters of excellence will thus have a significant mandate to implement the plans described in the cluster's application. Vinnova requires that the applications have a high level of appropriateness, and the quality will be reviewed by external assessors.

    Vinnova will not immediately require external co-financing. On the other hand, successful and several times greater capital attraction over time is a key performance indicator (KPI) in the authorities' follow-up and evaluation of the cluster of excellence.

    Below is a brief description of examples of the types of solutions, environments and projects that Vinnova can finance. However, Vinnova does not rule out other types of interventions.

    To begin with, the clusters of excellence will be able to enable research and innovation projects of various kinds. These can be large and small projects, from very low to higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL), and with support levels ranging from 100 percent to between 30 and 50 percent. If a cluster is to become a world leader in its field by 2035, it will likely need to build up a mixed portfolio of projects. 

    Some examples of possible project are:

    • Funding for large-scale, exploratory and visionary technology research, development and innovation, in addition to research funding from the Swedish Research Council.
    • Access to relevant research infrastructures for innovators and businesses.
    • Verification funds, financial support for startups and collaboration-based innovation in collaboration with established companies.
    • Funding for strategic collaborations with international actors.
    • Co-financing in EU projects.

    Vinnova also wants the clusters of excellence to be able to build strong environments and ecosystems, and drive change in their field. This can involve initiatives such as:

    • Building innovation infrastructure such as test and demonstration environments.
    • Develop other types of open or shared assets.
    • Establish innovation environments, hubs, shared work environments and similar collaboration areas.
    • Systematic collaboration and building of ecosystems and networks, including funding for an expanded cluster organization.
    • Efforts to drive skills development, standardisation and policy and system change.

    Read about Vinnova's support criteria

    The boards of the granted clusters of excellence will immediately initiate an individual process with Vinnova to build up their innovation and ecosystem capabilities. This is done in line with the innovation plan described in the application. The size of the innovation funding may vary over time depending on the technology maturity and development potential of the cluster, but the requested funding in the application's innovation plan must not exceed the size of the requested research grant.

    Vinnova will offer the funding instruments and application procedures that correspond to the clusters' combined plans and needs over time. Granted clusters of excellence will thus have a significant mandate to implement the plans described in the cluster's application. Vinnova requires that the applications have a high level of appropriateness, and the quality will be reviewed by external assessors.

    Vinnova will not immediately require external co-financing. On the other hand, successful and several times greater capital attraction over time is a key performance indicator (KPI) in the authorities' follow-up and evaluation of the cluster of excellence.

    Below is a brief description of examples of the types of solutions, environments and projects that Vinnova can finance. However, Vinnova does not rule out other types of interventions.

    To begin with, the clusters of excellence will be able to enable research and innovation projects of various kinds. These can be large and small projects, from very low to higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL), and with support levels ranging from 100 percent to between 30 and 50 percent. If a cluster is to become a world leader in its field by 2035, it will likely need to build up a mixed portfolio of projects. 

    Some examples of possible project are:

    • Funding for large-scale, exploratory and visionary technology research, development and innovation, in addition to research funding from the Swedish Research Council.
    • Access to relevant research infrastructures for innovators and businesses.
    • Verification funds, financial support for startups and collaboration-based innovation in collaboration with established companies.
    • Funding for strategic collaborations with international actors.
    • Co-financing in EU projects.

    Vinnova also wants the clusters of excellence to be able to build strong environments and ecosystems, and drive change in their field. This can involve initiatives such as:

    • Building innovation infrastructure such as test and demonstration environments.
    • Develop other types of open or shared assets.
    • Establish innovation environments, hubs, shared work environments and similar collaboration areas.
    • Systematic collaboration and building of ecosystems and networks, including funding for an expanded cluster organization.
    • Efforts to drive skills development, standardisation and policy and system change.

    Read about Vinnova's support criteria

Energy related breakthrough technologies

For applications, and later granted clusters of excellence, that the Swedish Energy Agency identifies clearly contribute to the national energy and climate policy goals, the Swedish Energy Agency will be involved. 

Last updated 6 March 2026