Invitation to support companies in the initiative Acceleration of Civil-Military Innovations 2025

The call for proposals is aimed at Swedish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with civil technology solutions that can be further developed towards defense-related applications within one or more of NATO's priority technology areas (EDTs). The call for proposals closes on September 9, 2025.
Read more about the call for proposals

• The investment is divided into two stages:
  Step 1: Innovation project for development and verification
  Step 2: Accelerator program to build a long-term dual-use strategy

Companies that are granted funding in Stage 1 can apply for additional funding to complete Stage 2, which includes participation in a mandatory accelerator program focused on developing a strategic business model for dual-use markets.

Step 2 consists of:

• joint knowledge-raising activities arranged in collaboration with defense-related actors.
• business development activities with a focus on dual-use, provided by the accelerator of the companies' own choice.

About the Accelerator Program in Stage 2

If you as an actor meet the conditions to be able to offer business development initiatives within the program, companies that have been granted funding in Step 12 can choose to apply to you via a matching process and a supplementary application process, see under "How the matching process works"
The efforts you offer should provide companies with concrete support in developing their strategic ability to act in both civilian and defense-related markets.
The services you offer should be relevant to support the companies' work with, for example:

• Strategic development and adaptation of the business model to enable the company to operate in both the civilian and military sectors simultaneously.
• Consulting to validate and position business ideas from a dual-use perspective.
• Support in developing and formulating a capital raising strategy, including advice on relevant forms of financing.
• Competence development of the team and business organization with a focus on dual-use.
• Development of the company's ability to scale up and industrialize its customer offering in a cost-effective manner, with particular regard to eligibility requirements within both civilian and defense-related supply chains.
• Strategic development of management and protection of intangible assets, with a focus on securing critical technology while enabling future business development.

What does that mean for you as an actor?

• You will become part of a national accelerator program within the Civil-Military Innovation Program
• You are offered the opportunity to host companies that are granted support in the call for proposals Acceleration of civil-military innovations 2025, and contribute to their business strategic development towards defense-related markets.
• You will have the opportunity to build/develop your own expertise in dual-use by taking part in the joint knowledge-raising activities carried out in collaboration with defense-related actors.

How the matching process works

To ensure that each company receives the support that best matches its technology, business needs and market conditions, a structured matching process is carried out between companies and accelerators.

This process takes place in the following steps:

1. Expression of interest from accelerators

To be able to submit an expression of interest you need to be an established public or foundation-owned innovation environment such as an incubator, science parks, or other organization with established and significant activities that can offer business development initiatives.

Expression of interest must be received by Vinnova no later than September 9, 2025 and contain:

• Confirmation of a receiving capacity of at least three companies starting December 1, 2025.
• Which of Natos EDTs do you have expertise in? At least three must be listed.
• Justification as to why you are suitable to be included in the initiative.
• Description of previous experiences from business support activities within dual-use and what the organization's future plan in the area looks like, for example relevant board decisions, dual-use policy, etc.
• Description of how you are expected to contribute to the company's dual-use strategy and development.

2. Announcement of select accelerators

Companies will be provided with a list of accelerators that have expressed interest and that can offer business development initiatives within the program.

At the program's kick-off conference, each accelerator will have the opportunity to introduce itself and pitch its offer to the companies that have been granted funding in the call for proposals. Companies will have the opportunity to ask questions to participating accelerators before they submit their supplementary proposal with their wishes for choosing an accelerator.

3. Supplementary proposal from the companies

Each company that has been granted funding in Stage 1 must submit a supplementary proposal in Stage 2 where they can apply for an additional grant of SEK 150,000 to be used to cover the costs of the desired accelerator. In proposal the companies must state:

• Desired accelerator selection (1-3) based on published information.
• Justification for your choice of accelerator.
• Description of how the proposed actor is expected to contribute to the company's dual-use strategy and development.

4. Assessment, distribution and approval

Vinnova will conduct a formal review of the supplementary proposal to ensure that it is in line with the call's aim.

5. Final matching and project start-up

Once the match has been confirmed by both the company and the accelerator, the business development support is initiated. The goal is for the efforts to start early in the project period and be integrated into the company's ongoing innovation work within the framework of the call for proposals.

Information meeting

We invite you to a digital information meeting where we present the program and answer questions. After that, you have the opportunity to submit an expression of interest if you wish to be selected as an accelerator in the program.

Date: June 11, 2025
Time: 09.00-10.00
Location: Digital via Teams

Register for the meeting.