Invitation to support companies in the initiative Acceleration of Civil-Military Innovations 2027

About the call for proposals Acceleration of Civil-Military Innovations 2027

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 Oct. 6, and applicant companies are scheduled to receive a decision notice on Dec. 15.

Read more about the call for proposals:
Acceleration of civil-military innovations 2027

The initiative involves two steps:
Step 1: Innovation project for development and verification
Step 2: Accelerator program to build a broadened business strategy that includes military and defense-related 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

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 1 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 give companies 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.
• Developing 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 2027, 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 that are 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 a expression of interest you need to be an established public or foundation-owned innovation environment such as an incubator, science parks, or other organisation with established and significant activities that can offer business development initiatives.

Expression of interest can be submitted during the period 5-26 October. Link will be published on this page. Expression of interest should contain:

Confirmation that you have the capacity to accommodate at least three companies, starting February 1, 2027.

• Description of which of Natos EDTs you possess 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 supporting companies activities in dual-use and what the organisation's future plans in the area look 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 at the end of January, each accelerator will have the opportunity to introduce itself and pitch its call for proposals 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 for stage 2 shortly after the kick-off conference, 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 and pitches.
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 is conducting 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 begins. The goal is for the efforts to start early in the project period and be integrated into the company's ongoing innovation work.

Information meeting

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

Date: 5 Oct 2026
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Digital via Teams

Join the meeting