2026-02019 Flexible industrial energy management with advanced digitalisation

In this call for proposals, we want to fund collaborative projects that strengthen industries’ ability to plan and optimise their electricity supply using advanced digital technology. The projects must fall within one of the call’s two focus areas:

• Industrial research: a project primarily intended to develop new knowledge, methods, models, decision-support tools or new digital solution concepts.
• Experimental development: a project primarily intended to test, verify and demonstrate digital solutions in a relevant industrial environment.

the call for proposals is aimed at a project involving at least two participants, of which at least one need owner must be from Swedish industry. You must have innovative ideas that make electricity use in Swedish industry more flexible and efficient using advanced digital technology. Industrial companies, electricity grid companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, universities, university colleges, research institutes and other relevant organisations may also be included in the project.

Each project may apply for between SEK 2 million and SEK 8 million. The project must contribute to more flexible energy management among Swedish industrial companies and must last for at least 12 months and no more than 24 months. In the proposal, you must select the focus area that best corresponds to the project’s main aim and activities.

With this the call for proposals, we want to strengthen the competitiveness and electrification of Swedish industry by funding projects that develop advanced digital solutions enabling electricity to be used more efficiently, flexibly and cost-effectively.

the call for proposals is part of the Advanced digitalisation programme, an industry-driven programme to promote Sweden’s and Swedish industry’s ability to create the digital solutions of the future. The projects funded must contribute to Sweden’s collective ability to create and make use of the opportunities offered by digitalisation.

The electrification of industry is a prerequisite for a sustainable transition, but it also places new eligibility requirements on the availability of electricity and power, as well as on the ability to manage an increasingly complex energy system. Through this the call for proposals, we aim to promote the development and use of advanced digital solutions that strengthen industry's capacity to plan, manage and optimise its electricity use.

What will the call for proposals achieve?

Each project funded under the call for proposals will develop advanced digital tools, decision-support systems and working methods for flexible industrial energy management. The solutions will help industry better forecast, plan and optimise its electricity needs based on operational requirements, the availability of electricity and price fluctuations in the energy market.

the call for proposals will help create better conditions for electrification without requiring a corresponding expansion of the electricity grid. Through more efficient energy use, the projects will contribute to a sustainable transition in industry and strengthen industry's competitiveness.

What are the projects expected to achieve?

A project applying for funding must contribute to at least one of the following objective:

• Develop and verify digital solutions that enable greater electricity flexibility and energy efficiency in industry while maintaining safe and reliable activities.
• Strengthen industry's ability to plan, forecast and optimise power demand and energy use cost-effectively.
• Create conditions for improved access to electricity and power where and when it is needed.
• Develop methods, working practices and capabilities to manage, analyse and use data for energy optimisation and flexible energy management.
• Identify and address organisational, cultural and skills-related barriers to introducing data-driven solutions for flexible energy management. Examples include change management, skills development, and conditions for data sharing and interoperability between different actors and technical systems.
• Strengthen the conditions for future implementation and widespread use in industry.
• Strengthen collaboration between industry, electricity grid actors and other relevant actors to improve energy management and flexibility.
• The implementation and development of solutions must be designed with robustness and cybersecurity in mind, and each project that receives funding must demonstrate a comprehensive and credible cybersecurity risk analysis.
• Disseminate results, experience and knowledge to strengthen industry's expertise and ability to implement electrification and the energy transition.

The Advanced digitalisation programme

the call for proposals is part of the Advanced digitalisation programme, an effort by Vinnova in collaboration with industry that mobilises actors from different parts of society towards a common objective.

Advanced digitalisation aims to strengthen Swedish research, make Sweden more attractive for research and innovation investments, and stimulate the development of advanced digital technology. The programme will be implemented with a long-term perspective and contribute to innovation, enabling technologies and the development of key areas of expertise that meet industry's needs.

Read more about the programme on the Advanced Digitalisation website.

We address actors that can influence and accelerate the electrification of industry through the use of advanced digitalisation.

Projects must have at least two participants, of which at least one need owner must be from Swedish industry. Industrial companies, electricity grid companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, universities, university colleges, research institutes and other relevant organisations may also be part of the consortium.

Projects may benefit from experience, expertise and solutions from different industries and sectors, where knowledge and working methods can be transferred or adapted to contribute to the project.

Projects must be driven by industrial needs; therefore, at least one company must be part of the consortium. All participating parties may be companies.

In the Advanced digitalisation programme, industry refers to the entire production chain—from the extraction of raw materials to finished products—as well as industry-related service sectors and technology sectors needed for the production chain to function. This includes, for example, energy, logistics and transport, telecommunications, water/air/ventilation and recycling. The defence industry is also included.

Each participant applying for funding must be a Swedish legal entity. For this purpose, a foreign organisation with a branch or permanent establishment in Sweden is considered equivalent to a Swedish legal entity. Project costs must be attributable to the branch's or permanent establishment's activities.

We fund collaborative projects for industrial flexible energy management in two areas. You must choose the area that best corresponds to the project's main aim, results and activities.

• Area 1: Industrial research
  This area is for projects primarily intended to develop new knowledge, methods, models, algorithms, decision-support tools or digital solution concepts. The project must seek new knowledge through planned research or critical analysis.

• Area 2: Experimental development
  This area is for projects primarily intended to test, verify, demonstrate or evaluate an existing solution in a relevant industrial environment. The project must reduce technical or practical uncertainties and provide a basis for future deployment, implementation or scaling up. The project must not primarily concern routine adaptation, commercial operation or market introduction.

The solutions in both areas may, for example, help improve industry's ability to forecast, plan and optimise electricity use, electricity demand and energy costs. The projects must also create conditions for making better use of existing electricity grid capacity, thereby strengthening industry's ability to undertake electrification and a sustainable transition.

Examples of activities

In the call for proposals, we fund these types of activities:

Examples of activities within area 1: Industrial research

• Develop and evaluate digital tools, models and decision-support tools for forecasting, planning and optimising energy use and electricity demand.
• Develop and evaluate solutions for flexible electricity use that can be integrated with industry's production processes and activities in the future.
• Develop methods for collecting, sharing, analysing and using data for energy efficiency and electricity flexibility.
• Develop solutions that improve collaboration between industrial actors, electricity grid actors and other relevant actors in the energy system.
• Identify and analyse organisational conditions, barriers and enablers for the future introduction of new working methods, tools and solutions, for example, needs for change management, skills development and innovation management.
• Analyse the conditions and knowledge needs for the future utilisation of project results.

Examples of activities within area 2: Experimental development

• Develop and apply digital tools, models and decision-support tools for forecasting, planning and optimising energy use and electricity demand.
• Develop and test solutions or prototypes for flexible electricity use that are integrated with industry's production processes and activities.
• Develop and test methods for collecting, sharing, analysing and using data for energy efficiency and electricity flexibility.
• Develop solutions that improve collaboration between industrial actors, electricity grid actors and other relevant actors in the energy system.
• Demonstrate solutions in real industrial environments and evaluate their effects on energy use, electricity flexibility, costs, operational reliability and dependability.
• Activities that strengthen organisations' ability to introduce and use new working methods, tools and solutions, for example in change management, skills development and innovation management.
• Evaluate interoperability, data sharing, robustness and cybersecurity in a realistic operating environment.
• Develop plans for investigating market conditions, implementation, scaling up and long-term management of project results.

Regardless of area, the projects must disseminate results, experience and knowledge to relevant target groups outside the project.

We do not fund:

• project that is limited to the benefit of a single actor.
• Routine or recurring changes to existing products, services, manufacturing methods or manufacturing processes.
• project that primarily focuses on technology development for electricity generation and/or battery technology.
• Electrification of vehicles and charging infrastructure, unless it is part of a specific industrial context, for example, autonomous vehicles or machines in a mine or port.

What costs can we fund?

Our funding is subject to rules on state aid. The rules govern the types of costs we can fund. These are called eligible costs.

In the call for proposals, these types of costs are eligible:

• Salary costs: Paid gross salary, employer contributions and other payroll costs.
• Equipment, land and buildings: Costs for instruments, equipment and rent for premises other than regular business premises.
• Consultancy and licence costs: Costs for consultancy services, knowledge and patents purchased or used under licence from an external actor. These costs may amount to no more than 20 per cent of an organisation's budget. In cases of special need, for example if the project requires specialist expertise, we may accept a higher share. You must then justify this in your proposal, and the justification will be taken into account in the assessment of the project.
• Other direct costs: Costs for, for example, materials, supplies and travel necessary to carry out the project.
• Indirect costs (overhead): Costs related to the project but not incurred directly, for example premises and cleaning. Indirect costs may amount to no more than 30 per cent of salary costs. Universities, university colleges, research organisations and government agencies may have higher permitted levels, depending on activities.

For more detailed information on the costs we can fund, see Guidance on eligible costs

Which eligibility requirements apply to the costs we fund?

For your costs to be eligible, the following applies, among other things:

They must be actual, reasonable and necessary for the activities in the project.

They must be correctly recorded and assigned a separate project code in the accounts. You may not cover project costs with other public funding or your own funds intended for other project purposes.

You may not claim someone else's costs as your own.

For more detailed information on the eligibility requirements, limitations and exceptions that apply, see our general terms and conditions.

The rules on state aid govern the proportion of costs we can fund. This is determined individually for each organisation. We therefore distinguish between how much funding the project can receive and how much a participating organisation can receive.

How much funding can the project receive?

The project can receive between two and eight million Swedish kronor in funding, and a maximum of 50% of the project's total eligible costs. The call's preliminary total budget is SEK 20 million.

How much funding can a participating organisation receive?

How much funding a participating organisation can receive depends primarily on:

• the size and activities of the organisation's operations
• the activities that the organisation will carry out in the project.

Descriptions in the following sections of the support we can provide are simplified. For complete information, see Aid bases and aid levels for funding.

support to companies for research and development

In this the call for proposals, we provide support for industrial research or experimental development, depending on the focus of the project application.

Focus 1: Industrial research is covered by the aid basis for Industrial research.

The aid basis for Industrial research can be simply described as seeking new knowledge through planned research or critical analysis. This is intended to develop or significantly improve products, processes or services.

Focus 2: Experimental development is covered by the aid basis for experimental development.

Experimental development can be simply described as combining, shaping and using existing knowledge. This is intended to develop new or improved products, processes or services.

What proportion of the costs can we fund?

The size and type of activity of the organisation's operations determine what proportion of the costs we can fund. This is called the maximum aid level.

Maximum aid intensity for Focus 1 Industrial research with basis for support Industrial research:

Small company 70%

Medium-sized company 60%

Large company 50%

Maximum aid intensity for Focus 2 Experimental development with basis for support Experimental development:

Small company 45%

Medium-sized company 35%

Large company 25%

Situations in which we fund a higher proportion

If the project is covered by any of these bonus bases, we can fund a higher proportion of the costs.

• Effective collaboration: A certain level of collaboration between small and larger companies, between companies in two different European countries, or between research organisations and companies.
• Dissemination of results: Extensive dissemination through, for example, conferences or open databases.
• Other bonus basis.

Maximum aid intensity for Focus 1 Industrial research with bonus basis Industrial research:

Small company 80%

Medium-sized company 75%

Large company 65%

Maximum aid intensity for Focus 2 Experimental development with bonus basis Experimental development:

Small company 60%

Medium-sized company 50%

Large company 40%

support to universities, university colleges and other public organisations

We also provide support to organisations that do not carry out economic activities. This means that the organisation does not offer a service or product on a market. This usually includes universities, research institutes and other public organisations.

This aid is not covered by state aid rules. We can therefore fund up to 100% of such an organisation's costs. The aid is often called “not state aid.”

How is it determined whether an organisation carries out economic activities?

An organisation that offers some form of service or product on a market is considered to carry out economic activities and cannot be granted this form of support.

It does not matter how the organisation is funded: whether it is public or private, or whether it has a profit-making purpose. Nor does the legal form of the operation matter. For example, whether it is a limited company, a general partnership, an economic association, a non-profit association or a foundation.

Whether an organisation carries out economic activities is determined by its regular activities, not by the activities in the project.

Some organisations carry out both economic and non-economic activities, for example research institutes. In that case, it is important that you know under which of these activities you are applying.

If you are unsure whether an organisation in your project carries out economic activities, contact the call manager. However, the organisation is responsible for assessing whether it carries out economic activities.

For us to assess your proposal, it must meet certain formal eligibility requirements. If the requirements are not met, we will reject the proposal immediately.

eligibility requirements for participants

• All participating organisations must be legal entities. Natural persons or sole proprietorships cannot participate. Foreign legal entities may also participate. However, foreign actors receiving funding from Vinnova must have a branch or permanent establishment in Sweden, and the costs must be incurred by the branch or permanent establishment.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and carry out activities in Sweden.
• At least two participants, of which at least one is a company, must participate in the project. This includes the coordinating party. Different parts of an organisation are the same legal entity and count as one participant, for example, two departments at a university.

eligibility requirements for the project

• The project may apply for a maximum of SEK 8 million in funding.
• The project must start no earlier than 2027-03-19 and no later than 2027-04-15.
• The project must not have started before you submit your proposal.

eligibility requirements for proposal

• proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• proposal must follow the instructions under the heading “How to apply”.
• proposal must include all requested attachments.

Applications that meet our eligibility requirements will proceed to assessment. In the assessment, we look at the potential of your project proposal, how realistic it is, and who will carry out the project.

We also look at how well your project integrates gender equality, both in the composition of your project group and in how you implement the project. By integrating sex and gender perspectives, more inclusive and relevant solutions are developed. This strengthens both innovation capacity and the project's results.

gender equality as a tool for innovative societal development

What do we assess?

When assessing applications, we look at three main criteria:

• potential: We analyse the effects and value we can expect from the project.
• actors: We assess the participants' competence and ability to carry out the project and achieve the desired results and effects.
• Feasibility: We assess how realistic and credible the project plan is, both for implementing the project and for achieving the desired results.

In the overall assessment of the project, potential is weighted at 40%, while actors and Feasibility are weighted at 30% each.

potential (40%)

• The potential of the project proposal to develop solutions, knowledge and competence that promote advanced digitalisation and renew Swedish industry, in accordance with the call's objective and aim.
• How innovative the project proposal is in relation to existing solutions and ongoing major initiatives in the field.
• How credible the project proposal's analysis of the problem is, and the results that the proposed solution is expected to achieve.
• How likely it is that the project proposal will lead to new knowledge, new skills and solutions that can form the basis for future implementation and benefit Swedish industry.
• How well the project proposal contributes to increased gender equality by integrating perspectives on sex and gender.

actors (30%)

• How well the composition, participation, competence and capacity of the actor constellation contribute to the project goals and implementation.
• The project partners' ability to disseminate, utilise, commercialise and further develop the results and knowledge generated in the project, both within their own the organisations and outside the consortium.
• How well the project proposal and actor constellation build on previous activities and results.
• How well placed the project manager and other key individuals are to lead and implement the project.
• How well financial contributions, participation, power and influence are distributed equally between women and men in the project team.

Feasibility (30%)

• How well the project plan and budget are deemed able to achieve the results that the project proposal intends to develop.
• How credible the project plan's risk analysis and action plan for these risks are.
• How well the project plan shows how the results will be anchored and disseminated to important actors in the field, and how well the gender balance in the project team and perspectives on sex and gender have been integrated into the project plan.
• How convincing the plan is for utilising and further developing the results and knowledge generated in the project so that project results are put to use after the project ends, and how well the need for consultancy services and licences is justified. This applies only if an organisation's budget contains more than 20 percent in consultancy and licence costs.

How do we assess?

Once we have received the applications, we review them. We remove any applications that are incomplete or do not meet our eligibility requirements.

Applications that are correct and complete are distributed among different evaluator groups and assessed in competition with one another. The evaluators are appointed by us based on their expertise in the field. Each proposal is assessed by at least three evaluator reviews.

Once the evaluators have reviewed the applications, we hold an assessment meeting at which the evaluators recommend which applications should be granted.

How does an organisation's financial status affect the process?

Before deciding on funding, we also conduct an overall assessment of the organisational and financial status of those receiving funding.

We use information obtained from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet.

In our assessment, we check the following:

• organisations that are granted funding for salary costs must be registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency. If such registration is not in place when we make the decision, you must be able to show that an application has been submitted. We do not approve retroactive registration.
• organisations must not be insolvent or undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring. Nor must they have significant unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• The project manager must be employed by a participant, preferably the coordinating party.

• Limited companies must not have used up half or more of their share capital.

We may also ask small and medium-sized enterprises to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to carry out the project.

Once we have assessed all applications, we will send you a decision in which we either approve or reject your proposal. Since applications are assessed in competition with one another, your application may be rejected even if you meet all eligibility requirements and criteria.

In the decision, we state the proportion of the costs that we cover for each organisation.

You cannot appeal our decision, but you are welcome to apply to us again at another time.

What applies if you are granted funding?

If we grant your proposal, you must comply with our general terms and conditions for funding. The terms include, among other things, the following:

All participants must sign a special document (participant’s approval), in which they approve their participation and undertake to carry out the project.

• You must report on progress, your costs and achieved results to us during the project period.
• You must have a written project agreement regulating your mutual rights and obligations in the project. All parties must sign the agreement before you submit your first progress report. Since it may take time to draft and negotiate an agreement, we recommend that you start this as soon as possible.
• How the results are to be used and that scientific publications must be made available through open access so that the results are freely available to everyone.

See our general terms and conditions

• When invited by the programme director for Advanced Digitalisation, the project must participate in relevant events within the programme and thereby contribute to the dissemination of knowledge within Swedish industry in accordance with the programme's aim.
• When providing information about the project and whenever project results are made public, state that the work was carried out with support from Vinnova within the Advanced digitalisation programme. Making public refers, for example, to publications, regardless of medium, and oral presentations. In English, the name Vinnova is rendered as Sweden’s Innovation Agency.

We may also decide to add supplementary special conditions for individual project. If so, these will be stated in the decision.

May you have to repay funding?

If you have received more money than you are entitled to, or if you do not comply with our term, you may be required to repay it.

When the call for proposals closes, your proposal is registered. We will then send an email confirmation to the person responsible for the user account, as well as to the project manager and the authorised signatory. If you have not received a confirmation within 24 hours after the call for proposals has closed, please contact us.

Once the call for proposals has closed, you cannot make any changes to your proposal. You can then only provide additional information if we ask you to do so.

Who can read your proposal?

Your proposal will be read by employees at Vinnova and the evaluator participating in the call for proposals. Everyone is bound by confidentiality.

Applications submitted to us become official documents. This means that we must disclose them if requested. However, we treat certain types of information as confidential if disclosure can be assumed to cause financial harm to the individual concerned. This applies to information about business and operational conditions, inventions or research results.

Official documents and confidentiality