Sustainable circular solutions for forest-based industries, plastics and textiles

We support the development and scaling up of resource-efficient and sustainable circular solutions. The call for proposals is limited to forest-based industries as well as materials and products based on plastic and textiles. The aim is to achieve significantly improved resource efficiency and sustainability through the implementation of new solutions.

In addition to the solution itself, the projects should address the prerequisites required for the solution to be implemented, used and scaled up. This may include issues related to infrastructure, regulations, instruments, business models, collaboration in the value chain and user behaviour.

The projects shall be carried out in collaboration between at least three participants, with roles according to section 3.

We finance project with up to five million SEK. The maximum project duration is 24 months.

The core of the call for proposals is the solution itself and its funding for sustainability, circularity and resource efficiency.

The solutions within this call for proposals should focus on one of the two areas below:

Forest-related industries – solutions that can contribute to more sustainable forestry with regard to climate and biodiversity, as well as to a more resource-efficient use of forest raw materials in various forest-based industries.

Plastics and textiles – solutions that contribute to more circular, resource-efficient and sustainable use of materials and products. Sustainability can, for example, refer to the spread of microplastics or toxins. Project that primarily focus on replacing plastics and textiles with bio-based materials are not funded.

The solution being developed should be seen in a broader value chain and systems perspective. To enable implementation and scaling up, each project is expected to have project content in addition to the solution, focusing on investigating and developing conditions related to:

1. Business models

2. Infrastructure and production systems

3. Laws and regulations

4. Culture and values

All of these areas should be commented on in proposal and at least one of them should be an essential part of the project plan.

Performance target

In the short term, during the project period itself, the projects are expected to lead to:

• More sustainable, resource-efficient and circular solutions with potential for commercialization, scale-up and increased competitiveness.
• Solutions with potential to contribute to reduced climate and environmental footprint.
• Improved knowledge/prerequisites for implementation and scaling up.

Impact goals

In the longer term, the projects are expected to contribute to:

• Scaling up and wide dissemination of more sustainable, resource-efficient, circular and competitive solutions.
• Improved conditions for implementing solutions.
• More circular and resource-efficient use of materials and products.
• Reduced climate and environmental footprint.

Equal funding of innovations

The project must integrate gender equality both in how your project group is composed and how you implement the project. This means that you need to:

• take into account the gender balance within the project team
• assess whether aspects of sex and gender are relevant to the design of the project, and if so, in what way.

By integrating different perspectives, more inclusive and relevant solutions are developed. This strengthens both the innovation capacity and the project's results.

The call for proposals is open to project that are carried out in collaboration between several actors, for example companies, public actors, research institutes, universities and other relevant organisations. The project constellation must overall have the potential to develop and utilize the solution that the project focuses on.

The projects shall be carried out in collaboration between at least three participants, of which at least two participants with roles as below:

• a potential solution provider,
• a participant who intends to implement the solution,
• a customer who uses secondary/sustainable raw materials or products and services based on reuse.

For example, we finance:

• development, adaptation and validation of new and existing solutions with potential for scale-up and practical application,
• development of knowledge about the prerequisites for implementation and scaling,
• ecosystem development and collaboration,
• dissemination of knowledge and development of plans for scaling up.

We do not finance:

• project that are solely aimed at early research or development without active collaboration with organisations that intend to implement the solution,
• project proposals that constitute one-off interventions without clear spillover effects and where the benefit only accrues to one or a few individual actors,
• project that primarily focuses on replacing plastic and textiles with bio-based materials.

What costs can we finance?

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

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

• Salary costs: Gross salary paid, employer contributions and other salary-related costs.
• Equipment, land and buildings: Costs for instruments, equipment and rent for premises other than regular business premises.
• Consulting and licensing costs: Costs for consulting services, knowledge and patents purchased or licensed from an external party. These costs may not exceed 20 percent of an organization's budget.
• Other direct costs: Costs for, for example, materials, supplies and travel that are necessary to carry out the project.
• Indirect costs (overhead): Costs that are linked to the project but do not arise directly, such as premises and cleaning. Indirect costs may amount to a maximum of 30 percent of salary costs. Universities, university colleges, research organisations and government agencies may have higher permitted levels, depending on activities.

For more detailed information about which costs we can finance, see Instructions for eligible costs

What eligibility requirements apply to costs we finance?

For costs to be eligible for support, the following applies:

• They must be factual, reasonable and necessary for the activities in the project.
• They must be posted correctly and under a separate project code in the accounting.
• Project costs may not be covered by other public funding or own funds intended for other project.
• Other people's expenses may not be claimed as your own.

For more detailed information about which eligibility requirements, limitations and exceptions apply, see Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding.

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

How much funding can the project receive?

A project can receive a maximum of 5 million SEK in support.

How much funding can a participating organisation receive?

The amount of funding a participating organisation can receive depends primarily on:

• the organisation's size and activities
• which activities the organisation will carry out in the project.

Descriptions in the following sections about what support we can provide are simplified. For full information, see funding bases and levels.

Support for companies for research and development

In this the call for proposals we provide support for experimental development or de minimis support. Experimental development can be simply described as combining, shaping and using existing knowledge. This is to develop new or improved products, processes or services.

How much of the costs can we finance?

The organisation's size and type of activity determine the proportion of costs that we can finance. This is called the maximum support level.

Aid intensity for experimental development

• Small business: 45%
• Medium-sized company: 35%
• Large company: 25%

Situations where we finance a higher proportion

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

• Actual collaboration: Some 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.

Aid intensity for experimental development

• Small business: 60%
• Medium-sized company: 50%
• Large company: 40%

Minor Support to businesses

We can also provide de minimis support, also known as de minimis support. With such support, we can finance up to 100 percent of an organization's costs.

An organisation can receive a maximum of 300,000 euros over a three-year period in this form of support, regardless of the funder and project. This means that if the same organisation has received support of lesser importance in other project from other funders in the past, it will affect how large the support can be in this the call for proposals.

Submit a certificate of de minimis support when you submit proposal. This is required for us to be able to grant this support.

Certificate of de minimis support

Support to universities, university colleges and other public organisations with non-economic activities

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

We can finance up to 100 percent of such an organization's costs.

How is it determined whether an organisation is engaged in economic activities?

An organisation that offers any kind of service or product on a market is considered to be conducting economic activities and cannot be granted this form of support. It does not matter how the organisation is financed: whether it is public or private, or whether it has a profit motive. It also does not matter what legal form the business has. For example, whether it is a limited liability company, a trading company, an economic association, a non-profit association or a foundation.

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

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

Eligibility requirements on participants

• All participating organisations must be legal entities. Individuals or sole proprietorships cannot participate.
• Foreign legal entities can apply for funding if they have a branch or establishment in Sweden and the costs arise at the branch or establishment. Other foreign organisations are welcome to participate but cannot be granted funding.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden.
• At least three participants must participate in the project. This includes the coordinating party.

Eligibility requirements on the project

• The project may apply for a maximum of SEK 5,000,000.
• The project must start between October 26 and November 6, 2026 and be completed no later than November 6, 2028.
• The project may not begin before you have submitted your proposal.
• Costs for consulting services and licenses may not exceed 20 percent of an organization's budget.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal should follow the instructions under heading 9 “ How to apply”.
• Proposal must contain all requested attachments.

Applications that meet our eligibility requirements will proceed to assessment. In the assessment, we look at how much potential your idea has, how realistic it is and who will implement the project.

What do we assess?

When assessing applications, we look at three main criteria:

• Potential: We analyze what effects and what value we can expect from the project.
• Actors: We assess the participants' competence and ability to implement 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.

Potential (weighted 40%)

• The project's potential to contribute to the call's results- and impact goals (see section 2).
• The project proposal is based on thorough external monitoring and state-of-the-art description.
• The solution's expected novelty value and potential in relation to existing solutions.
• How well a systems perspective has been integrated into the project and its implementation.
• How well the project is assessed to contribute to increased gender equality.

Actors (weighted 30%)

• Composition of participants and their competence, ability and commitment to the work of realizing the solution.
• The project manager's competence, credibility and commitment to leading the project.
• How well the project team is composed in terms of gender distribution. As well as how well power and influence are distributed between women and men in the project team.

Feasibility (weighted 30%)

• The realism and credibility of the project plan and budget and the extent to which the content of the work packages is appropriate for achieving the project objective.
• Approach and involvement of participants and other relevant actors.
• How well gender equality has been integrated into the project plan

How do we assess?

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

The applications that are correct and complete are distributed among different evaluator and assessed in competition with each other. The evaluators are appointed by us based on their expertise in the field. Each proposal is assessed by at least three evaluator.

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

How does it affect an organization's financial status?

Before we decide on funding we also make a comprehensive assessment of the organizational and financial status of those who receive funding.

We use information we receive from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet. We may also ask small and medium-sized businesses to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to carry out the project.

In our assessment we check this:

• That organisations that are granted funding for payroll costs are registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency. If such registration does not exist when we make a decision, you must be able to show that a notification has been made. We do not approve retroactive registration.
• That organisations is not insolvent, or undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring. You must also not have any significant unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• That the project manager is employed by the coordinating party in the project.
• That a limited liability company has not used up half or more of its share capital.

Once we have assessed all applications, we will send you a decision either granting or rejecting your proposal. Since applications are assessed competitively, you may be rejected even though you meet all eligibility requirements and criteria.

In the decision we state how large a proportion of the costs we will cover for each organisation.

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

What happens if you are granted funding?

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

• That you will sign a special document in which you approve your participation and commit to carrying out the project.
• That you report how things are going, your costs and achieved results to us during the project period.
• If you are multiple parties, you must have a written project agreement that regulates your mutual rights and obligations in the project. All parties must sign the agreement before the project starts. Since it can take time to develop and negotiate an agreement, we recommend that you start this as soon as possible.
• How the result will be used.

See Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding

You also need to follow the special conditions that apply to this the call for proposals:

• The project must be represented by at least one participant at the conferences and other activities convened by Vinnova. The costs for such participation are eligible for support.
• The coordinator must submit a special final report according to a template from Vinnova in connection with the final reporting of the project.

We may also decide to add supplementary special conditions for individual project. In that case, they will be stated in the decision.

Could you have to pay back funding?

If you have received more money than you are entitled to or if you do not follow our term, you may be liable for repayment.

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

Once the call for proposals is closed, you cannot change anything in proposal. You can only supplement if we ask you to.

Who can read your proposal?

Your proposal will be read by employees at Vinnova and the evaluator participating in this the call for proposals. Everyone works under a duty of confidentiality.

Applications submitted to us become public documents. This means that we must disclose them if requested. We keep certain types of information confidential if it can be assumed that it will cause financial damage to the individual if it is disclosed. This applies to information about business and operating conditions, inventions or research results.

General documents and confidentiality