Needs-driven defense innovation for a secure Baltic Sea region

Within the framework of the Civil-Military Innovation Program, funding is offered for project that aim to stimulate innovation that increases freedom of action, reduces vulnerability and strengthens the overall military capability in the Baltic Sea area; above, on and below the sea surface.

The call for proposals is aimed at Swedish actors who want to implement innovative project with potential to solve defense-related challenges in the marine environment and coastal areas. The projects may last a maximum of 12 months.

Project can apply for 1-7 million SEK to develop a solution for use in the military field.

Solutions should be based on NATO's prioritized technology areas, the so-called Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs), see NATO - Topic: Emerging and disruptive technologies.

The Baltic Sea region is of central importance for Sweden's security, supply and military freedom of action. The region contains extensive critical infrastructure, intensive civil traffic with large transport flows in merchant shipping and strategically important military connections at sea and in the airspace. At the same time, the security environment is characterized by increased tensions, hybrid influence and rapid technological development.

Ensuring a secure Baltic Sea region requires solutions that strengthen the protection of sea routes and infrastructure, enable control of airspace, at sea and in coastal areas, and ensure sustainable energy supply, robust communication and rapid information management. The ability to meet threats from unmanned systems and non-kinetic attacks aimed at disrupting or weakening through cyber attacks, information influence or electronic warfare is central.

The modern battlefield is largely transparent. Sensors, satellites, and unmanned systems enable rapid detection and precision combat, particularly in the air, on the surface, and in the land domain. Below the surface, the environment is more murky, hidden, and difficult to see, yet vulnerable to sabotage and influence. This places eligibility requirements on the ability to operate in environments where adversaries and threats may be difficult to detect.

The call for proposals will contribute to strengthened military capabilities in the marine environment, in coastal areas and above, on and below the sea surface. The Navy, represented by the Naval War College, is the primary need owner, but we encourage submissions of proposals that may be relevant to the Navy, Air Force and Army and in multi-domain operations.

The call's areas of need

The call for proposals focuses on three identified areas of need. Applications submitted should address one or more of the following areas of need:

Information superiority and situational awareness in a murky environment

The ability to operate in the Baltic Sea area requires a reliable and rapid situational picture – above, on and below the surface. In the air and land domains, sensors, satellites and unmanned systems enable rapid detection and precision action. The unique properties of the sea with waves, density differences, currents and flow obstacles affect sensor ranges and electromagnetic precision. This makes the subsurface environment significantly murkier than the otherwise transparent battlefield on land and in the air, making it more difficult to overview and interpret the situation.

Innovations that enhance detection capabilities, sensor fusion, improved range and coverage, and real-time data analytics can create information superiority. Artificial intelligence, autonomous platforms, decision support, and system-of-system coordination are key components for transforming data into actionable information. Methods for integrating and interpreting large amounts of data from military and civilian sources can also help create a clearer situational picture of the marine environment.

Operational effectiveness, endurance and freedom of action in complex environments

The increasing availability of satellite surveillance, passive sensor networks and cost-effective unmanned systems is making the sea surface and coastal areas increasingly transparent. Centralized structures, energy-dependent systems and vulnerable supply chains pose operational risks.

In an operational area where detection and precision combat are the norm, military capabilities must be distributed, low-signature, and enduring.

Unmanned surface and underwater vehicles can create redundancy, deception and persistent presence through autonomous or semi-autonomous functions, low signature and the ability to cooperate in swarms. Innovations that can improve GNSS-independent positioning, propulsion, energy supply, connectivity and signature adaptation can improve Sweden's persistence and freedom of action in complex environments.

Robust and difficult-to-detect communication solutions and temporary infrastructure are examples of basic requirements for sustainable activities. Innovations that can ensure continuity of management, and enable continued operational effectiveness even in the event of disruption or suppression, can help reduce vulnerability.

Protection and effectiveness in gray areas, conflict and war

The Baltic Sea region is characterized by hybrid influence, sabotage and the use of unmanned systems. These challenges need to be addressed across the entire conflict scale. The ability to protect critical infrastructure, smaller platforms and coastal bases is central, as is the ability to adapt to environments where civilian and military systems coexist.

Innovations that strengthen the protection of sea lanes, cables and other critical infrastructure can increase our control and make it more difficult for hostile influence.

The ability to influence the adversary's sensors, decision-making processes and systems, while protecting one's own capabilities, is crucial for a secure Baltic Sea region.

Government assignment for civil-military synergies

The call for proposals is a joint effort by Vinnova and the Swedish Armed Forces and is funded by the Swedish Armed Forces within the framework of a government assignment for civil-military synergies. The aim is, among other things, to create increased conditions for cross-sectoral collaboration with the intention that groundbreaking technology, developed for the civilian area, will be increasingly utilized through innovations in the defense area.

Read more about the government mission for Civil-Military SynergiesRead more about strategic direction for Defense Innovation

Contribute to a sustainable system transformation

Both Vinnova and the Swedish Armed Forces are tasked with promoting sustainable growth and social development. Therefore, there is also a focus on sustainability and gender equality.

Gender equality as a tool for innovative social developmentThe core values of the Swedish Armed Forces
The Armed Forces' work for gender equality

The call for proposals is aimed at Swedish actors who can contribute to strengthening the overall operational capability in the Baltic Sea area.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the elderly than 1 year can apply, either individually or as part of a consortium with other companies, universities, university colleges and research institutes. At least one SME must be included as a participant.

Consortia should involve relevant participants and create collaboration that strengthens project implementation.

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 a project party'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 are not directly incurred, such as premises and cleaning. Indirect costs may not exceed 30 percent of salary costs. Universities, university colleges, research organizations 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 your 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 booked correctly and under a separate project code in the accounting. You may not cover project costs with other public funding or your own funds intended for other project.
• You may not claim someone else's expenses as your own.

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

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?

Project can apply for 1-7 million SEK.

The opportunity to apply for additional funding in competition after the end of the project period may be offered.

How much funding can a participant receive?

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

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

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

Vinnova can grant support according to any of the three support bases below (ac). In the project description appendix, applicant states which basis for support they believe the participating organisations is entitled to.

a) Stöd till företag för research och utveckling, experimentell utveckling, artikel 25 

I den här the call for proposals ger vi support till experimentell utveckling.

Experimentell utveckling kan förenklat beskrivas som att kombinera, forma och använda befintliga kunskaper. Detta för att ta fram nya eller förbättrade produkter, processer eller tjänster.

Hur stor andel av kostnaderna kan vi finansiera?

The organisation's storlek och typ av aktivitet avgör hur stor andel av kostnaderna som vi kan finansiera. Detta kallas den maximala stödnivån.

In order for us to assess your proposal, it must meet certain formal eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements on participants

• All participating organisations must be legal entities. Individuals or sole proprietorships cannot participate. Foreign legal entities can participate if they have a branch or establishment in Sweden and the costs are incurred by the branch or establishment.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden.
• At least one of the project partners must be an SME in accordance with the EU definition, see How the EU defines small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Applicant company must be one year or the elderly, with registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office no later than 2025-05-26

Eligibility requirements for the project

• The project may apply for 1-7 million SEK.
• The project must start 2026-10-09 and end no later than 2027-10-09
• The project may not begin before you have submitted your proposal
• Costs for consulting services and licenses may not exceed 20 percent of a project party's budget.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

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

Applications that meet the call's eligibility requirements will proceed to assessment. In the assessment, we look at how much potential your idea has to solve a military need, how realistic it is and who will implement the project.

What do we assess?

Proposal must be in line with aim and objective of the call and are assessed according to three main criteria:

• Potential: We assess 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

• How great potential the project proposal has to achieve the call's aim and objective, by strengthening the overall operational capability in the Baltic Sea area
• How innovative the project proposal is in relation to existing solutions
• How well-founded and convincing the project proposal's analysis of the concrete capability gap is, and what measurable impact the solution enables
• How well the project contribution contributes to increased sustainability with regard to Sweden's security, competitiveness and defense capability

Actors

• How well the project team's composition, participation, skills and capabilities contribute to project goals and implementation
• To what extent does the project team have the relevant expertise, experience and capacity to further develop the proposed solution towards defense-related applications?
• How well the project team is composed in terms of gender distribution, and how well power and influence are distributed between women and men in the project team

Feasibility

• How well the project plan and budget are assessed to be able to realize a solution in accordance with the project proposal
• How credible is the project plan's risk analysis and action plan for these risks?

How do we assess?

Once we have received the applications, we review them. We sort out all applications that are incomplete or do not meet our eligibility requirements under the heading What is required for us to assess your proposal?The applications that are correct and complete are distributed between 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, of which at least one evaluator comes from a defense authority.

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

Based on the assessors' recommendations, Vinnova and the Armed Forces agree on which project will proceed to a decision on funding.

To ensure a relevant spread of project within the call's exemplified areas of need (see section What do we want to achieve with the offer?), Vinnova and the Swedish Armed Forces reserve the right to apply a portfolio strategy in the selection of applications for granting.

How does it affect an organization's financial status?

Before we decide on funding we also conduct a comprehensive assessment of the organizational and financial status of those receiving 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 the limited liability company has not used up half or more of its share capital

When Vinnova has assessed all applications, we will send a decision in which we either grant or reject your proposal. Since the applications are assessed in competition, you may be rejected even though you meet all eligibility requirements and criteria.

In the decision, we state how much of the costs we will cover for each organisation.

You cannot appeal Vinnova's 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 Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding. The terms and conditions 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. See Vinnovas Avtalsguide
How the results will be used. See our general terms and conditions

We may also decide to add supplementary special conditions for individual project. In such cases, 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 make additions if we ask you to.

Who can read your proposal?

Your proposal will be read by Vinnova employees 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. However, we keep certain types of information confidential if disclosure could be expected to cause financial harm to the individual. This applies to information about business and operational conditions, inventions or research results.

Public documents and confidentiality