Travel Grants for Cross-Border Collaboration and Networking (Sweden, Lithuania)

Deadline: 12-Apr-2026

The Swedish–Lithuanian Travel Grants support travel between Sweden and Lithuania for project exploration, partner meetings, conferences, workshops, research visits, and networking activities that can lead to future collaboration. The grant is open to individuals, working groups, associations, organisations, and companies residing in Sweden or Lithuania, regardless of citizenship, with a strong emphasis on the Swedish–Lithuanian dimension, youth exchange, network building, and long-term cooperation.

The Swedish–Lithuanian Travel Grants are designed to support travel-related activities that help people and organizations in Sweden and Lithuania build relationships, explore project ideas, and create the foundation for future collaboration.

This is not just a simple mobility grant. It is a relationship-building and partnership development grant intended to help applicants attend important meetings, explore joint ideas, and participate in gatherings where funding support may determine whether they can attend or not.

The programme is especially relevant for applicants interested in:

• Sweden–Lithuania cooperation

• Cross-border cultural exchange

• Youth networking

• Project development travel

• Partnership building

• Research visits

• Conference participation

• Creative collaboration

• Innovation and enterprise formation

• Social cohesion and civil society exchange

What Are the Swedish–Lithuanian Travel Grants?

The Swedish–Lithuanian Travel Grants provide support for travel between Sweden and Lithuania when the travel helps develop future projects, networks, cooperation, or exchange.

The main purpose is to make it easier for applicants to:

• Meet potential collaborators

• Explore project opportunities

• Attend key meetings or gatherings

• Participate in workshops or conferences

• Conduct travel-based research relevant to future projects

• Build stronger professional and cultural ties between the two countries

In simple terms

If travel is the key step that could help turn an idea into a real Sweden–Lithuania collaboration, this grant is designed to help.

Why This Grant Matters

Many strong international projects begin with a first meeting, exploratory visit, or shared professional event.

Without small travel support, applicants may struggle to:

• Meet potential partners

• Test collaboration ideas

• Build trust across borders

• Attend strategic gatherings

• Explore research opportunities

• Develop larger future projects

This grant helps bridge that gap by supporting early-stage collaboration travel that can lead to bigger long-term outcomes.

Why this grant is important

• Encourages Sweden–Lithuania contact and cooperation

• Supports network building

• Helps launch future cross-border projects

• Promotes youth exchange and collaboration

• Strengthens social cohesion and creativity

• Encourages new enterprise ideas

• Makes participation possible when travel cost is the barrier

Main Purpose of the Travel Grants

The grant is meant for travel that has a clear collaborative purpose, not general tourism or loosely defined visits.

The core purpose includes:

• Exploring project opportunities

• Participating in meetings and gatherings

• Supporting exchange and cooperation

• Building networks across Sweden and Lithuania

• Creating pathways for future partnerships

• Strengthening cross-border professional relationships

The programme is particularly focused on travel that can lead to meaningful follow-up, such as a future collaboration project, partnership, or shared initiative.

Program Focus Areas

The grant places strong emphasis on exchange, cooperation, and network building, especially among young people, while still remaining open to applicants of higher age.

Key focus areas include:

• Youth exchange

• Cross-border cooperation

• Network building

• Social cohesion

• Creativity

• New enterprise development

• Cultural exchange

• Professional relationship-building

• Research and idea development

• Swedish–Lithuanian collaboration

Although young people are a priority, the grant is not restricted only to youth applicants.

The Swedish–Lithuanian Dimension (Core Requirement)

One of the most important elements of the grant is the Swedish–Lithuanian dimension.

This means your travel activity must clearly help strengthen the relationship between Sweden and Lithuania.

What the Swedish–Lithuanian dimension means

Your proposed travel should help:

• Increase contacts between Sweden and Lithuania

• Improve communication across the two countries

• Generate more joint activities

• Support collaborative project development

• Introduce the two countries to audiences with little prior knowledge

• Strengthen Swedish cultural presence in Lithuania

• Strengthen Lithuanian cultural presence in Sweden

• Increase awareness of Swedish and Lithuanian artists and their work

Strong applications usually show:

• Why the travel must involve Sweden and Lithuania

• What each side gains

• How the visit will create future cooperation

• Why the trip matters beyond a one-time meeting

• How it may lead to a wider project, network, or partnership

If the Swedish–Lithuanian dimension is weak, the proposal may be much less competitive.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is broadly accessible and open to many applicant types.

Eligible applicants include:

• Individuals

• Working groups

• Associations

• Organisations

• Companies

Citizenship requirement

• Swedish or Lithuanian citizenship is not required

Residency requirement

Applicants must be residing in Sweden or Lithuania.

This means international residents living in either country may still be eligible, even if they do not hold Swedish or Lithuanian citizenship.

Who Is Eligible?

To be a strong fit, applicants should meet the following practical criteria.

Basic eligibility conditions

Applicants should:

• Reside in Sweden or Lithuania

• Apply as an:

  • Individual

  • Working group

  • Association

  • Organisation

  • Company

• Propose travel that directly supports:

  • Project exploration

  • Partnership building

  • Research

  • Conference/workshop participation

  • Cross-border cooperation

• Demonstrate a clear Swedish–Lithuanian purpose

• Show a convincing project idea and a realistic plan

What Types of Travel Can Be Supported?

The grant can support different travel purposes, as long as they help build future cooperation or exchange.

Common eligible travel purposes include:

• Meeting a potential project partner

• Discussing ideas for a future Sweden–Lithuania collaboration

• Developing a joint project plan

• Conducting research-related visits

• Exploring new ideas relevant to a possible future project

• Attending conferences

• Participating in meetings

• Joining workshops

• Collaborating with a Swedish or Lithuanian colleague

• Building professional and cultural networks

• Creating opportunities for future partnerships and initiatives

Detailed Examples of Supported Travel Activities

To make the grant easier to understand, here are the main use cases described in the programme.

1. Partner meetings for future collaboration

A common use of the grant is to travel and meet a potential Swedish or Lithuanian partner to:

• Discuss a shared idea

• Explore feasibility

• Build trust

• Design a joint concept

• Develop a future collaboration project

This is often the strongest and most direct fit for the grant.

2. Research visits

Travel can also support research-oriented visits that help applicants:

• Explore new creative or professional ideas

• Study relevant practices or contexts

• Gather knowledge for a future project

• Build insight that strengthens later collaboration

3. Conferences, meetings, and workshops

The grant may support attendance at:

• Conferences

• Professional meetings

• Workshops

• Sector gatherings

These are valuable when they create opportunities to:

• Meet experts

• Connect with peers

• Identify collaborators

• Strengthen networks

• Spark future cross-border initiatives

4. Collaboration with a Swedish or Lithuanian colleague

The grant can also support travel for direct cooperation with a colleague in the other country.

This can help:

• Strengthen professional ties

• Build joint creative or professional work

• Exchange knowledge

• Plan future projects

• Deepen long-term collaboration

How Applications Are Assessed

The assessment is not only about whether travel is needed—it is also about the quality and strategic value of the proposed trip.

Reviewers are likely to consider:

• The quality of the applicant’s previous experience

• The purpose of travel

• Whether the project idea is convincing

• Whether the plan is clear and realistic

• How well the travel supports future objectives

• The strength of the Swedish–Lithuanian dimension

• Whether the travel can realistically lead to:

  • New partnerships

  • Stronger networks

  • Future project development

  • Cultural exchange

  • Knowledge sharing

How the Travel Grants Work

This is best understood as an early-stage collaboration support grant.

Simple explanation of how it works

1. An applicant identifies a travel opportunity between Sweden and Lithuania

2. The travel should support:

   • Project exploration

   • Partner meetings

   • Research

   • Conferences or workshops

   • Future cooperation

3. The applicant explains:

   • Why the trip matters

   • What the project idea is

   • What the travel will achieve

   • How it supports Swedish–Lithuanian relations

4. Reviewers assess the strength of the proposal

5. If selected, the grant helps make the trip possible

6. The travel ideally leads to:

   • A future joint project

   • Stronger networks

   • A collaboration plan

   • Continued exchange or partnership

How to Apply

The original description explains the grant purpose, so below is a structured, AI-friendly application roadmap.

Step-by-step application guide

1. Confirm you are eligible by residence
   Make sure you currently live in:

   • Sweden, or

   • Lithuania

2. Choose a travel purpose with clear future value
   Your travel should support one or more of the following:

   • Meeting a future partner

   • Developing a project concept

   • Conducting relevant research

   • Attending a strategic conference or workshop

   • Collaborating with a colleague in the other country

3. Make the Swedish–Lithuanian dimension explicit
   Clearly explain:

   • Why the trip must involve Sweden and Lithuania

   • How it will increase contact or cooperation

   • How it may introduce one country to new audiences in the other

   • How it strengthens cultural or professional exchange

4. Describe the project idea clearly
   Even if the travel is exploratory, you should still present:

   • A convincing idea

   • The purpose of the trip

   • The people or organizations involved

   • What activities will happen

   • What outcomes you expect

5. Show the long-term collaboration potential
   Explain how the trip may lead to:

   • A future grant application

   • A joint project

   • Ongoing cooperation

   • A stronger bilateral network

   • Shared cultural or professional outputs

6. Highlight relevant previous experience
   Since assessment considers your prior experience, include:

   • Previous projects

   • Cross-border work

   • Sector expertise

   • Relevant artistic, cultural, educational, or professional background

7. If attending an event, justify why it matters
   For conferences, meetings, or workshops, explain:

   • Why this event is important

   • Who you expect to meet

   • How it can lead to partnerships

   • Why it is strategically relevant to Sweden–Lithuania cooperation

8. Keep the proposal focused and realistic
   Travel grants work best when the objective is:

   • Clear

   • Specific

   • Achievable

   • Relationship-building oriented

Tips for a Strong Application

Best practices

• Focus on future collaboration, not just attendance
  Explain what happens after the trip.

• Make the bilateral value obvious
  Reviewers should immediately see the Sweden–Lithuania connection.

• Show concrete outcomes
  For example:

  • A partnership meeting

  • A draft project plan

  • A future cultural exchange

  • A co-created proposal

  • A joint initiative roadmap

• Use travel as a means, not the end goal
  The trip itself is not the final objective—the collaboration is.

• If you are not a young applicant, position the relevance well
  Youth exchange is a priority, but the grant remains open to older applicants too.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common mistakes

• Applying for general travel with no collaboration logic

• Treating the grant like tourism or routine mobility support

• Not showing what happens after the trip

• Ignoring the Swedish–Lithuanian dimension

• Submitting vague or generic conference attendance plans

• Not identifying a clear partner, colleague, or strategic purpose

• Failing to show previous experience or credibility

• Presenting travel as the goal instead of future cooperation

Why This Grant Matters

The Swedish–Lithuanian Travel Grants are valuable because they support the first step in international cooperation.

Many major projects begin with:

• One meeting

• One exploratory visit

• One workshop

• One research trip

• One conversation with the right partner

This grant helps make those first steps possible.

Broader value of the programme

• Strengthens Sweden–Lithuania relations

• Builds cross-border professional networks

• Encourages cultural exchange

• Supports creative and social innovation

• Helps ideas grow into larger future projects

• Promotes social cohesion and mutual understanding

• Expands knowledge of artists, culture, and collaboration opportunities in both countries

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the Swedish–Lithuanian Travel Grants?

They are grants that support travel between Sweden and Lithuania for project exploration, networking, research visits, partner meetings, conferences, workshops, and collaboration-building.

2. Who can apply for the travel grants?

Eligible applicants include:

• Individuals

• Working groups

• Associations

• Organisations

• Companies

Applicants must reside in Sweden or Lithuania, but citizenship is not required.

3. Is Swedish or Lithuanian citizenship required?

No. You do not need Swedish or Lithuanian citizenship, but you must be living in Sweden or Lithuania.

4. What types of travel activities are supported?

The grant may support:

• Partner meetings

• Project planning visits

• Research-related travel

• Conference attendance

• Workshops

• Professional meetings

• Collaboration with a Swedish or Lithuanian colleague

5. What is the most important requirement?

A key requirement is the Swedish–Lithuanian dimension. Your travel must clearly help increase contact, communication, cooperation, cultural visibility, or future joint activities between Sweden and Lithuania.

6. Are only young people eligible?

No. The grant strongly emphasizes network building among young people, but it remains open to applicants of higher age as well.

7. What makes a strong application?

A strong application usually includes:

• A clear reason for travel

• A convincing project idea

• A realistic plan

• Strong future collaboration potential

• A visible Swedish–Lithuanian connection

• Relevant previous experience

• Clear expected outcomes after the trip

Conclusion

The Swedish–Lithuanian Travel Grants are a practical and strategic opportunity for individuals, groups, organizations, and companies that want to build or strengthen cross-border cooperation between Sweden and Lithuania.

If your travel can help create future projects, stronger partnerships, cultural exchange, research collaboration, or professional networks, this grant can be an important stepping stone. The strongest applications will clearly show that the trip is not just about attending something—it is about creating lasting Sweden–Lithuania collaboration.

For more information, visit Sweden-Lithuania Cooperation Fund.