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Request for Applications: SSF Sabbatical Program 2025 (Sweden)

Deadline: 05-Mar-2026

The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) offers the Sabbatical Program to support international research exchanges for tenured scholars in Sweden. Grants of up to SEK 3 million fund research stays of 6–24 months abroad in natural sciences, engineering, or medicine, promoting mobility, strategic initiatives, and scientific excellence.

Overview of the SSF Sabbatical Program

The SSF Sabbatical Program is designed to promote excellent research through international mobility and strategic initiatives. The program provides Swedish researchers with the opportunity to spend 6–24 months at international institutions to advance their research, expand collaboration, and gain new perspectives. Preference is given to host institutions such as universities, industry partners, hospital clinics, major research infrastructures, or research institutes.

Eligible Disciplines

The program covers all fields within:

  • Natural Sciences

  • Engineering

  • Medicine

Applicants may conduct research in their current field or explore new disciplines, provided the work remains within the eligible areas.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must:

  • Be tenured full-time lecturers or professors at a Swedish university or higher education institution (HEI)

  • Hold at least an 80% full-time position

  • Conduct the sabbatical full-time with only brief interruptions

  • Select a host environment entirely new to the applicant, with no current or prior collaboration

Grant Details and Funding

  • Total budget allocated: SEK 44 million

  • Maximum per researcher: SEK 3 million

  • Duration of research stays: 6–24 months

  • Eligible host institutions: universities, industries, hospital clinics, major research infrastructures, or research institutes outside Sweden

  • Funding can cover:

    • Researcher’s salary

    • Travel and accommodation

    • Insurance

    • Operational expenses related to research

  • Funding cannot cover:

    • Salaries for additional personnel

    • Investments in equipment

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following documents through their home institution:

  • Research plan

  • Strategic relevance statement for industry and society

  • Description of the host environment

  • Curriculum vitae (CV)

  • Selected publications

  • Detailed budget

  • Invitation letter from the host organization

  • Letter of Intent from the home institution confirming employment and administrative support

Deadline: March 5, 2026, 2:00 p.m. CET. No additional materials can be submitted after this deadline.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated by experts from academia and industry based on:

  1. Scientific quality of the proposed research

  2. Applicant potential and previous achievements

  3. Strategic relevance to industry and society

  4. Commitment and support of the host environment

  5. Duration of sabbatical (longer stays prioritized)

  6. Gender balance applied when proposals are otherwise of equal quality

How the Program Works

  1. Prepare application materials, including CV, research plan, and budget

  2. Obtain Letter of Intent from your Swedish home institution

  3. Submit application via the official SSF portal before the deadline

  4. Applications are reviewed by a panel of academic and industry experts

  5. Evaluation occurs between April and May, with decisions announced in June 2026

  6. Successful sabbaticals may begin between July 1 and December 31, 2026

Why It Matters

The SSF Sabbatical Program:

  • Promotes international collaboration and mobility for Swedish researchers

  • Strengthens strategic research initiatives

  • Encourages interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral innovation

  • Builds capacity for global research impact and strategic contributions to society

Common Tips for Applicants

  • Ensure the host environment is entirely new to you

  • Highlight the strategic relevance of your research to industry and society

  • Provide a clear, feasible research plan with measurable outcomes

  • Prepare detailed budget and operational expense justification

  • Secure a strong Letter of Intent from your home institution

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Who can apply for the SSF Sabbatical Program?
A1: Tenured lecturers or professors at Swedish HEIs with at least an 80% full-time position.

Q2: How long can a sabbatical last?
A2: Between 6 and 24 months at an international host institution.

Q3: What can the grant cover?
A3: Salary, travel, accommodation, insurance, and operational research expenses; not equipment or other salaries.

Q4: Can I apply for a sabbatical in my current host institution?
A4: No, the host environment must be entirely new with no previous or current collaboration.

Q5: When is the application deadline?
A5: March 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. CET.

Q6: How will applications be evaluated?
A6: Based on scientific quality, applicant potential, strategic relevance, host commitment, sabbatical duration, and gender balance.

Q7: When will successful applicants start their sabbatical?
A7: Between July 1 and December 31, 2026.

Conclusion

The SSF Sabbatical Program provides a unique opportunity for Swedish researchers to advance their careers, foster international collaborations, and contribute to strategic research initiatives in natural sciences, engineering, and medicine. With up to SEK 3 million in funding for 6–24 month research stays abroad, this program supports high-impact mobility and strengthens global research networks.

For more information, visit SSF.