Deadline: 02-Sep-2026
The “Collaboration on Sustainable Freight Transport II” program is a Nordic regional funding initiative designed to strengthen cooperation between countries and stakeholders in improving sustainable freight transport systems. The program focuses on practical, implementable solutions that enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact through better integration of transport modes.
The initiative emphasizes intermodal freight transport development and encourages collaboration between academia, industry, and public sector actors.
Programme Objectives and Focus Areas
The programme focuses on:
- Strengthening Nordic cooperation in freight transport
- Advancing sustainable intermodal transport systems
- Improving efficiency of freight logistics across the region
- Integrating road, rail, sea, and air transport systems
- Optimizing use of existing transport infrastructure
- Enhancing freight transport corridors, routes, and logistics nodes
- Increasing the share of sustainable freight transport in the Nordic region
- Supporting practical pilot and demonstration projects
- Strengthening stakeholder collaboration and coordination frameworks
Key Themes and Priorities
The program prioritizes:
- Intermodal freight transport solutions
- Digitalization of freight logistics systems
- Improved coordination between transport actors
- Development of efficient transport nodes and hubs
- Sustainable logistics innovations
- Reduction of environmental impact from freight transport
- Cross-border cooperation and knowledge sharing
- System optimization over infrastructure expansion
Eligible Applicants
Eligible participants include:
- Academic and research institutions
- Private sector companies
- Public sector organisations
- Cross-sector consortia
Eligibility conditions:
- Consortia must involve multiple stakeholders
- Cross-country collaboration within the Nordic region is strongly encouraged
- Main applicant can be based in any Nordic country, with preference for administrative efficiency if based in Sweden
- Applicants must demonstrate access to required expertise, data, infrastructure, and permits
Funding Information
- Total programme budget: approximately 10 million SEK
- Individual project size: flexible (no strict upper limit)
- Typical pilot and demonstration projects: around 3 million SEK
- Other project types: around 1 million SEK
- Funding is guided by cost-effectiveness and impact potential
Project Duration
- Start date: 1 October 2026
- End date: 31 December 2027
- Projects must be completed within this timeframe
Eligible Activities
Funding supports:
- Pilot and demonstration projects in freight transport
- Intermodal logistics innovations
- Digital solutions for transport coordination
- Studies and collaborative research initiatives
- Development of freight transport integration models
- Testing of new logistics and operational frameworks
- Cross-border freight system improvements
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are assessed based on:
- Relevance to program objectives
- Technical and operational feasibility
- Expected impact on freight sustainability
- Quality of consortium collaboration
- Cost-effectiveness and value for money
- Potential for real-world implementation
Programme Purpose and Impact
The initiative aims to:
- Increase sustainability in Nordic freight transport systems
- Improve cross-border logistics efficiency
- Reduce environmental impact of freight movement
- Strengthen regional transport collaboration
- Support scalable intermodal transport innovations
- Encourage practical, real-world transport solutions
- Enhance knowledge sharing between Nordic stakeholders
How the Programme Works
- Consortia design intermodal freight transport projects
- Proposals are submitted for pilot or demonstration funding
- Applications are evaluated based on quality and impact
- Selected projects receive funding support
- Projects are implemented and tested in real-world conditions
- Results contribute to improved Nordic freight systems
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Proposing infrastructure expansion instead of optimization
- Weak cross-country or cross-sector collaboration
- Lack of practical pilot or demonstration components
- Insufficient technical or operational feasibility
- Poor cost justification or unrealistic budgets
- Missing required expertise or stakeholder involvement
Tips for a Strong Application
- Focus on practical, testable pilot solutions
- Clearly demonstrate intermodal integration benefits
- Include strong cross-border collaboration
- Provide measurable sustainability outcomes
- Show clear implementation pathways
- Ensure strong consortium structure and expertise
- Align closely with Nordic transport system challenges
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this funding programme about?
- It supports Nordic cooperation to develop sustainable intermodal freight transport solutions
- It focuses on pilots and demonstrations
- Who can apply?
- Consortia from academia, business, and public sector across Nordic countries
- What is the total funding available?
- Approximately 10 million SEK
- What types of projects are supported?
- Pilot projects, demonstrations, and collaborative studies in freight transport
- When do projects run?
- From October 2026 to December 2027
Conclusion
The “Collaboration on Sustainable Freight Transport II” program strengthens Nordic cooperation by funding practical, intermodal freight transport innovations. Through pilot and demonstration projects, it promotes efficient, sustainable logistics systems that optimize existing infrastructure and enhance regional connectivity across the Nordic transport network.
For more information, visit Swedish Transport Administration.
