Deadline: 15-Sep-2026
The SSF Strategic Mobility 2026 programme by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research supports temporary researcher mobility across academia, industry, hospitals, government agencies, and research institutes in Sweden. With SEK 10 million funding over 2 years, it finances 4–12 month cross-sector research exchanges to strengthen knowledge transfer, collaboration, and Sweden’s long-term innovation capacity in science, technology, and medicine.
What is SSF Strategic Mobility 2026?
The Strategic Mobility 2026 programme is a funding initiative launched by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF).
It enables researchers to temporarily move between different sectors to:
- Strengthen cross-sector collaboration
- Improve knowledge exchange
- Enhance research impact
- Support Sweden’s innovation ecosystem
- Build long-term strategic research capacity
The programme is designed around the idea that mobility between sectors improves both scientific quality and practical innovation outcomes.
Programme Objectives and Strategic Goals
The programme aims to strengthen Sweden’s research and innovation system through structured researcher mobility.
Key Objectives:
- Promote cross-sector researcher mobility
- Strengthen collaboration between academia, industry, and public sector
- Improve knowledge transfer and practical application of research
- Support strategic research in priority areas
- Enhance Sweden’s long-term innovation competitiveness
- Strengthen institutional research environments
- Build sustainable collaboration networks
Focus Areas and Research Priorities
The programme supports strategic research mobility in key scientific domains.
Eligible Fields:
- Natural sciences
- Technology and engineering
- Medicine and healthcare
- Strategic interdisciplinary research
Core Themes:
- Cross-sector collaboration
- Knowledge transfer and exploitation
- Innovation ecosystem strengthening
- Applied strategic research
- Institutional capacity building
- Research-to-impact pathways
Funding Overview
Total Budget:
- SEK 10 million
Programme Duration:
- 2 years
Mobility Support:
- Salary funding for participating researchers
- Exchange duration: 4 to 12 months
Purpose of Funding:
- Enable temporary cross-sector placements
- Support strategic research during mobility
- Cover salary costs during exchange period
What the Programme Supports
The SSF Strategic Mobility 2026 programme funds structured researcher exchanges.
Supported Activities:
- Temporary cross-sector research placements
- Collaborative strategic research projects
- Knowledge sharing between institutions
- Applied research in host environments
- Innovation-focused partnerships
- Academic–industry–government collaboration
Core Requirement:
Researchers must conduct strategic research aligned with SSF priorities during the exchange period.
Who is Eligible?
The programme is open to researchers across Sweden’s innovation ecosystem.
Eligible Applicants:
- University researchers
- Research institute scientists
- Industry researchers
- Hospital-based researchers
- Government agency researchers
Eligibility Conditions:
- Must be part of Sweden’s research or innovation system
- Must undertake a temporary cross-sector exchange
- Must return to original sector after mobility
International Mobility Option:
International exchanges may be considered if:
- Strongly justified strategically
- Clearly linked to Swedish research priorities
- Administered by a Swedish host organisation
How the Programme Works
Step 1: Identify Mobility Placement
The researcher identifies a host organisation in a different sector.
Step 2: Institutional Agreement
Both sending and host organisations confirm participation and commitment.
Step 3: Application Submission
Applicants submit:
- Research plan
- Mobility objectives
- Host environment description
- Strategic relevance justification
Step 4: Evaluation Review
Applications are assessed by an expert evaluation committee.
Step 5: Funding Decision
Selected researchers receive salary funding for the mobility period.
Step 6: Mobility Execution
Researcher completes 4–12 month exchange and returns to original sector.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are evaluated based on multiple dimensions.
Applicant Quality:
- Academic and professional qualifications
- Ability to transfer knowledge across sectors
- Research experience and competence
Institutional Strength:
- Host environment capacity
- Infrastructure and support systems
- Level of institutional engagement
Strategic Relevance:
- Contribution to Sweden’s innovation system
- Alignment with SSF research priorities
- Long-term national impact
Collaboration Quality:
- Commitment between sending and host organisations
- Strength of partnership structure
- Sustainability of cooperation
Integrity and Independence:
- Absence of financial or personal conflicts
- Ethical compliance between organisations
Key Conditions and Requirements
- Mobility duration: 4–12 months only
- Must involve cross-sector exchange
- Must focus on strategic research activities
- Must return to original organisation after completion
- Both host and sending organisations must be actively involved
- Funding primarily covers salary costs
Why This Programme Matters
The SSF Strategic Mobility 2026 programme strengthens Sweden’s innovation ecosystem by:
- Increasing cross-sector collaboration
- Accelerating knowledge transfer
- Improving research-to-innovation outcomes
- Strengthening applied research impact
- Building professional research networks
- Enhancing national competitiveness
- Supporting strategic scientific development
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants often fail due to:
- Weak cross-sector mobility justification
- Missing or unclear host organisation agreement
- Poor alignment with SSF strategic priorities
- Incomplete or vague research plan
- Lack of mutual institutional commitment
- No clear knowledge transfer strategy
- Conflicts of interest between organisations
Key Concepts Explained
Cross-Sector Mobility
Temporary movement of researchers between different sectors such as academia, industry, healthcare, and government.
Knowledge Transfer
The exchange of expertise, methods, and research findings between organisations.
Strategic Research
Research that contributes to long-term national innovation, competitiveness, and societal benefit.
Host Environment
The organisation where the researcher is temporarily placed during mobility.
Two-Way Learning
A process where both the researcher and host organisation benefit from mutual knowledge exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the SSF Strategic Mobility 2026 programme?
It is a Swedish funding programme supporting temporary cross-sector researcher exchanges.
2. How long is the mobility period?
Between 4 and 12 months.
3. What is the total funding available?
The programme has a total budget of SEK 10 million over 2 years.
4. Who can apply?
Researchers from universities, industry, hospitals, research institutes, and government agencies.
5. What does the funding cover?
Primarily salary costs during the mobility period.
6. Is international mobility allowed?
Yes, but only if strategically justified and linked to Swedish research interests.
7. What is the main goal of the programme?
To strengthen Sweden’s innovation system through cross-sector research mobility and knowledge exchange.
Conclusion
The SSF Strategic Mobility 2026 programme is a strategic funding initiative that promotes cross-sector researcher mobility across Sweden’s research and innovation ecosystem. By enabling structured 4–12 month exchanges between academia, industry, healthcare, and government, it strengthens knowledge transfer, enhances collaboration, and improves Sweden’s long-term scientific and innovation competitiveness.
For more information, visit The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research.