Deadline: 10-Sep-2026
The Water Wise Societies Pre-Studies Call 2026 under Impact Innovation Sweden is inviting organizations to develop and test early-stage innovative water solutions that support the mission Sustainable Water for All by 2050. Selected projects can receive up to SEK 500,000 for feasibility studies lasting up to 11 months.
Eligible applicants include companies, research institutes, universities, and colleges working across Sweden’s water system from source to coast, in collaboration with potential customers.
What Is the Water Wise Societies Pre-Studies Call?
The Water Wise Societies programme is a Swedish national innovation initiative focused on transforming water systems for long-term sustainability.
This specific pre-studies call funds early-stage collaborative projects that explore whether new water-related ideas can become practical, scalable, and implementable solutions.
The programme is supported by:
- Swedish Energy Agency
- Formas
- Vinnova
Core Mission
Sustainable Water for All by 2050
The long-term goal is to create resilient and sustainable water systems that meet environmental, industrial, and societal needs across Sweden.
Funding Details
Grant Amount
- Maximum Funding Per Project: SEK 500,000
- Maximum Aid Intensity: 70%
- Co-funding may be required from applicants
Project Duration
- Maximum Project Period: 11 months
Projects are intended for short, focused feasibility studies.
Main Focus Areas
Projects should contribute to one or more strategic priorities.
Priority Themes
- Sustainable water management
- Water innovation from source to coast
- Feasibility testing of new solutions
- Collaboration between providers and customers
- Climate resilience in water systems
- Resource-efficient water use
- Practical implementation pathways
- Cross-sector partnerships
What Does “Source to Coast” Mean?
This phrase refers to the full water system, including:
- Lakes and rivers
- Groundwater
- Drinking water systems
- Urban drainage
- Industrial water use
- Wastewater systems
- Coastal ecosystems
It promotes whole-system thinking rather than isolated solutions.
Who Is Eligible?
The programme supports multiple applicant types working in Sweden’s water ecosystem.
Eligible Applicants
- Companies
- Research institutes
- Universities
- Colleges
- Innovation actors within the water sector
Collaboration Requirement
Applicants should work with a potential customer who actively participates in the project.
Potential customers may include:
- Municipalities
- Utilities
- Industrial users
- Infrastructure operators
- Public agencies
- Commercial buyers
Why This Funding Matters
Many good ideas fail because they are never tested with real users. This call bridges the gap between concept and implementation.
Benefits
- Reduces innovation risk
- Validates market demand
- Strengthens partnerships
- Supports commercialization pathways
- Builds sustainable water solutions
- Improves Swedish water resilience
What Types of Projects Can Be Funded?
Examples may include:
- Smart leak detection systems
- Water reuse technologies
- Industrial water efficiency tools
- Flood resilience planning systems
- Digital water monitoring platforms
- Pollution prevention solutions
- Circular wastewater recovery methods
- Coastal water management tools
Expected Outcomes
Funded pre-studies should help participants:
- Test assumptions
- Assess technical feasibility
- Confirm user needs
- Understand implementation barriers
- Prepare larger R&D projects
- Build adoption-ready solutions
How to Apply
Step 1: Identify a Water Challenge
Choose a real problem relevant to Sweden’s water system.
Step 2: Secure a Customer Partner
Engage a potential customer who can help validate the solution.
Step 3: Build the Project Team
Include technical, business, and user-side expertise.
Step 4: Prepare Proposal
Include:
- Problem statement
- Proposed innovation
- Customer involvement plan
- Feasibility methods
- Timeline
- Budget
- Expected impact
Step 5: Submit Before Deadline
Apply through the official Swedish innovation funding portal.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Application Errors
- No customer partner included
- Incomplete budget
- Weak timeline
- Missing documents
- Late submission
Strategic Errors
- Pure research with no user relevance
- No implementation pathway
- Weak sustainability value
- Limited system impact
- Unclear feasibility methods
Tips for a Strong Proposal
- Include an engaged end-user partner
- Solve a clear market problem
- Show long-term scalability
- Use measurable success criteria
- Align with 2050 mission goals
- Demonstrate cross-sector value
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Water Wise Societies Pre-Studies Call?
It is a Swedish funding opportunity for early-stage feasibility studies focused on sustainable water innovation.
2. How much funding is available?
Projects may receive up to SEK 500,000.
3. How long can projects run?
Up to 11 months.
4. Who can apply?
Companies, research institutes, universities, and colleges active in the water system.
5. Is collaboration required?
Yes. Projects should involve a potential customer participating actively.
6. What is meant by source to coast?
It refers to the entire water system, from freshwater sources to coastal environments.
7. Who supports this programme?
Impact Innovation, with support from the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas, and Vinnova.
Conclusion
The Water Wise Societies Pre-Studies Call Sweden 2026 is a valuable opportunity for organizations developing practical water solutions. With funding up to SEK 500,000, the programme helps applicants test feasibility, build customer partnerships, and prepare impactful innovations.
Strong proposals should combine technical quality, customer relevance, and alignment with Sweden’s vision of sustainable water for all by 2050.
For more information, visit Vinnova.