Open Call: Material-Based Competitiveness Program 2026 (Sweden)

Vinnova’s Material-based Competitiveness 2026 call supports projects that develop and validate advanced material concepts for real-world applications. The programme provides up to SEK 3.5 million to help researchers, companies, and value-chain partners move verified material innovations toward scaling, industrial implementation, and market readiness.

Overview of the Vinnova Material-based Competitiveness 2026 Call

The Material-based Competitiveness 2026 call launched by Vinnova supports innovation projects that transform advanced material concepts into practical solutions with industrial potential.

The programme focuses on developing, testing, and validating material-based innovations where new or improved materials create:

New functionality.
Better performance.
Increased competitiveness.
Improved industrial applications.

The call aims to bridge the gap between research results and commercial implementation by supporting projects that demonstrate technical feasibility and prepare solutions for future scale-up.

Purpose of the Programme

The main objective of the call is to accelerate the transition of advanced material concepts from research environments into practical applications.

Supported projects should help:

Validate material concepts in relevant conditions.
Reduce technical and market-related uncertainties.
Strengthen collaboration across value chains.
Improve readiness for industrial adoption.
Create pathways toward scaling and implementation.

The programme encourages cooperation between material developers, application owners, manufacturers, and other relevant stakeholders.

Why Advanced Materials Matter

Advanced materials play an important role in developing future technologies and competitive industries.

Material innovations can enable:

Improved product performance.
Lower resource use.
Enhanced durability.
New industrial capabilities.
More sustainable production methods.

However, many promising material concepts face challenges before reaching the market, including:

Technical validation gaps.
Manufacturing challenges.
Unclear market demand.
Limited industrial testing.

This funding helps address these barriers through targeted development and validation activities.

Key Focus Areas

Projects supported through the call should focus on the development and validation of material-based concepts.

Development of Advanced Materials

Projects may involve:

Creation of new materials.
Improvement of existing materials.
Development of manufacturing processes.
Integration of materials into specific applications.

Advanced materials should provide clear added value compared with existing solutions.

Testing and Validation

Projects must include testing activities such as:

Performance testing.
Validation in relevant environments.
Demonstration of functionality.
Technical verification.

Projects should reach at least:

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5

This means the technology should be validated in a relevant environment.

Application and Market Analysis

Projects should analyse:

User needs.
Market conditions.
Industrial demand.
Future development opportunities.

A clear connection must exist between the material properties and the intended application.

Value Chain Collaboration

Projects should involve relevant partners across the innovation chain, including:

Material developers.
Research organisations.
Industry users.
Manufacturing partners.
End users.

Strong collaboration is expected to support future commercialisation.

Funding Details

Successful projects may receive:

Maximum funding: SEK 3.5 million.

Funding levels depend on:

Participating organisations.
Project activities.
Applicable state aid regulations.

Eligible Project Costs

Funding may support:

Personnel Costs

Including:

Salaries for project staff.
Research and development personnel.

Equipment and Infrastructure

Including:

Necessary equipment.
Facilities.
Land and buildings required for project activities.

External Services

Including:

Consulting costs.
Licensing expenses.
Technical expertise.

Other Direct Costs

Including:

Materials.
Supplies.
Travel related to project implementation.

Indirect Costs

Indirect costs may be covered according to:

Vinnova funding rules.
Applicable state aid regulations.

Who Is Eligible?

The call is open to organisations capable of developing and advancing material-based solutions.

Eligible participants may include:

Companies.
Research organisations.
Innovation actors.
Other organisations involved in material development and application.

Projects must involve collaboration between key stakeholders.

Required Project Partnership

Each project must include:

Concept Owner

The organisation responsible for developing the material-based concept.

The concept owner should demonstrate:

Technical knowledge.
Ownership or responsibility for the innovation.
Ability to advance the concept.

Needs Owner

A partner connected to the intended use of the solution.

The needs owner should represent:

A practical application area.
A market need.
Future implementation potential.

Value Chain Partners

The consortium should represent relevant parts of the value chain needed for:

Validation.
Production.
Adoption.
Scaling.

Project Requirements

Eligible projects must demonstrate:

A verified concept with previous laboratory or similar validation.
Identification of an advanced material.
A clearly defined application.
A direct relationship between material properties and expected performance.
Evidence of market or user demand.
A plan for continued development after validation.

Technology Readiness Requirement

Projects must validate concepts at a minimum:

TRL 5 – Technology validated in a relevant environment

This ensures projects are beyond early research stages and ready for practical testing.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify the Material Innovation

Define:

The advanced material concept.
The application area.
The expected improvement in functionality or performance.

Step 2: Build the Project Consortium

Include:

Concept owner.
Needs owner.
Relevant value-chain partners.

Ensure all partners have clearly defined roles.

Step 3: Develop the Validation Plan

The proposal should explain:

Testing methods.
Validation environment.
Expected technical outcomes.
How uncertainties will be reduced.

Step 4: Analyse Market and Implementation Potential

Applicants should describe:

User needs.
Market opportunities.
Industrial relevance.
Future scaling pathway.

Step 5: Submit Application

Applications must be submitted through:

Vinnova’s eServices portal

Applicants must use:

Required application form.
Official templates.
Supporting documents requested by Vinnova.

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

Maturity of the material concept.
Quality of validation plans.
Relevance of the application.
Industrial potential.
Ability to reduce uncertainties.
Strength of collaboration across the value chain.
Potential for future scaling.

Expected Project Outcomes

Successful projects should deliver:

Validated material concepts.
Demonstrated improved functionality or performance.
Stronger innovation partnerships.
Reduced technical and commercial risks.
A clear plan for continued development and financing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Proposing concepts that are still at an early research stage.
Failing to identify a clear application area.
Not involving a needs owner.
Providing weak market analysis.
Ignoring manufacturing and scaling challenges.
Describing materials without explaining their added value.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can improve proposals by:

Clearly explaining why the material is innovative.
Demonstrating measurable performance improvements.
Including strong industrial partners.
Providing realistic validation methods.
Showing market demand.
Explaining the pathway from validation to commercial use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Material-based Competitiveness 2026 call?

It is a Vinnova funding programme supporting projects that develop and validate advanced material concepts for practical industrial applications.

How much funding can projects receive?

Projects may receive up to SEK 3.5 million.

What type of materials are supported?

The programme supports advanced materials, including new materials and improved existing materials that provide clear added value in specific applications.

What technology readiness level is required?

Projects must validate concepts at least at TRL 5, meaning they must be tested in a relevant environment.

Who must participate in the project?

Each project must include a concept owner and a needs owner, with collaboration across the relevant value chain.

What costs can funding cover?

Funding may support salaries, equipment, facilities, consulting, licensing, materials, travel, and eligible indirect costs.

How are applications submitted?

Applications must be submitted through Vinnova’s eServices portal using the required forms and templates.

Conclusion

The Vinnova Material-based Competitiveness 2026 call provides significant support for transforming advanced material innovations into practical industrial solutions. By funding validation, collaboration, and scaling preparation, the programme helps strengthen Sweden’s material innovation ecosystem and accelerate the adoption of high-performance technologies across industries.