Grant for research infrastructure of national interest

The following requirements must be fulfilled in order for the organisation to be eligible to apply for the grant. The Swedish Research Council carries out checks and rejects applications that do not fulfil the requirements below.

Framework for the application

• The purpose of the application shall fulfil the Swedish Research Council’s definition and criteria for research infrastructure of national interest shown below.
• You may only apply for a grant for the infrastructures/areas listed under the heading “Areas/infrastructures that may apply” below.
• Applications for a grant may be made by one or several Swedish higher education institutions (HEIs) or other Swedish public agencies with research mandates, all of which shall be administrating organisations approved by the Swedish Research Council.
• Only one organisation shall be the administrating organisation for the grant, but several organisations may be part of the application. In the event several organisations participate in the application, they shall enter into a collaboration agreement.
• Applications shall include a total budget that covers the entire grant period. For national infrastructure, the participating organisations shall contribute co-funding of a minimum of 50 per cent. The membership fee for international infrastructures and international technology and methodology development projects does not have to be co-funded, but the participating organisations are expected to make considerable undertakings that contribute to Swedish added value of the membership, for example by participating with personnel in development work at the infrastructure.

In addition to the Swedish Research Council’s general terms and conditions for grants for funds awarded to research and research-supporting activities, special terms and conditions for infrastructure grants also apply, please see the link to special terms and conditions below.

Special terms and conditions for infrastructure grants 2021 (in Swedish) Please Note: Updated 30 January 2023) Pdf, 80.8 kB, opens in new window. (Pdf, 80.8 kB)

Research infrastructure of national interest

A central requirement for the development of research and innovation is for researchers to have access to high-class research infrastructure. To enable Swedish researchers to use research infrastructure that gives access to the best methods, the best equipment, and access to and development of the best databases and relevant expertise, the Swedish Research Council works to fund and provide long-term planning for research infrastructure of national interest, that is: research infrastructure intended to provide resources that enable research by several research teams and different projects within one or several research fields.

In addition to this definition, the Swedish Research Council applies a number of criteria intended to clarify and demarcate the type of infrastructure funded by the Council for Research Infrastructures (RFI). Research infrastructure of national interest shall:

• enable research of the highest scientific quality
• be openly accessible primarily to researchers, but also to the business sector, the public sector, and other relevant actors. When access is limited, prioritisation shall be based primarily on scientific excellence.
• create clear national added value for Sweden
• have long-term plans for the scientific operation and its development
• take long-term responsibility for management and control, funding, competence accumulation and development of the operation
• contribute to societal development, for example by enabling research that addresses issues relating to societal challenges.

Subsidiary focuses

The call covers three subsidiary focuses, and the application shall be for at least one of them. The purpose of the subsidiary focuses is administrative for the Swedish Research Council, and the choice of subsidiary focus is of no importance for the assessment of the application. The Swedish Research Council may, if necessary, move applications between the subsidiary focuses.

Technology and methodology development project at international infrastructure

Technology and methodology development projects are demarcated activities linked to a research infrastructure, for example upgrades or instrument development. Co-funding is not required, but the participating organisations are expected to make considerable undertakings that contribute to Swedish added value of the membership, for example by participating with personnel in development work at the infrastructure. The call text includes technology and methodology development projects in the definition of infrastructure, unless otherwise is stated.

New membership in international infrastructure

The subsidiary focus applies to applications for membership of international research infrastructures, where Sweden is not already a member. Co-funding of the membership fee is not required.

National infrastructure

All applications that do not fit under “other subsidiary focuses” are classified as “national infrastructure”. The participating organisations shall contribute co-funding of a minimum of 50 per cent.

Applicant

The applicant for the grant must be a Swedish higher education institution (HEI) or other Swedish public agency with a research mandate that has been approved as an administrating organisation Opens in new window. for grants from the Swedish Research Council. The administrating organisation shall be the host organisation for the infrastructure, or alternatively for the Swedish engagement in activities at international infrastructure, and is responsible for ensuring the grant is used according to the Swedish Research Council’s terms and conditions. When two or more organisations contribute resources to the infrastructure, they shall form a consortium. The infrastructure’s organisation will be assessed based on how fit for purpose it is for the activities.

The application shall include one named project leader for the infrastructure. The project leader shall preferably be the manager of the infrastructure, or for the Swedish engagement in the international infrastructure, and shall be employed by the administrating organisation at the start of and throughout the grant period, unless the Swedish Research Council approves an exception.

In the event several organisations are backing an application, all parties shall confirm their undertakings in the form of letters of support (see also under the heading “What must the application contain?”). To safeguard the allocation of responsibility between the parties, the Swedish Research Council requires a collaboration agreement signed by the vice-chancellor/public agency head of all constituent consortium members. The collaboration agreement shall be drawn up and be available at the administrating organisation before payment of the grant begins.

Areas/infrastructures that may apply

The areas and infrastructures eligible to apply for a grant to research infrastructure of national interest 2023 are listed here. Please note that we only expect one application per infrastructure/area.

New areas

• Large-scale infrastructure for experimental ICT system research
• Infrastructure for laboratory archaeology
• Swedish participation in Generations and Gender Programme
• Infrastructure for Electoral Democracy in Europe
• National infrastructure for research vessels
• Infrastructure for astroparticle physics with neutrinos*
• Infrastructure for solar physics – European Solar Telescope*
  

Existing research infrastructures for which the grant period ends in 2023 or 2024

• ALICE and ATLAS
• Biobank Sweden
• BioMS – infrastructure within biological mass spectrometry
• DEMSCORE – Infrastructure for Democracy, Environment, Migration, Social policy, Conflict, and Representation
• DESIREE – Double ElectroStatic Ion Ring ExpEriment
• European Extremely Large Telescope – instrumentation
  Fusion research and EUROfusion (direct grant)
• HUMINFRA
• IceCube Neutrino Observatory*
• Infrastructure for solar physics – European Solar Telescope*
• Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS)
• Ion Technology Centre (AB-ITC)
• Myfab – national research infrastructure for nano and micro fabrication
• National Language Bank and SWE-CLARIN
• National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS) and Swedish node for Elixir
• National Genomics Infrastructure (NGI)
• National infrastructure for microscopy within life sciences (NMI)
• Swedish biodiversity data infrastructure (SBDI)
• Swedish membership of Nordic e-Infrastructure Collaboration (NeIC)

* The areas/infrastructures shown both in the list of new areas and the list of existing infrastructure shall submit one joint application. This shall be drawn up according to the instructions for infrastructure with ongoing grants, see the heading “For infrastructure with ongoing grants” below.

Supplementary grant

It is also possible to apply for a supplementary grant under this call. The grant is intended to fund increased Swedish engagement in international infrastructures where Sweden is already a member. A condition is that the international infrastructure’s own processes invite active participation in build-up and operation of the infrastructure, for example by issuing a call for in-kind contributions.

For a more detailed description of the areas/infrastructures the application shall relate to, and for any further instructions, please see here. Pdf, 275 kB, opens in new window. (Pdf, 275 kB)

Participating researchers

No participating researchers may be included in this application. Any participating organisations and their roles are described in the appendix “Description of the infrastructure and its operation” (see instructions under “Description of the infrastructure and its operation” below).

Costs and grant amounts

See also “Summarised information about the application budget” (Please note: Updated 23 January 2023). Pdf, 322.6 kB, opens in new window. (Pdf, 322.6 kB)

The grant may be used for investment in and operation of research infrastructure of national interest, and may include costs for coordination, development, construction or upgrading of the infrastructure. The grant must not be used for research, salaries for doctoral students (including departmental duties), grants to education, graduate schools, conference grants, researcher exchanges, travel grants for researchers using the infrastructure, or similar. Nor may the grant be used to fund participation in EU projects, unless this has been specifically agreed.

Research infrastructure with an ongoing infrastructure grant may apply to operate and develop the activities that fall within the framework for the existing grant, but not for upgrades that significantly change the focus and area of operation of the infrastructure.

If the grant relates to Swedish participation in an international infrastructure, costs relating to the Swedish node shall be included as part of the application. For international infrastructure with ongoing Swedish membership, all costs related to the membership, excluding the membership fee, shall be included in the amount applied for. This is because the membership fee continues to be paid by the Swedish Research Council direct to the international infrastructure in question according to a separate international agreement. For new Swedish membership in an international infrastructure, that is infrastructure where Sweden does not have an ongoing membership, the membership fee shall be included in the amount applied for.

Co-funding

Co-funding entails direct contributions from the administrating organisation and other participating organisations that are paid to the infrastructure over and above the grant from the Swedish Research Council. Grants from other public and private funding bodies, the EU, other public agencies and direct government appropriations, and also user fees, may be regarded as co-funding.

Existing resources (including depreciation of equipment already acquired) that the administrating organisation and any other participating organisations make available to the research infrastructure, and also existing grants from the Swedish Research Council, must not be included in the co-funding.

Grant period

The grant may cover a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 years. The first payment will be made during January 2024 at the earliest. As calls for grants to research infrastructure of national interest are issued every two years, the grant period should end with an even year. This gives the infrastructure one year before the current grant period ends to make any necessary changes in the event the grant level for the upcoming period changes.

Please refer to the application form in Prisma in parallel with reading the instructions below, which describe the call-specific contents of the application. More information on what to do in practical terms is available in our Guide for applicants Opens in new window..

Language

Foreign experts are involved in the scientific evaluation of the applications. To ensure fair and equitable assessment and efficient processing, please therefore complete your application in English.

Sections of the application

The application form includes the following tabs:

• Descriptive information
• The goals and activities of the infrastructure
• Budget and research resources
• Key references
• Letter of support
• Administrating organisation
• Participants

The information we request under each tab is described below.

Descriptive information

Participating organisations

List the organisations that participate in the application. Participating organisations must be administrating organisations approved by the Swedish Research Council.

Abstract

The abstract shall include a brief description of the following:

• the research infrastructure the application relates to, and its specific function within the area
• the infrastructure’s activities and organisation
• the infrastructure’s scientific goals
• what the grant will be used for
• the national added value the infrastructure is expected to contribute to.

The abstract shall provide a summary picture of the infrastructure’s purpose, activities and the research supported. Please use wording to ensure persons with another subject specialisation can understand the information.

The description may cover a maximum of 1 500 characters including blank spaces. This is approximately one third of an A4 page in Arial, font size 11, single line spacing.

Popular science description

Describe the infrastructure in such a way that a person who is not familiar with the subject can understand it. Please use the following items as the starting point:

• Describe the planned operation and its scientific goal within the framework for the grant.
• Highlight the (new) opportunities it offers Swedish research, innovation and societal benefit.
• Explain in what way the (new) knowledge may be important.

The popular science description is an important tool when we inform about the research funded by the Swedish Research Council.

The text must be in Swedish and cover a maximum of 2 000 characters including blank spaces. This is approximately one half of an A4 page in Arial, font size 11, single line spacing.

Subsidiary focus

Mark which of the subsidiary focuses the application relates to: National infrastructure, Technology and method development projects at international infrastructure, or New membership in an international infrastructure.

Area/infrastructure

Choose the area or infrastructure the application relates to.

Goals and activities of the infrastructure

Ethical considerations

Reflect on the ethical issues that may arise for the infrastructure’s activities, and describe these. Describe also the planning for addressing ethical dilemmas that may arise. If no ethical issues are raised, please justify this.

The description may cover a maximum of 4 000 characters including blank spaces. This is approximately one A4 page in Arial, font size 11, single line spacing.

Scientific plan

The scientific plan shall consist of a brief but complete description of the infrastructure. It shall cover a maximum of 8 page-numbered A4 pages in Arial, font size 11, single line spacing and 2.5 cm margins, including any figures. Note that the key references requested shall be attached to the application, as a separate appendix (see under the heading “Key references” below).

The scientific plan shall be based on the specific field or the research infrastructure the grant application relates to, and include the following headings and information, listed in the following order:

1. Scientific justification of the infrastructure/overview of the scientific field

• Describe the scientifically prominent research that is enabled through the planned operation (under the appendix “Description of the infrastructure and its operation” this shall also be linked to the infrastructure’s modules). References shall be stated in the appendix “Key references”.
• Describe how the planned operation addresses specific scientific and societal challenges, and what positive effects are expected (linked to the Swedish Research Council’s description of the area/infrastructure).
• Describe the long-term impact of the planned operation on the scientific area.
  • Describe the relationship to any other existing national and/or international infrastructure within the area.
  • Describe Swedish researchers’ need for the infrastructure.
  • Describe the added value of the planned operation being organised as an infrastructure of national interest.
• Describe the expected user groups, based on location (HEI, public sector, business sector) and research fields.
• Describe how the planned operation contributes in the long term to national competence accumulation.
• In the event Swedish researchers are to contribute scientifically to the build-up, upgrading and/or operation of the infrastructure, in kind or similar, for example, please state references that confirm the researchers’ scientific merits (CV with a selection of scientific publications, maximum 20). These shall be stated in the appendix “Key references”, see below.

2. Societal relevance and innovation

Describe how the planned operation contributes to society as a whole, that is its benefits outside academic research, which may include areas such as the Swedish innovation system, the economic effect, and how the infrastructure contributes to achieving the UN’s global sustainability goals.

• Describe the types of activities in organisations outside academia, such as business or the public sector, that may benefit from the infrastructure and/or the results that arise from its development or use.
• Describe how the infrastructure contributes to promoting Swedish and/or international innovation and societal benefit, and how it can contribute to achieving other societal goals today and in the future. As applicable, provide examples with key references and any patents (list these in the appendix “Key references”).
• When applying for a grant for Swedish participation in an international infrastructure, describe the way in which this could be of benefit to Swedish business that can contribute to the building up or operation of the infrastructure.

Description of the infrastructure and its activities

Describe the infrastructure in an appendix that may cover a maximum of 15 A4 pages in Arial, font size 11, single line spacing, including any figures. At least one of these pages shall be used to describe data management (the type of data generated and how it is managed) within the infrastructure and the infrastructure’s need for supporting e-infrastructure. The tables describing risk description, data management and e-infrastructure needs shall be attached as a separate appendix (see more under Items 2.6 and 3 below, “Data management and need for supporting e-infrastructure”).

Note that the key references requested shall be attached as a separate appendix (see under the heading “Key references” below).

The operation shall be described with the help of modules, where each module describes a demarcated subsidiary part/function, such as a database, a piece of equipment, or a measurement station. Each module shall have a demarcated task and be possible to account for separately from other modules, both operationally and financially. If both national and international operations are included, these shall be divided up into different modules. Please note that the module “Organisation and management” shall always be included.

Describe the modules in text and reference each module to a table or table row in the budget. Please use the budget template provided by the Swedish Research Council for budgeting the activities of the infrastructure (see more under the heading “Budget and research resources” below). Please state how the modules are linked, whether they are dependent on each other and what the dependency consists of.

The description should include the following headings:

1. The infrastructure’s organisation and management (organisation chart)

This module is mandatory. Describe the infrastructure’s organisation and management according to the items below, preferably with the help of an organisation chart. For technology and methodology development projects, describe the project’s strategic and operational management, and how the project relates to the infrastructure’s management. For applications for new membership of an international infrastructure, describe the international infrastructure’s organisation and management.

• Describe the organisations behind the infrastructure and their roles in the management of the infrastructure.
• Describe the infrastructure’s strategic, scientific, and operational management, how it is adapted to the activities at the infrastructure, and how it contributes to cost effectiveness.
• Describe why the infrastructure’s organisation form (consortium or not a consortium) is the most appropriate one, and what the organisations that may be included are to contribute. If other organisations with similar activities are not part of the infrastructure, comment on and justify this.
• If the application relates to both a national and an international part, clarify how the various parts relate to each other in terms of operation, budget, organisation and management.

2. The infrastructure’s operation

2.1 Graphic overview

Describe graphically the organisation’s construction with the various constituent functions (modules) for different operations.

2.2 Time plan

State a time plan for the activities of the infrastructure, including preparation, construction, installation, development, operation and future phase-out/close-down. Attach the time plan in the form of a Gantt chart in a separate appendix. The Gantt chart shall include subsidiary goals and results (deliverables) for the various modules.

2.3 Accessibility and use

Describe the infrastructure’s policy for accessibility. If different modules have different users, please divide the information up per module. The Swedish Research Council will follow up the use of infrastructure based on key figures according to the Swedish Research Council’s reporting template.

• Describe how the infrastructure is made accessible for researchers nationally and, as applicable, also internationally. According to the Swedish Research Council’s special terms and conditions for infrastructure grants, in the event the infrastructure offers a limited resource, accessibility shall be based on scientific quality.
• Describe how the infrastructure informs and communicates with current and possible new users.
• Describe how the infrastructure works with advanced user support and education for existing and possible new users. User support/education may include planning of experiments, handling of instruments, choice of experimental analysis methods and data analysis. Describe the current type of support/education and its scope. Describe also how user support may look in the future.
• Describe the infrastructure’s accessibility in terms of waiting times, occupancy and operating time.
• State whether the infrastructure charges user fees. If so, describe how these are calculated and which users are covered by fees. Commercial users or assignment research using the infrastructure shall cover the actual cost of use.

2.4 Construction, development and operation of the infrastructure

Describe the following items for each module:

• Describe the module’s function and link to the infrastructure’s scientific goals. For applications for continuation grants, please state also whether the module is already existing or new.
• Describe both the existing equipment and planned equipment construction/purchases. Include a technical description of the equipment and an estimate of its economic life. All planned investment shall be specified in the application and referenced to one or two items in the budget template. For existing equipment that the administrating organisation or other participating organisations make available, describe what the equipment consists of and what it contributes to the research infrastructure.
• Describe the module’s need for other resources, such as personnel, premises, and so on. This shall correspond to one or more items in the budget.
• State in both the text and budget template whether parts of the operation have been awarded funding from the Swedish Research Council or another funding body.
• If making accessible research data resulting from research at the infrastructure requires investment or otherwise creates costs for the infrastructure, this should be described here. and referenced to one or several items in the budget template.

Describe how the modules are linked, whether they are dependent on each other, and what the dependency consists of. Describe how the activities in the modules together contribute to achieving the scientific goals.

In a separate paragraph, describe also:

• the modules that are essential, for which a marked reduction in budget would mean the infrastructure is not functional
• for each other module, the consequences that a marked reduction in budget would mean for the infrastructure’s users.

2.5 Interaction with other infrastructures

As applicable, describe what other national infrastructures exist in the area.

• What sort of demarcation exists between similar and/or potentially overlapping infrastructures.
• What sort of collaboration exists between these and the infrastructure covered in this application?

As applicable, describe what similar international infrastructures exist.

• What sort of collaboration exists between these and the operation described in this application?
• What opportunities exist for Swedish researchers to use the other international infrastructure?

2.6 Risk analysis

Please list in a table the risks or obstacles that may impact on the implementation, according to the example below. On a 1–3 scale, 1 is the lowest value/effect and 3 is the highest value/effect.

For each identified risk or obstacle in the table, describe whether an adaptation can be done within the existing framework in the event of increased cost, and if so, how. What mitigation strategy is in place? For example, can parts be removed from the project or scaled-down to stay within the given budgetary framework? What related consequences are expected?

The table together with the description of the risk handling must be attached as a separate appendix, and must cover a maximum of 2 A4 pages.

3. Data management and need for supporting e-infrastructure

At least one page of the appendix shall be used to describe data management (the type of data generated and how it is managed) within the infrastructure.

• Describe whether the infrastructure has a data policy and data management plan in place or planned, and whether/how the operation works with open access to research data and the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).
• Describe the infrastructure’s technical solutions for e-infrastructure, and which supporting e-infrastructure will be used. “Supporting e-infrastructure” refers to access to network connection and computer resources for large-scale computation and storage. State specifically whether, and if so how, the infrastructure manages personal data and other sensitive data.
• Describe the infrastructure’s access to and development of advanced user support and user tools, such as training, specific software, databases and similar, required for the infrastructure’s operation (that is, to conduct experiments and to collect, manage, and process data at the infrastructure).
• Describe future needs for and challenges within e-infrastructure for the research infrastructure, and how the operation plans to address these.

In cases where the e-infrastructure only requires normal office equipment or existing data networks, please state so.

Tables E1 and E2 (below) shall be used to plan and budget for the e-infrastructure needs. The costs in Table E2 shall also be included in the budget. Please attach the tables in the format stated below in a separate appendix. The appendix may cover no more than 2 A4 pages.

The Swedish Research Council recommends that services relating to networks and large-scale data resources for computation and storage are supplied by one of the national infrastructures Sunet, NAISS, and/or SND. Applicants are responsible for producing a plan for their needs. Consultation with Sunet, NAISS and/or SND should then take place as soon as possible to enable a reasonable cost estimate for the needs described to be included in the application. Consultation with Sunet is done via utlysning@sunet.se, consultation with NAISS via email info@naiss.se, and consultation with SND via snd@gu.se In all cases, please write “RFI application” in the subject line of the email. If an applicant wishes to use another service provided than those above, this must be clearly justified in the application. Very substantial reasons must exist for the Swedish Research Council to contribute to these services being obtained from others than the national infrastructures. Applicants are then responsible themselves for producing a a reasonable cost estimate.

When planning and budgeting, please note the following:

• The e-infrastructures NAISS, Sunet and SND do not provide free-of-charge services to other research infrastructures.
• The e-infrastructure needs of researchers analysing data produced at the infrastructure shall not be included in this application.
• The Swedish Research Council does not fund long-term data storage that is assessed as falling within the archiving responsibility of the HEIs.

For infrastructures with ongoing grants

Research infrastructures with ongoing grants from the Swedish Research Council that are applying for continued support shall attach an appendix with a description of the operation that has been carried out during the ongoing grant period. The description shall state what has been achieved so far in relation to the operation described in the special terms and conditions for the grant. The description shall cover a maximum of 3 A4 pages in Arial, font size 11, single line spacing, including any figures. In addition, the key numbers from all of the annual reports from the current grant period shall be attached as a separate appendix merged into a single PDF file.

• Describe how well the goals set have been achieved to date, and what goals are expected to be achieved during the ongoing grant period. Describe how the implementation of activities has been achieved to date, and what further activities are expected to be achieved during the ongoing grant period. Use the time plan (or Gantt chart) from the previous approved application as the basis for the description.
• Explain any divergence from the time plan. Describe also whether, and if so how, the infrastructure has absorbed the users’ needs for new or changed services and whether/how they have impacted on the development of the infrastructure.
• Based on the key figures, describe how the user base has developed during the grant period in relation to numbers and location.

Budget and research resources

See also “Summarised information about the application budget” (Please note: Updated 23 January 2023) Pdf, 322.6 kB, opens in new window. (Pdf, 322.6 kB)

Amount applied for

State the amount applied for from the Swedish Research Council for each year (the amounts shall correspond to what is stated in the budget template to be attached to the application, see under the heading “Budget” below). Please state the amounts in Swedish krona, rounded to the nearest 1 000 SEK.

For the subsidiary focus national infrastructure, the administrating organisation shall guarantee co-funding of a minimum of 50 per cent of the total budget. The overall budget (amount applied for from the Swedish Research Council and the co-funding) for the entire infrastructure shall be stated in the attached budget template.

Please note that 2024 is pre-selected as the start year in the form in Prisma and in the budget template. If the application is for a grant with a start date for payment in 2025, this must be stated in the budget template attached.

Budget

Attach the budget for the research infrastructure in Excel format.

Please use the budget template and state costs in thousands of Swedish krona (KSEK). Excel, 19 kB, opens in new window. (Excel, 19 kB)

Please note that we are requesting a total budget for the infrastructure. This means that all income shall be shown in the application, such as the grant applied for from the Swedish Research Council, contributions from the administrating organisation and any other participating organisation, grants from other funding bodies and user fees. This applies to all subsidiary focuses, irrespective of whether co-funding is required. The total cost for investment in and operation of the research infrastructure shall be stated in the budget, including indirect costs.

For an explanation of types of cost, please see Collected information about the application budget Pdf, 314.6 kB, opens in new window. (Pdf, 314.6 kB).

All costs in the application budget must be clearly linked to the modules described under the heading “2.4 Construction, development and operation of the infrastructure”.

The following headings (Table 1, Table 2, etc.) refer to tables shown in the budget template.

Table 1. Summary: Costs

State the total costs for each module. Each line in the table shall correspond to the total line for each module budget across all types of cost.

Table 2. Summary: Income – grants

Line 2.1 shows the amount of funding applied for from the Swedish Research Council.

The other budget lines in Table 2 show how much the administrating organisation and any consortium members intend to contribute to the research infrastructure. The contribution of each participating organisation shall be summarised.

Please state also other grants to the research infrastructure over and above the direct grants from the Swedish Research Council and consortium members. These may be contributions from other public and private funding bodies, the EU, other public agencies and/or direct government appropriations. Please note that, by signing the application, the administrating organisation guarantees funding at this level.

Table 3. Summary: Income – user fees

Please state any user fees divided up per module. Please note that, by signing the application, the administrating organisation guarantees funding at this level.

The total estimated income for the research infrastructure (Tables 2+3) shall correspond with the total estimated costs (total lines for “Tabell 1. (Table 1.) Sammanställning (Summary): Costs”).

Tables for the individual modules

• Please state all the costs for each module. Existing resources (including depreciation of equipment already acquired) that the administrating organisation or participating organisations make available to the research infrastructure shall not be included.
• Indirect costs shall be reported according to the SUHF model, but may be calculated differently for differing participating organisations. Please contact the HEI administrators for information about the local calculation model. The infrastructure’s management of indirect costs is described under the heading “Explanation of the budget”, see below.
• Costs attributable to new purchases, development, construction, installation and, as applicable, destruction of equipment shall always be reported as scientific equipment.

Costs for supporting e-infrastructure, training of users and in-service training of personnel at the research infrastructure shall be shown clearly, but applicants may choose whether the costs shall be included in existing modules or form modules of their own. Each budget line shall be attributable to its respective module in the appendix “Description of the research infrastructure and its activities”.

The total for each module is then transferred to Table 1.

Explanation of the budget

Explain and comment on the budget as you wish. Describe also briefly how the various participating organisations implement indirect costs.

The appendix may cover a maximum of 1 A4 page in Arial, font size 11, single line spacing.

Key references

Use headings to mark which key references correspond to a specific question in the call text. Begin each heading with an asterisk (*) according to the example: *Example of key references describing scientifically prominent research enabled by the infrastructure”.

The appendix shall include a maximum of 20 key references (references to publications, CVs and patents) for the application, and may cover a maximum of 5 A4 pages in Arial, font size 11, single line spacing. Please note that CVs shall only be attached in the event Swedish researchers are contributing scientifically to the build-up, upgrade and/or operation of the infrastructure, for example in kind or similar.

Letter of support

Attach letters of support (confirmation of undertakings) from any consortium members.
A template for letters of support can be found here (Please note! Updated 23 January 2023. Only in Swedish) . Word, 21.9 kB, opens in new window. (Word, 21.9 kB)
If several letters of support are to be attached, they must be merged into a single PDF file.

Administrating organisation

Under this tab, please state the research infrastructure’s project site.

Review panels

This needs to be entered in order for the application to be submitted but it does not affect how your application is assessed. Make sure that at least "Review panel 1" has a group selected.

Participants

Here the person invited to be the project leader for the application may invite participating administrators. Please note that participating researchers may not be invited in this application.

The Swedish Research Council supports research infrastructure of national interest. The infrastructure must be scientifically justified, openly accessible to research of the highest scientific quality, and have long-term funding and an organisation that is established with Swedish higher education institutions. These different aspects are assessed in the review of applications for grants to infrastructure in 2023.

Assessment process

The Council for Research Infrastructures (RFI) allocates funds to build up and operate research infrastructure.

All applications, with the exception of those for ”additional grant” (see below) are reviewed both by an international review panel and also by RFI’s advisory groups (RÅG). The international review panel consists of experts who have a broad perspective on research infrastructure and can put the Swedish applications into a larger, global perspective. RFI’s advisory groups (RÅGs A, B, C, and the associated e-infrastructure committee) review applications within each group’s research field. The advisory groups assess the applications in two stages, firstly by reviewing the applications, and secondly by sending out supplementary questions, where applicants have the opportunity to answer the advisory group’s questions. In connection with a formal budget review, the Swedish Research Council may ask the applicant for clarifications about specific budget items.

The Swedish Research Council’s scientific councils and committees also review the applications within their respective areas, and give a written statement on the scientific value of the described infrastructure for Swedish research.

The advisory groups then make a summarising assessment and prioritise the applications, based on the statements from the scientific councils and committees, the international panel, and their own scientific and organisational considerations, as well as various national strategic aspects. The e-infrastructure committee discusses e-infrastructure aspects in the applications, which the advisory groups weigh into their assessment.

Advisory groups RFI Opens in new window.

The assessment of applications relating to “additional grant” (applied for within the framework for “grant to infrastructure of national interest”) is done by RFI’s advisory groups.

Based on the documentation from the review process outlined above, RFI then makes a decision to start dialogues with the infrastructures it intends to support. The names of these infrastructures are published in October at the latest. Thereafter, the Swedish Research Council conducts a dialogue with the administrating organisation of each of the infrastructures to be supported, concerning factors such as the content of the modules and follow-up of the infrastructure’s operation. Based on this dialogue, the Swedish Research Council then makes a final decision, including a set amount of funding and special terms and conditions for the infrastructures awarded a grant. All grant applicants will get access to their final statement from RFI as well as the final statement from the international review panel.

The framework for the call must be fulfilled in order for the organisation to be qualified to apply for the grant. We carry out checks to ensure unqualified applications are rejected from further processing. If an application is not completed according to the instructions, this will be weighed into the assessment of the application.

Assessment criteria and guiding questions

The assessment of applications for “grant to infrastructure of national interest” is done using ten criteria. The purpose of using several components is to achieve a multi-faceted evaluation. The criteria marked with an asterisk are used for assessing applications relating to “additional grant”. The criteria are assessed on a seven-grade scale, with the exception of the criteria for national interest, socio-economic benefit, and e-infrastructure, which are assessed on a three-grade scale.

For each criterion, there are guiding questions to support the panel members’ assessment of your application. These can also function as guidance for you when you write your application.

National interest (1-3)

To which extent does the infrastructure fulfil, or has the potential to do so in the near future, the Swedish Research Council’s criteria for research infrastructures of national interest?

Ethical considerations* (text only)

Where applicable, comment on any ethical considerations that have not been adequately dealt with in the application.

Scientific impact* (1-7)

For assessing the scientific impact of the infrastructure, following aspects should be addressed:

• Does the proposed research infrastructure answer to the need stated in the call
• Does the research infrastructure provide state-of-the-art capabilities for advancing research?
• Is there a sufficiently broad and sustainable scientific user base/potential users
• How does the research infrastructure compare to similar infrastructures in other countries and/or international infrastructures?
• Are there any other cost-efficient alternatives that would satisfy the identified need (i.e. that would make the proposed research infrastructure less urgent)
• Where applicable, can the Swedish research community contribute with any specific competence that is needed to develop the infrastructure/research area?

Socio-economic impact* (1-3)

An assessment of the infrastructure’s contribution to society put in relation to what could be expected of an infrastructure active in its specific field. Assess its ability to provide benefits that are utilised outside academic research, including the UN global sustainable development goals as well as the Swedish innovation eco-system and economic impact. For assessing the socio-economic impact of the infrastructure, one or several of the following aspects should be addressed:

• Long-term benefits: To what extent will the output from the infrastructure benefit society?
• Non-academic usage: Are there possibilities of societal and/or commercial usage of the infrastructure?
• Applicable solutions: Are there technical or other solutions that are directly transferrable to society or industry?
• Direct return of investments: Are there opportunities for Swedish enterprise and innovation in the design, construction or provision of services towards the infrastructure?

Implementation, leadership and organisation (1-7)

An assessment of the implementation and organisation of the infrastructure. For international infrastructures, the proposed organisation of the Swedish national coordination and Sweden’s role within the international organisation should also be assessed. The following aspects should be addressed:

• Is the proposed implementation plan appropriate and feasible?
• Is the proposed organisational structure of the infrastructure adequate to enable cost-efficiency and streamlining of activities?
• Is the management structure appropriate and cost efficient, and are the responsibilities of the partners clearly defined?
• Does the organisation possess the necessary competence in terms of scientific/strategic aspects and management?
• Is the support from the partners, both in terms of funding and personnel, relevant, at an appropriate level and sufficiently secured?
• Will present and potential future users be appropriately served in terms of availability of resources, support functions and communication of necessary information?
• Are the potential risks properly assessed?
• Where applicable, are relevant collaborations with other infrastructures sufficiently described?

Consortium (text only)

An assessment of whether organisation as a consortium is appropriate for the fulfilment of the needs stated in the call.

• Is the suggested form (consortium or not) appropriate for fulfilling the needs?
• In case of consortium: Are all organisations relevant for the infrastructure part of the consortium? Are there less relevant partners involved that could be excluded?

E-infrastructure (1-3)

An assessment of whether the data management and policy are adequate for the objectives of the infrastructure, are in line with international standards and if the e-infrastructure (hardware and software) needs are properly addressed. The following aspects should be addressed:

• Does the infrastructure have an appropriate data policy and plan for data management in place?
• Are the technical solutions for e-infrastructure appropriate? E.g. access, analysis, active data storage and data management.
• Is there sufficient support for users in terms of software, user-specific tool development, and database solutions at the infrastructure or collaborating partners?
• Is there readiness to handle the growing need for e-infrastructure and related support functions in the coming 5-10 years?
• Where applicable, has the infrastructure consulted and coordinated with other infrastructures to ensure that necessary e-infrastructure is available for its users? E.g. NAISS, Sunet, SND.

Prioritisation between functionalities/modules (text only)

Consider how each module contributes to the scientific goals and if the budget for each module is reasonable and cost effective.

• Which modules are identified as Central or Highly relevant?
• Can any modules be identified as Relevant or Less relevant?
• Is the budget for each module reasonable and cost effective for the described activities e.g. in terms of personnel, equipment etc?
  

Description:

Central – The module is a crucial component for the infrastructure to meet the needs identified in the call. Without this module the proposed infrastructure cannot operate.

Highly relevant - The module contributes significantly to meet the identified needs and is very important for the scientific impact of the proposed infrastructure.

Relevant – The module is a relevant component that contributes to meet the needs within the research area but is not a prerequisite for the functioning or for the scientific impact of the infrastructure

Less relevant – The module does not bring significant benefits, is unlikely to be widely used and/or there are other existing, more adequate and/or cost effective solutions.

Previous performance (1-7) (Only applicable to already existing infrastructures with ongoing grant from SRC)

• Has the implementation and development of the infrastructure progressed according to plan? Where applicable, are deviations from the plan well described and motivated?
• Is it plausible that the infrastructure will reach its goals at the end of the current granting period?
• How has the user base developed during the current grant period regarding number and affiliation of users?

Given the above, does the infrastructure provide adequate and competitive services facilitating excellent research?

Overall grade and final comment* (1-7)

Make a non-numerical compilation of the criteria above, resulting in a final grade (1-7), and give a summary statement of the application, which acknowledges the most important aspects. Please also comment on any significant benefits, obstacles or risks with the infrastructure, not already listed above, which need to be addressed.