T&C – Terms and conditions for our grants 

Previous years' general terms and conditions can be found at the bottom of the page.

The Swedish Research Council’s general terms and conditions for funding awarded to research and research-supporting activities

The terms and conditions were adopted by the Swedish Research Council on 31 January 2022. The terms and conditions apply for decisions to award funding made as from 31 January 2022. The terms and conditions shall be applied unless otherwise follows from the decision to award funding or from specific terms and conditions. In the event of a conflict between the general terms and conditions and specific terms and conditions issued for a decision, the specific terms and conditions shall take precedence.

Definitions

In these terms and conditions, the following definitions are used with the meaning stated below.

Administrating organisation: A legal entity approved by the Swedish Research Council as a recipient of research funding awarded.

Applicant: A physical person (project leader) or legal entity who has applied for funding from the Swedish Research Council and is responsible for planning and implementing activities according to the approved application.

Activity: The research or research-supporting activity covered by the Swedish Research Council’s decision to award funding.

Terms and conditions: These general terms and conditions and the specific terms and conditions that follow from a decision or call text.

1. About the Swedish Research Council’s decisions and terms and conditions

1.1 Approval of terms and conditions

The Swedish Research Council’s decision to award funding applies on condition that the administrating organisation and applicant agree to the terms and conditions according to the Swedish Research Council’s instructions.

1.2 Responsibility to comply with terms and conditions

The administrating organisation and applicant are responsible for complying with the terms and conditions. If the administrating organisation is also the applicant, the administrating organisation is responsible for complying with the terms and conditions in both these capacities.

1.3 Period of validity of terms and conditions

The terms and conditions are valid as from their approval up to and including the date when final reports have been received by the Swedish Research Council or, as applicable, unused funds have been repaid and the case has been closed.

1.4 Changed preconditions for the Swedish Research Council’s funding allocation

The Swedish Research Council may change its decision to award funding if the Swedish Research Council’s Government appropriation is not as large as the amount the decision was based on, or if the preconditions for the Swedish Research Council’s allocation of funding is changed in some other way.

2. Implementation

2.1 Implementation according to the decision and the terms and conditions

The administrating organisation and applicant are responsible for ensuring activities are implemented according to the Swedish Research Council’s decision and the terms and conditions.

2.2 Implementation according to legislation as applicable in Sweden

The administrating organisation and applicant are responsible for ensuring activities are implemented according to legislation as applicable in Sweden.

2.3 Implementation according to the application

The applicant is responsible for ensuring activities are implemented as described in the application to Swedish Research Council. The responsibility includes planning and conducting activities mainly according to the application and plan for implementation submitted. Necessary adjustments may be approved if the funding awarded is less than the amount applied for, or if the grant period awarded is shorter than stated in the application.

2.4 Scientific responsibility

If the activities include research, the applicant has scientific responsibility for the implementation of the research in respect of object and method. As scientifically responsible, the applicant is responsible for ensuring the research is implemented according to the application and research plan as stated in Section 2.3.

As scientifically responsible, the applicant shall also

• ensure that the research is implemented according to good research practice
• ensure that the permits and approvals required have been obtained before the research is started. These may include permits from the Swedish Medical Products Agency or approval from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority or an ethical committee on animal experiments.
• submit scientific reports according to the Swedish Research Council’s instructions and
• publish the results of the research according to the Swedish Research Council’s instructions and terms and conditions (see Section 3.1).

2.5 Organisational responsibility

The administrating organisation is responsible for ensuring there is a fit-for-purpose organisation for implementing the activities.

The responsibility includes

• in its capacity as employer, ensuring that the personnel involved, including the project leader, are able to use their working hours to the extent required to implement the activities according to the approved application which also includes publishing the results
• ensuring the personnel involved have access to premises, equipment and other resources required to implement the activities, and
• ensuring that the permits and approvals required have been obtained before the activities are started.

If the activities include research, the administrating organisation is also responsible for ensuring that

• the research is implemented according to good research practice
• the research does not have commercial ties that affect its objectivity, independence or openness, and
• a data management plan is drawn up before the research starts, and that the plan is maintained and complied with.

2.6 Reporting on implementation

The applicant is responsible for submitting reporting on the implementation of activities according to the Swedish Research Council’s instructions.

2.7 Employment relationship

If the applicant is a physical person, they shall be employed by the administrating organisation stated in the decision to award funding, or another approved administrating organisation after an application to change has been approved by the Swedish Research Council. The employment relationship shall exist at the start of the grant payment period and then last throughout the payment period and any further availability period.

An exception from the requirement to be employed by the administrating organisation may be allowed, after approval by the Swedish Research Council, for applicants employed by a Swedish region but where activities are implemented at an other administrating organisation, or otherwise where the Swedish Research Council on application allows an exception.

2.8 Equipment

The administrating organisation shall be the owner of the equipment and other fixtures and fittings procured for the activities. The equipment shall be used for the activities for as long as they are conducted.

In the event of early termination of the activities, the Swedish Research Council may agree with the administrating organisation that equipment procured with the support of funding awarded by the Swedish Research Council shall be transferred to the Swedish Research Council or to another administrating organisation.

2.9 Changed preconditions for implementation

The administrating organisation and applicant shall inform the Swedish Research Council without delay if circumstances arise that entail the activities cannot be implemented within the availability period according to what follows from the application, grant decision, or terms and conditions. The same applies if equipment, for which purchase funding has been awarded, cannot be procured. In this case, the administrating organisation shall also report how the activities are affected by the equipment being impossible to procure.

2.10 Changing administrating organisations

If the activities can no longer be implemented at the administrating organisation due to changed circumstances, the Swedish Research Council may, on application from the administrating organisation and applicant, assess the issue of changing administrating organisations. The corresponding applies if the applicant is changing employers to another approved administrating organisation. An application to change administrating organisations shall be made in consultation with the administrating organisations involved.

2.11 Changing project leaders

If the activities can no longer be implemented due to changed circumstances for the project leader, the Swedish Research Council may on application approve a change of project leaders. The Swedish Research Council’s decisions shall, if possible, be preceded by consultation with the project leaders.

2.12 Other funding

A precondition for the Swedish Research Council’s decision is that the administrating organisation or applicant have not already received or will receive other funding for the same costs and purpose.

If other funding is awarded for the same costs and purpose, the administrating organisation and applicant must without delay notify the Swedish Research Council of this. The notice shall state what the overall funding for the purpose is, how the preconditions for the application the Swedish Research Council’s decision was based on have been affected, and also to what extent other funding may impact on the implementation of the activities. The notice shall also describe any impact on the analysis, interpretation or reporting of the results, and also who will dispose of these.

The Swedish Research Council may change a decision to award funding on the basis of information about other funding.

3. Publication and dissemination of results and information

3.1 Publication of results

The applicant is responsible for ensuring the results of activities are published according to the Swedish Research Council’s instructions. The obligation to publish results only applies to the extent the publication may be done according to legislation as applicable in Sweden.

The results of research shall be published in scientific journals and books with national and international reach, or be made available in another corresponding way.

An agreement with a commercial actor or other stakeholder must not limit the opportunities to publish the results of research carried out with funding from the Swedish Research Council. Nor may such an agreement delay publication by more than two months. However, the delay may amount to at most four months if the purpose is to enable a patent application based, wholly or partly, on the research results referred to above.

Research results shall be published according to the Swedish Research Council’s policy for open access to publications.

The applicant is also responsible for ensuring research results of general interest are disseminated to recipients outside the research community.

3.2 Information about the Swedish Research Council’s funding

When publishing or otherwise disseminating results, the applicant is responsible for ensuring it is stated that the activities were conducted with funding awarded by the Swedish Research Council. When publishing original scientific articles, the name “Swedish Research Council” and the registration number of the application to the Swedish Research Council shall be stated under the heading “Acknowledgements” or corresponding.

3.3 The Swedish Research Council’s right to disseminate data

The Swedish Research Council may reproduce and disseminate whole or parts of reports from activities submitted to the Swedish Research Council, and also otherwise make available information about the activities.

4. Payment and use of the funding

4.1 Payment and availability period

The funding is paid out to the administrating organisation. The administrating organisation is responsible for receiving and administering the funding.

The decision to award funding states the period during which the funds will be paid out (the ‘payment period’). Unless the decision states otherwise, the funding may be used for one additional year after the end of the payment period.

If special reasons exist, and following application, an extension of the period during which funding paid out is available may be allowed.

Such an application shall be submitted by the applicant and, as applicable, be approved by the administrating organisation via the Swedish Research Council’s application system after the end of the payment period, but no later than 60 calendar days before the end of the availability period.

4.2 Use of the funding

Funding awarded shall be used to cover costs for implementing the activities according to the terms and conditions and mainly in the way stated in the application, however with such adjustments as may be required if the funding awarded is less than the amount applied for, or the grant period is shorter. For more major changes to the use of the funding, approval by the Swedish Research Council is required. A ‘major change’ refers to a change in the cost type of more than 25 per cent of the amount awarded, and entails a change that amounts to no less than 500 000 SEK, in relation to the entire grant period. Such as request shall be made by the administrating organisation and the applicant in conjunction with the need for the change arising.

The funding covers direct costs and indirect costs as a percentage of the direct costs, according to the cost basis decided on by the administrating organisation.

Funding awarded may only be used for annual depreciation costs for equipment during the period when the funding is available.

The funding awarded may not be used

• for scholarships
• for costs that are not directly related to implementing the activities, as described in the application
• to co-fund projects funded by grants from other research funding bodies, or
• for economic activities within the administrating organisation.
  

5. Financial reporting

5.1 Annual financial report

The administrating organisation shall submit an annual financial report to the Swedish Research Council. The financial report shall be submitted according to the Swedish Research Council’s instructions.

The Swedish Research Council does not accept costs that are not directly related to implementing the activities, as described in the application.

5.2 Final financial report

The administrating organisation shall submit a final financial report no later than three months after the end of the availability period. The financial report shall be submitted according to the Swedish Research Council’s instructions. The Swedish Research Council may decide that the financial report shall be submitted at another time.

The Swedish Research Council does not accept costs that are not directly related to implementing the activities, as described in the application.

5.3 Final financial report if funding is discontinued or the activities are terminated early

If the Swedish Research Council decides that the funding shall be discontinued or if the activities are terminated early, the administrating organisation shall submit a final financial report to the Swedish Research Council within 30 days. The time is calculated from the day the activities were terminated early or the day the Swedish Research Council decided to discontinue the payment of funding. The Swedish Research Council may decide that the financial report shall be submitted at another time.

5.4 Final financial report after changing administrating organisations

If the Swedish Research Council has decided on a change of administration organisations, the retiring administrating organisation shall submit a final financial report to the Swedish Research Council within 30 days after the Swedish Research Council’s decision.

5.5 Repayment of unused funding

Unused funding accounted for in the final financial report shall be repaid to the Swedish Research Council within 30 days after the final financial report was submitted via the Swedish Research Council’s application system.

Unused funding corresponding to less than one half of a price base amount for the year the final report is submitted may be retained on condition that it can be used for purposes similar to that of the grant. If the unused funding exceeds one half of a price base amount, it must be repaid in its entirety.

6. Follow-up and audit

6.1 Providing information for follow-up, etc.

The administrating organisation and the applicant shall provide the information requested by the Swedish Research Council in conjunction with follow-up and evaluation of the activities, both during and after the payment period.

If the activities include research, the administrating organisation and the applicant shall if requested also give the Swedish Research Council access to the complete research material and research documentation, for scientific review.

Accounts and reports relating to the activities funded by the Swedish Research Council shall be submitted according in the order stated in the decision to award funding, or when the Swedish Research Council so requests.

6.2 Audit

An auditor or corresponding appointed by the Swedish Research Council is entitled to scrutinise the book-keeping and reporting relating to the activities awarded funding by the Swedish Research Council. For this purpose, the administrating organisation shall give the person conducting the audit full insight, for example by supplying copies of all verifications relating to expenses and income attributable to the activities.

7. Actions if terms and conditions are not complied with

7.1 Demand to comply with terms and conditions and action plan

If the administrating organisation or applicant disregards or otherwise fails to comply with terms and conditions, and the failure cannot easily be corrected, the Swedish Research Council may require correction within a certain time. The Swedish Research Council may also require that the administrating organisation or applicant submits an action plan describing when and how the terms and conditions will be complied with. The Swedish Research Council will evaluate whether the action plan can be approved, or whether the funding shall no longer be paid out.

7.2 Decision to discontinue payment of funding

The Swedish Research Council may decide to discontinue the payment of funding wholly or partly if

• there are no preconditions for implementing the activities according to the application, decision, or terms and conditions
• the applicant or the administrating organisation caused the funding to be awarded incorrectly or in too high an amount, through providing incorrect information or in some other way
• the funding was awarded incorrectly or in too high an amount for some other reason, and the administrating organisation or applicant should have realised this
• the applicant, or another person participating in the implementation of the activities, has been found guilty of scientific misconduct according to the Act on responsibility for good research practice and the examination of research misconduct (SFS 2019:504), or in some other way has not complied with good research practice
• the applicant, in or in conjunction with the research, through actions or otherwise has shown themselves to be an unsuitable recipient of funding from the Swedish Research Council, or
• the terms and conditions have not been complied with in some other way, and the failure cannot easily be corrected.