Applying for a grant for research infrastructure

The Swedish Research Council funds research infrastructure of national interest within all fields of science. Here you can read how the process works – from our inventory of needs for new research infrastructure, via our call for proposals, to the grant decision. The whole process takes around two years.

1. We inventory the needs

Every two years, the Swedish Research Council conducts an inventory to capture new needs for research infrastructure of national interest. The proposals we are looking for shall relate to:

  • Needs for entirely new research infrastructure.
  • Needs for bringing together and significantly developing existing resources into a research infrastructure. All component parts shall be of national interest, and the bringing together of them shall result in clear added value for research within the field.
  • Needs for comprehensive development within existing infrastructures with funding from the Swedish Research Council. The aim shall be to create a significant change to the scientific production or the technical approach. Routine maintenance or gradual improvements shall not be included.
  • Needs for new international research infrastructure – both needs for Swedish participation in the build-up of new international research infrastructure and for Swedish membership of existing research infrastructure.
  • Needs for development within existing research infrastructures with ongoing funding from the Swedish Research Council and which plan to apply for continued funding in the next call for funding.

The inventory is aimed at higher education institutions, public authorities with research responsibility, research funding bodies and researcher teams.

Once the inventory is completed, we start our assessment and prioritisation of the proposals.

2. We assess and prioritise the proposals

The Swedish Research Council’s Council for Research Infrastructures (RFI) has three advisory groups and one e-infrastructure committee that review and prioritise the proposals from the needs inventory. Ahead of the assessment, the groups consult the Swedish Research Council’s scientific councils and committees involved. They also conduct a dialogue with the Universities’ Reference Group for Research Infrastructures (URFI).

The proposals for new needs for research infrastructure are assessed based on their scientific quality and strategic/national value. They are divided up into seven categories, from A1 to X, where A1 covers areas with the highest priority. A description of the high priority areas (Categories A1–A3) are presented in the publication Results of the needs inventory. 

It is only the areas in Category A1 that may be considered in the next call. Other areas may be considered only after the next needs inventory. The proposals must then be resubmitted.

A1

Relevant for consideration as infrastructure of national interest, ready for call.

A2

Relevant for consideration as infrastructure of national interest, but funding currently not prioritised by the Swedish Research Council.

A3

Relevant for consideration as infrastructure of national interest, not ready for call.

3. We issue a call for grant proposals

The Council for Research Infrastructures, RFI, decides on which high priority areas (A1) will go forward to the next stage – the call for proposals for research infrastructure. That an area has been categorised as A1 is therefore a prerequisite, but not a guarantee, for being included in the call.

It is also possible to apply for a grant for a research infrastructure that has an ongoing grant that is ending during the same or next year as the call.

Apply for a grant for national research infrastructure

If you are applying for a grant for national infrastructure, it is desirable, but not a requirement, to represent a consortium including several higher education institutions or other organisations. You can apply for a grant for a maximum of six years, and the Swedish Research Council can contribute up to 50 per cent of the overall budget.

Apply for a grant for international research infrastructure

If you are applying for a grant for international infrastructure, you do not have to represent a consortium. However, we still prefer that several higher education institutions contribute with a major engagement. This can make the membership of the international research infrastructure more valuable to Swedish research.

Time plan

The needs inventory and subsequent call for applications constitute a process that covers two years in total.

Autumn year 1, odd years – needs inventory

The Swedish Research Council gathers in proposals to inventory the needs for new research infrastructure.

Spring year 2 – prioritising the proposals from the inventory

RFI decides which proposals will be prioritised, based on the needs inventory.

Autumn year 2 – publication of list of prioritised research infrastructure

We publish Results of the needs inventory, a publication which includes detailed descriptions of the areas and research infrastructures given the highest priority.

In connection with this, we publish a complete list of the areas and existing infrastructures entitled to apply in the upcoming call. The decision on which areas/infrastructures to include in the call is made by RFI.

Spring year 3 – call for proposals

The call is open.

Autumn year 3 – grant decision

RFI decides which research infrastructures will receive a grant.

Autumn year 3 – needs inventory

The Swedish Research Council carries out another needs inventory – and then the process starts again.

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