Funder requirements for collaboration

Different requirements, different ways of preparing

What funding bodies mean with collaboration and societal relevance can vary. This affects both how you design your project and how you write your application. This can apply to: 

• The project’s design. Some calls require you to have collaboration partners in place from the start. Others place greater emphasis on the real-world impact of results, and collaboration can be an effective way of achieving this.
• Assessment. It varies how strongly collaboration is weighed in assessments – from a formal requirement to something that can improve your application if you deal with it well.

How government funding bodies view collaboration

Swedish Energy Agency

The Swedish Energy Agency funds research in energy, climate and sustainability. In many of their calls, you will need to collaborate with different stakeholders to ensure that the project has societal relevance and that the results have real-world impact.

• Describe which stakeholders you collaborate with and why they are relevant.
• Explain how you involve them in the project – for example, through reference groups or joint development.
• Show how the results can be used by industry, the public sector or other end users.
• Remember that the Swedish Energy Agency emphasises implementation. 

Carefully read through your chosen call at the Swedish Energy Agency

Formas

Formas funds research for sustainable development within the environment, agricultural sciences and spatial planning. In addition to scientific quality, they place great importance on the societal relevance of the research and how the project is designed while considering the needs of different stakeholders.

• Describe how your research can influence policies, businesses or society at large.
• Explain how you regularly collaborate with stakeholders, such as through workshops or advisory groups.
• Specify how you will communicate and disseminate your results outside of academia.
• In some calls, collaboration is a requirement. In others, it is encouraged as a way to enhance real-world impact, such as through co-design or co-creation, where you plan and develop the project together with stakeholders.

Read Formas’ tips for writing your application

Forte

Forte funds research within health, working life and welfare. They want to see that the research is relevant and can be practically used. 

• Identify the civil and public organisations that could benefit from your research and show how you involve them. 
• Describe how you plan to disseminate the results, such as through reports, policy briefs or seminars.
• Explain how you intend to ensure that the research has real-world impact.
• Forte encourages collaboration in all parts of the research process, from problem formulation to dissemination.

Find out more about the assessment criteria on Forte’s website

Vinnova

As Sweden’s innovation agency, Vinnova focuses on needs-driven research and innovation. They like to see concrete collaborations between multiple parties.

• Describe your partners and the role they play in the project.
• Describe how you develop, test or implement solutions together.
• Explain how your research can contribute to innovation and long-term benefit, such as through new services, products or working methods.

Find out more in Vinnova’s step-by-step guide

Suggestions for a stronger application

• Adapt your application to the funding body’s requirements, both in terms of collaboration and communication.
• Plan for collaboration from the initial project idea and show how it will improve the research.
• Clearly describe which external actors you want to involve and why.
• Show how you intend to disseminate and put the results into practice.
• Look at examples from previously awarded projects for inspiration.