Innovation grants

About the grant

The innovation grant is aimed at companies with headquarters in Norrbotten County that want to develop innovations in the form of completely new or significantly improved products, services or processes. The innovation must be verified by an independent party through novelty review or market overview, which is a mandatory attachment to the application. The grant can be co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The investment period must not exceed twelve months, but there is an option to apply for additional grants for longer projects in stages. The maximum grant is SEK 1.2 million or 40 percent of approved costs. Grants can be given for costs such as design and registration of intellectual property rights, feasibility studies, prototype development, experimental development, trial production (non-commercial), as well as salary costs for employees registered in Norrbotten with a maximum of SEK 250/hour and a maximum of 50 percent of total approved costs. Grants are not awarded for operating costs and are paid in arrears. Applications are made digitally via the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth's e-service My Application and require several mandatory attachments such as business plan, annual reports, profit budget, registration certificate, documentation of sustainability work, salary survey and quotes. The grant is assessed based on sustainability, connection to regional strategies and regulations, as well as the company's needs and effects of the investment.

Requirements

• The company must have its headquarters in Norrbotten County.
• The innovation must be new or significantly improved and verified by an independent party.
• Active sustainability work must be demonstrated, for example through the Sustainability Dialogue with Almi.
• The investment period must not exceed twelve months per application.
• Mandatory attachments must be included with the application, including business plan, annual reports, profit budget, registration certificate, documentation of sustainability work, salary survey and quotes.
• Support for salary costs may only concern employees registered in Norrbotten and a maximum of 250 SEK/hour as well as a maximum of 50% of approved costs.
• The investment must not commence before the application has been submitted.
• Necessary permits must be obtained before the investment begins.
• Support is not granted for operating costs.
• The remaining financing must be in the form of equity, private investors, bank or non-public financing and be verifiable.
• Salaries and employment benefits must be at least equivalent to the applicable collective agreement.
• Quotations must be attached according to instructions, with a requirement for competitive tendering for major cost items.

What types of project are suitable?

Source

Frequently asked questions about Innovation grants

Quick answers to what people ask most about this grant.