Explore research grants
Grants for researchers at approved Swedish organisations to investigate new questions about emissions, climate impacts or adaptation.
Denne finansieringsmuligheten er foreløpig beskrevet på engelsk.
Choose your own research question within Formas’ environment, agricultural sciences or spatial-planning remit. Explore (Utforska in Swedish) supports basic and needs-driven research across disciplines. The project must make a clear, substantial contribution to that remit and explain its contribution to sustainable development. Climate research is one part of this broader offer.
The 2026 call funds exactly four years of work, starting on 1 September 2027. You must plan activities and costs throughout all 48 months. The grant can cover project salaries, equipment, materials, purchased services and travel, plus eligible shared costs such as administration. No co-financing is required.
Budget equipment only for its use in the project. If equipment is not used throughout the project’s life, only depreciation costs corresponding to that period are eligible. Salary funding cannot exceed a full-time salary for a participant; fully retired researchers cannot receive salary funding. Universities use their full-cost model for overheads. State-controlled research companies, foundations with government-appointed board members and government agencies required to conduct research may claim actual overheads up to 45% of eligible personnel costs for non-economic activities, provided they receive government funding for independent research. These organisations must account separately for economic activities, such as commissioned research. When they participate in the project with such activities, they may claim actual overheads up to 30% of eligible personnel costs. This 30% ceiling also applies to other project partners. Overheads cannot be calculated on equipment, depreciation or premises costs.
For a Weave collaboration, researchers in two or three countries submit a joint proposal and each national funder pays its own share. The SEK 5–6 million range applies to the Swedish share. In the 2026 call, Formas works with FWO in Belgium, FNR in Luxembourg, SNSF in Switzerland and the Research Council of Norway.
Eligibility
- You must have a doctorate awarded by 7 October 2022 to lead an application in 2026. Commit an average of at least 20% of a full-time position over the project. You must be employed by the approved Swedish organisation receiving and administering the grant from project start through completion and final reporting; you need not already be employed there when applying.
- The organisation must be approved for this call and for all types of Formas calls when you submit. Eligible hosts include Swedish universities and higher education institutions, approved research institutes and government agencies with research duties. Other organisations whose main activity is research require Formas’ approval.
- You may apply alone or include up to four participating researchers, in addition to the lead. These researchers must hold doctorates by the closing date. Other project staff may also participate. Participants normally need employment at an approved Swedish organisation. People employed elsewhere may participate with funding from other sources, including employer-funded working time.
- Research must be initiated and led from Sweden. Work by participants employed abroad must be justified. Funding for them may use no more than 15% of the requested grant on average over the project. They must work at a university or higher education institution; certain other organisations whose main activity is non-economic research may also be approved. Contact the call team well before applying for that approval. Purchased services are not counted as project participants.
- You can lead only one application. You cannot lead in 2026 if you lead an Explore, Career Grant, Annual Open Call or Mobility Grant project receiving payments in 2027. A remaining period for spending an earlier grant does not itself disqualify you if its payment period has ended. Withdraw any Career Grant 2026 application before leading an Explore 2026 application. Leading an Explore 2026 application also rules out leading a Career Grant 2027 application.
- Projects mainly developing technical solutions for energy extraction, conversion, transmission, storage or efficiency, or carbon capture with storage or use, are excluded. This includes their components, materials, models and control systems, including bio-based and nature-based technical solutions. Projects mainly applying existing research through development, testing, demonstration or implementation are also excluded.
- Do not request costs for activities or purposes already financed by Formas or another funder. Projects involving research collaboration with state or federal research institutions in Russia or Belarus cannot receive funding.
How to apply
- Status
- fristen er utløpt
- Åpner
- Søknadsfrist
- Vilkår for søknadsrunden
- Four-year projects starting on 1 September 2027.
Apply through Prisma using a personal account, select your approved grant-administering organisation and complete the project description, budget, academic profiles and CV information requested in the call. Write in English for the international review panel; the plain-language description must be Swedish and the summaries both Swedish and English. Your organisation must sign within seven calendar days after the call closes.
For Weave, follow the linked collaboration instructions: the joint proposal covers the whole project and all national budgets, while partners also submit to their own funders. When submitting through Explore, Formas assesses the joint proposal.
Funded projects report finances annually and submit financial and results reports three months after the spending period ends. Research results must be openly accessible, and a maintained data-management plan must exist before research starts. A project partner receiving at least SEK 3 million normally needs an auditor’s certificate; universities are normally exempt. Eligible certificate costs are capped at SEK 30,000 within the approved budget.