Global Innovation Accelerator
Accelerate an existing international market entry for a sustainable-energy innovation, with tailored consultancy worth SEK 250,000 and a grant of up to SEK 250,000.
Esta oportunidade está atualmente disponível em inglês.
The accelerator helps Swedish-registered small and medium-sized companies expand innovations that support a fossil-free global energy system and lower greenhouse-gas emissions. It has no fixed geographic focus: you need a defined international market or target group and an expansion already under way.
Over approximately 12 months, you work with an agency-appointed business-development consultant to plan and carry out your expansion. Activities can include finding customers, investors and partners, legal advice and networking. This service is worth SEK 250,000. A separate cash grant of up to SEK 250,000 buys expertise that the appointed consultant cannot provide. You identify and contract that additional expert; they may be in Sweden but should preferably be in your target country. Participation is free, but you must commit staff time and resources.
Only actual, reasonable and auditable costs incurred by your company within the approved project period qualify. Keep them separate in your accounts. Bought services must be at market rates; services from related companies qualify only up to the underlying actual salary cost. VAT is covered only when it is a net cost to you. Finance uncovered costs and overruns yourself or with other financing; another organisation's unpaid contribution cannot cover costs that do not arise in your company. Declare other public or EU support for the same costs so combined aid stays within the applicable limits.
Eligibility
Your company must be a Swedish legal entity and a small or medium-sized enterprise. The innovation needs clear customer benefit, international business potential and scope for large-scale use. It must have reached at least Technology Readiness Level 8: a fully developed and verified system. If a non-technical innovation does not fit this scale, say so and explain its maturity clearly instead. Eligible innovation can include products, services, production processes, organisational changes, new markets for existing products or new materials.
Have an established market strategy, a scalable offering and enough people and finance to deliver it. You should already know the selected market and have moved beyond initial market introduction, aiming to close or approach a business deal during the programme. Selection considers maturity, energy and business potential, innovation, feasibility, gender equality and diversity; qualifying companies are interviewed.
The award uses one of two state-aid routes. Under de minimis, or small amounts of public aid, the ceiling is EUR 300,000 before tax over three years, including only aid granted as de minimis from all Swedish public funders and, where relevant, the whole company group. Declare previous aid. This route excludes primary production: growing crops or raising farm animals without processing that changes the products, and catching or farming aquatic organisms, including preparation on a vessel or aquaculture site for first sale (such as gutting, filleting or freezing) and that first sale. Supplying energy technology to these producers is not itself primary production. The route also excludes aid directly linked to export volumes, establishing or operating a distribution network, or other ongoing export expenses.
The alternative start-up route is for small companies no more than five years old, normally measured from registration, which have not distributed profits and are not officially stock-exchange-listed. Listing on a multilateral trading facility (MTF), an alternative securities-trading venue that brings together buyers and sellers rather than an official stock exchange, is allowed where at least 50% of admitted financial instruments are issued by small and medium-sized companies. The company must not have taken over another business, unless its turnover was less than 10% of the applicant's turnover in the preceding tax year. It must not have acquired another company or arisen through a merger, except where the acquired company's turnover was below that same 10% threshold, or the merged company's turnover is less than 10% above the merging companies' combined preceding-year turnover. A merger of companies individually eligible for this start-up aid can qualify for up to five years from the oldest company's registration. The whole group must meet the conditions. Primary agricultural production is excluded. Declare previous start-up aid; the general EUR 500,000 start-up grant ceiling is separate from GIA's much smaller offer.
How to apply
- Estado
- encerra 27/09/2026
- Abre
- Encerra
- Restrições da rodada
- Earliest project start: 1 November 2026. Programme duration is approximately 12 months.
Apply through the “Finansiering av forskning och innovation” service in Mina sidor. First request authority to represent your company; access can take a few days. Select “Global Innovation Accelerator 2026–2” and attach the completed “Ytterligare ansökningsfrågor” form and a certificate of previous de minimis or start-up aid. Decisions are planned for October 2026.
The agency may request clarifications and credit-check the company, partners, owners and board. Monitor Mina sidor for messages. The award decision sets payments; further payments may be withheld until at least 90% of earlier payments has been used. Report progress as required, and finish with a results report, financial statement and plan for continuing internationalisation after the programme.
Notify the agency promptly of other financing or material changes and seek approval for project changes. Cost-category transfers above 10% require an amendment when the amount also exceeds SEK 50,000. Keep evidence available for inspection; follow-up reports can be requested three times within ten years after completion. An auditor's certificate is required if specifically requested. Unused funding must be returned, and incorrect awards or breached conditions can trigger recovery.