Do you run a limited company or an economic association and are in an innovation phase? Then there is now the chance to take part in Innovation Checks of up to SEK 100,000 and infrastructure checks of up to SEK 400,000.
The checks have been initiated by Vinnova to strengthen the innovation capacity and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises. Below you can read more about how to apply, what the conditions are and what you can use the checks for.
What is an innovation voucher?
An innovation voucher is used to strengthen your company's innovation capacity and thus competitiveness. Up to the ceiling amount, it is possible to combine efforts of different check types, for example to first use an infrastructure check and then a business development check if they relate to the same project in the company.
The checks fund external expertise in three different areas:
- Business development: validating and verifying the commercial and technical conditions for the development and exploitation of an innovation idea that the company has.
- Infrastructure: Access to labs, test beds, test and demo facilities, production facilities and similar infrastructure, needed to verify and validate various production and development critical features. It also includes computing capacity, major IT infrastructure.
- Intangible assets (IP): Develop a strategy for the company's intangible assets with a focus on improving sustainable competitiveness and new value creation in the company.
Who can benefit from cheques?
To be a suitable check candidate, the following criteria need to be met:
- Meets the EU definition of small and medium-sized enterprises: a. Medium-sized enterprises are defined as enterprises with fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover not exceeding SEK 500 million or a balance sheet total not exceeding SEK 430 million. b. Small enterprises are defined as enterprises with fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total not exceeding SEK 100 million.
- Your company must be a limited company or an economic association. Grants are only awarded to Swedish companies. Foreign companies that have a branch or place of business in Sweden where the costs of the project are recorded.
- Your company is in an innovation phase or, with the help of the innovation voucher, is about to embark on an innovation development process that will enhance your company's value creation and competitiveness.
- The check project should include activities that drive sustainability and the 2030 Agenda in the company's processes, operations and value creation.
- The company contributes to the equal development of society. a. Both women and men have equal influence over the company. Influence refers to representation on the board of directors and management. b. The second perspective is to analyze and decide whether there are gender equality aspects (sex and/or gender) that are relevant in the area in which the check is intended to be used.
How do I benefit from innovation vouchers?
In Dalarna, Jörgen Steen is the contact person for the innovation checks. You can find his contact details below.
Contact details for Jörgen Steen
More about the different innovation vouchers
The Business Development Check allows companies to determine the potential of an innovation idea. This may involve, for example, investigating and validating customer demand, market size, business model and other commercial uncertainties. It can also be about business renewal in terms of, for example, testing new materials in existing products that have a lower climate impact and thus contribute to achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda or developing a circular business model. The business development check must be used to purchase external knowledge from research institutes, universities, colleges or private actors.
Infrastructure vouchers allow companies to test, for example, scale-up or technical validation through access to labs, test beds, test and demo facilities, production facilities, etc. This includes computing capacity, database. Infrastructure vouchers must be used to purchase the opportunity to investigate and test technology and upscaling, etc. that the infrastructures allow.
The IP Check is designed to enable companies to develop a strategy for managing their intangible assets. Developing an IP strategy should include, but does not have to cover, all the steps in Vinnova's process description for developing an IP strategy. Step A: Identification of ownership issues, B: Business environment analysis and C: Development of strategy and implementation plan. The IP check will thus be used to purchase external expertise to develop an IP strategy. Before a company is granted an IP check, the company must also complete PRV's course "Business strategy management of intangible assets". The course fee may be paid via the IP check. Read more about IP checks in a separate info sheet.
Examples of what can NOT be financed by an innovation voucher:
- Costs that are deemed to be part of the organization's regular work, such as outreach to businesses and dialogue with other actors
- Ongoing ordinary activities, R&D or similar
- Projects where the main focus is on patents or a freedom to operate (FTO)
- Costs of working on a patent application, including patent registration, fees for e.g. trademark, design, etc.
- The IP Check is designed to help companies develop a strategy for managing their intellectual property.
