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Applying for funding

Important aspects of the application

You can read about the process of applying for funding from the Knowledge Foundation here. The call for proposals for the respective programme will include detailed information on the objective and purpose of the programme, the formal requirements, assessment criteria, timescale, etc. If anything is unclear or if you have any questions, please contact the person responsible for the programme at our secretariat.

In accordance with our statutes, we fund research and competence development at second cycle or third cycle level at Sweden’s university colleges and newer universities. The Knowledge Foundation’s funding goes to the universities and is applied for by an operationally responsible project manager who will run the project in a stated research and educational environment at the university.

Programmes and calls for proposals

We offer a number of programmes for funding. Our ordinary programmes are announced regularly once a year to enable the universities to take a long-term, strategic approach in planning their applications.

In additional to these cyclical programmes, we also offer the KK-environment programme, which is a tool for strategy-driven development and profiling of academic environments in a selected area at a universities. The Knowledge Foundation may also issue specific calls for proposals.

Annual plan

Note! The plan for calls of proposals for the next three years given that the ongoing strategy work does not result in any major changes.

ProgrammeOpening dateClosing date
HögSeptemberNovember
ProspektSeptemberNovember
RekryteringarSeptemberNovember
AvansSeptemberNovember
ForskningsprofilSeptemberFebruary
SynergiSeptemberFebruary
FöretagsforskarskolorSeptemberFebruary
ExpertkompetensSeptemberFebruary

Terms and conditions

The different programmes set specific terms and conditions for an application, as described in the call for proposals concerned. However, a criterion for all the Knowledge Foundation’s programmes is that they must contribute to the development of strong research and educational environments within the university’s profiled areas.

Co-production

All projects funded by the Foundation must be designed in co-production between academia and the business sector. How the business sector is to participate in specific projects is described in detail in the call for proposals of the particular programme. Several programmes require that the contribution from business partners to the project must in total correspond to at least the same amount as that applied for from the Foundation. Co-funding business actors must fulfill the criteria of the Knowledge Foundation.

Criteria for co-financing business actors 

Open for all areas

The Knowledge Foundation’s calls for proposals are open to all scientific and artistic subject areas.

Who can apply?

We fund projects at Sweden’s university colleges and newer universities. Today, 22 higher education institutions are included in our target group.

  • Blekinge Institute of Technology
  • The Swedish National Defence College
  • The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences
  • Dalarna University
  • University of Borås
  • University of Gävle
  • Halmstad University
  • Jönköping University
  • Kristianstad University
  • University of Skövde
  • University West
  • Karlstad University
  • The University of Arts, Crafts and Design
  • The Royal Institute of Art
  • The Royal College of Music in Stockholm
  • Linnaeus University
  • Malmö University
  • Mid Sweden University
  • Mälardalen University
  • Stockholm University of the Arts
  • Södertörn University
  • Örebro University

Application process

1. Create an account

All applications to the Knowledge Foundation are submitted via our application system, SBS Manager. The application should be submitted by the project manager, who creates a personal account in the application system. It is important that you as the project manager create and administer the account, as you will then be linked to the project and to the reporting.

2. Structure your application

Once you have created an account and logged into the application system, you open a new application by clicking the Start a new application button.

Then choose the call for proposals/programme you want to apply to. Instructions for how to fill in the application are found in the application form in SBS Manager and in the call for proposals for the programme.

Remember that the application form and instructions may differ between different programmes and calls for proposals. Make sure that the application includes all the information and details requested, including appendices. You can update and add to your application up until the deadline.

3. Submit your application

Submit your application once you have uploaded all your information and appendices to the application system. If you need to amend an application that has already been submitted before the deadline, contact us at (info@kks.se).

Submitted applications cannot be amended after the application deadline. The application must be signed (digitally) by the project manager and the project owner. In some programmes, signature from the vice-chancellor are required.