Call for Projects
– Spring 2023

Call and evaluation of project proposals

Swedish Electromobility Center is a node for research and development of electric transport and charging infrastructure. In this call we finance projects with time frame of 15 June 2023 – 31 December 2026.

Our driving force is the development of sustainable and energy efficient transportation. We perform industry relevant research and study different e-mobility technologies to assess their potential. Swedish Electromobility Centre is founded by the Swedish Energy Agency in partnership with Swedish industry and academia.
The Centre carries out research within five thematic areas. Here you can find more information about The five SEC theme areas.

Swedish Electromobility Centre finances three types of projects, see the document linked below, called “Project information”. In this call with time frame of 15 June 2023 – 31 December 2026 we will finance:

  • Prestudies with up to 200 000 SEK per project
  • Research projects <2 years max 1 MSEK/year
  • In addition, if you were granted new PhD-funding during SEC stage IV (≤3 MSEK) you have the possibility to apply for up to 1 MSEK, for a research project to complete the PhD.

Note: Each project application must be feasible without dependence on other applications.

The projects should be within the scope of one or more theme areas and contribute to the Centre as a whole. Therefore, prior to the project application, all applicants applying for a PhD project, and for a research project, are required to present their project idea in a theme area meeting prior to submitting the proposal, and all applicants for prestudies are recommended to discuss their project proposal with the relevant thematic area leader prior to submission. Below you can find the possible dates to discuss your project idea within the theme group.

Contact information to the theme leaders is accessible at the SEC homepage.

Theme 1 Intelligent Vehicles and Systems:
2 Feb at 10.00-12.00, 2 March at 10.00-12.00, 26 March at 10.00-12.00
Contact theme leader to provide meeting link

Theme 2 Electric Drives and Charging:
26 Jan at 10.00-12.00, 20 Feb at 13.00-15.00
Contact theme leader to provide meeting link

Theme 3 Energy Storage:
31 Jan at 13.00-15.00, 21 March at 13.00-15.00
Contact theme leader to provide meeting link

Theme 4 Environment and Society:
27 Feb at 08.30-10.00, 29 March at 08.30-10.00
Contact theme leader to provide meeting link

Theme 5 Vehicle-Grid Interaction:
2 Feb at 13.00-14.00, 7 March at 13.00-15.00
Contact theme leader to provide meeting link

Project participants are SEC partners and must include at least one industrial partner and one academic partner. The projects must be co-financed with a more or equal amount of in-kind from the partners as the amount of funding applied for from the SEC. All projects funded in this call must be finalized by the end of the year 2026 at the latest. Please contact industrial partners early in the application process, since the industry needs time to anchor internally.

  • The general evaluation criteria for projects are listed below. For further information concerning the evaluation process, see the document linked below, called “Project application evaluation”.
  • For PhD projects, the proposal must have been presented at a theme area meeting prior to submitting the application
  • For prestudies, it is recommended that the proposal have been discussed with the theme area leader prior to submitting the application
  • Relevance for the Centre
  • Contribute to the SEC objectives and KPIs (incl. gender equality)
  • Contribute to the fulfillment of the theme roadmap
  • Quality of the application (make sure you have the latest version of the template)
  • Beneficial for the industry and academy
  • Close exchange with industry partners. One example is that the industry partner hosts a PhD student for some months during the project
  • Planned publications in the project

The projects applications will be reviewed by the full partners and the program partners of the Centre and the recommendation for funding will then be decided by the program council with representatives from our full partners Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Linköping University, Lund University, Uppsala University, AB Volvo, CEVT, Scania CV AB, Volvo Car Corporation, RISE and VTI, and two representatives from other industrial partners.

The applicant (or another relevant partner from the project consortia) must be available on 11 April when the evaluation groups may contact the applicants and invite them for a Q&A session if needed.

Any of our partners can apply for funding, but the funding will be allocated to the academic partner(s) to finance the academic researchers. All partner organizations can take part in the proposed project activities. When the project is approved, the “Project manager agreement” must be signed by the project manager.
Please also note that regular knowledge exchange is an essential part of the Centre and its projects. If your project is granted, you are expected to arrange workshops/seminars and take part in thematic activities.
The Centre has currently very few female researchers and PhD students. We welcome all project applications but hope to be able to include more female researchers in our network as the Centre strives for an (F/M) 50/50 gender balance for both the Centre and its funded projects.

Application template and deadline

The projects should be applied for by using the Centre’s application template “Project application” and “CV template” (for all key participants) linked below. Please note that we will not consider applications using any other application template (or older versions of this template) nor applications not meeting formal criteria.

You have the possibility to include one appendix (max 3 pages) with images and tables, supporting the project description. Send to application@emobilitycentre.se and mark the mail with “Project application”.
The Centre needs your application on 31 March 2023 at 14.00 at the latest.
Good luck and welcome with your application!

Important information documents. Read before submitting the project application. All documents are updated, and the project application evaluation document has been revised.

Project Information.pdf
Project Application Evaluation.pdf
Project Manager Agreement.pdf

Documents for the thematic roadmaps

Theme 1 roadmap: Intelligent Vehicles and Systems .pdf
Theme 2 roadmap: Electric Drives and Charging.pdf
Theme 3 roadmap: Energy Storage.pdf
Theme 4 roadmap: Environment and Society.pdf
Theme 5 roadmap: Vehicle–Grid Interaction.pdf

Application documents
(All documents need to be read by applicant before submitting the application.)
Project application template.docx
CV template.doc