On this page, you will find the general terms and conditions for Forte’s research grants. They apply to all our grants, unless there are specific terms and conditions linked to the grant decision which are worded differently. The terms and conditions apply to all grant decisions made from 22 May 2023.

1. Definitions

Administrating organisation refers to the legal person that manages the research funds allocated by Forte.

Project leader refers to the person responsible for the grant application (applicant) submitted to Forte, and for planning and implementation of the project. When an organisation is applying to Forte, the organisation has the same responsibility as a project leader.

Project refers to the activities supported by the grant from Forte.

2. General

Forte’s decisions and grants become valid when both the administrating organisation and project leader have accepted the commitments defined below.

3. Commitments

3.1 Forte’s commitments

Forte agrees to pay the sum of the specified grant to the administrating organisation in accordance with the payment plan specified in the decision. Payments are usually made monthly (i.e. one twelfth of the annual sum granted) unless otherwise specified in the decision. Payment commences after the decision becomes valid. The amounts specified in the decision are definitive. No compensation will be granted for increases in salaries, or other cost increases.

Grants for projects must include funding for direct and indirect costs at the same ratio as calculated for the project as a whole.

Decisions on grants apply under the condition that Forte receives central government funds to the extent on which the decision is based.

3.2 Administrating organisation commitments

The administrating organisation agrees:

  • to, as employer of the project leader, ensure that the project leader can allocate their own time, and the time of other employees, to the extent needed to implement the project in a manner that complies with the project plan as presented to Forte, and to enable publication of the project’s results,
  • to ensure that the project leader and other relevant personnel have access to the facilities, equipment, and other resources needed to implement the project,
  • to ensure that the research conducted in the project meets the terms and conditions specified in Swedish law,
  • to ensure that the research conducted in the project has no commercial ties that would affect its objectivity, independence or transparency,
  • to report annually to Forte on withdrawal of direct and indirect project related costs, in accordance with the instructions issued by Forte,
  • to manage the grant in compliance with the terms and conditions of the decision and be responsible for the administration of the project.

The administrating organisation may, in consultation with the project leader, decide to delay the start of the project or to pause the project provided that the availability period of the decision is not exceeded. This may be necessary if the project leader is required for another duty or if other key personnel are unavailable for the project and cannot be replaced immediately.

3.3 Project leader’s commitments

The project leader has the scientific responsibility for the project as described in the grant application to Forte. This includes planning and implementation of the project in compliance with the plan submitted to Forte and the terms and conditions specified in the decision, but with any adjustments that might be required if Forte’s grant is less than the amount requested.

The project leader has the responsibility to ensure that all required permits and approvals have been obtained. If the project includes research involving humans or laboratory animals, the project leader must ensure that ethical approval is obtained in compliance with the law and government regulations.

Part of the scientific responsibility is to ensure that the research results are published in a scientific journal with international distribution, or are otherwise made accessible in a similar manner. The project leader has an obligation to ensure that they do not enter into agreements with commercial or other interests that could hinder them from publishing the results of research conducted with funding from Forte, or that could delay publication by more than two months. However, if the purpose is to apply for patents based fully, or in part, on the aforementioned research findings a delay of up to four months is acceptable.

The project leader must guarantee that the research results are published in accordance with Forte’s guidelines for publication with open access. The project leader must also ensure that, when relevant to objectives presented in the grant application, findings of more general interest are disseminated to recipients outside of the scientific community. At Forte’s request, the project leader must allow access to all material for scientific review by Forte.

When disseminating the results, the project leader must indicate that the research was conducted with funding from Forte. When publishing original scientific articles and papers the registration number (Reg. No.) of the research grant must be included under the heading “Acknowledgements”.

4. Grant funding period

The decision specifies the funding period for which the grant is given and for how long the funds may be used. Forte, the administrating organisation, and the project leader commit to their responsibilities starting on the day that all parties approve the terms and conditions. The commitments remain in effect up to and including the day that Forte approves the final report and any unused funds are repaid.

5. Right of use

The decision specifies the period during which funding is disbursed. Unless otherwise stated in the decision, the grant may be used during this period plus one additional year (availability period). Under special circumstances the availability period may be extended. A request for an extended availability period should be accompanied by information on yet unused funds and a plan for completing the project.

The grant must be used in overall compliance with the project plan submitted to Forte, but with necessary adjustments should Forte’s grant be less than the amount requested. Further, the grant must be used in accordance with the terms and conditions of the decision. Upon written request from the administrating organisation and the project leader, Forte may consider more substantial changes concerning the use of the grant, or the terms and conditions of the decision. Forte may approve the changes upon review. The grant may not be used for scholarships that are intended to be an alternative to a salary or other student financing for graduate students.

6. Employer situation and terms of employment

The project leader must be employed by the administrating organisation, unless otherwise agreed upon by Forte and the administrating organisation.

7. Equipment

The administrating organisation holds the property rights for equipment and other inventory acquired by a project through grants from Forte. The equipment, however, must remain at the disposal of the project for as long as the project continues.

8. Other funding

A condition for being granted funds from Forte is that the administrating organisation or project leader has not already or will be receiving funding for the same costs and purposes. When applying, the project leader must report all other applications, if any, to other funding organisations, which partly or entirely overlap with the application to Forte. The same applies to grants that have already been obtained from other funding organisations.

If other funding is granted for the same costs and purposes during the ongoing grant period, the administrating organisation and project leader must report this to Forte without delay. The report must state in particular to what extent the new funding may affect the implementation, analysis, interpretation and report of the results. Also, it should be clear who will dispose of the results. Forte reserves the right to reconsider a grant decision based on information about other grants.

9. Reporting

The administrating organisation and the project leader are responsible for providing Forte with the information it requests in conjunction with following up and evaluating the research, either during or after the funding period. Presentations and reports concerning the project must be submitted as specified in the funding decision or on special request by Forte. Such a request must indicate the end of the availability period and be notified to the administrating organisation and/or the project leader at least three months prior to that date. An auditor appointed by Forte, or other reviewer, has the right to review the bookkeeping related to the grant decision. In this respect, they have the right of full access to project records, e.g. the right to receive copies of all receipts of all supporting documents concerning expenditure and revenue related to the project.

9.1 Scientific reporting

The project leader must provide a final scientific report and any progress reports as specified in Forte’s instructions. The final scientific report should be submitted three months after the end of the availability period, or according to the reporting plan. Forte will reject applications for new grants if the project leader has failed to present final reports on time for previous grants.

9.2 Financial reporting

The administrating organisation must submit financial statement reports as directed by Forte. The final financial report should be submitted three months after the end of the availability period, or according to the reporting plan. Forte may reject applications for new grants if final reports for previous projects are not submitted on time.

If a project is terminated prematurely the following special regulations apply.

10. Repayment of surplus

Unused funds that are accounted for in a final financial statement report must be repaid to Forte by the administrating organisation no later than 30 days after the report has been filed. If the surplus is less than one half of one price base amount, it may be kept and used for research objectives similar to those for which the funding was granted. If the surplus is greater, the entire balance must be repaid to Forte.

11. Premature termination of the project

11.1 Difficulties in completing the project – general

If the project funded by Forte cannot be completed according to plan, and if the deviation from the plan is not insignificant, the administrating organisation must immediately notify Forte of this fact. The same applies if equipment for which Forte has provided funding cannot be acquired. In such cases, a report must be submitted on how this affects the project for which the equipment was intended. Forte and the administrating organisation, in consultation with the project leader must agree on how the situation will be handled.

11.2 Difficulties in completing the project due to changes affecting the project leader

If the project leader cannot complete the project due to prolonged illness, death, change of employer, or other reasons, the administrating organisation must immediately notify Forte of this. Forte, after conferring with the administrating organisation and if possible, the project leader, decides whether the project receives continued funding or is terminated. If the project is terminated, the administrating organisation must repay any unspent funds intended for the project.

If the change is a result of the project leader transferring their employment to another administrating organisation, Forte may decide to also transfer the project so that the work can continue under the same project leader. Before such a decision is made, Forte must first confer with the affected administrating organisations regarding the terms and conditions of the move.

Costs of prematurely phasing out a project are settled as described below.

11.3 Equipment

When ending a project prematurely, Forte, after consulting with the affected administrating organisations, may decide that equipment acquired through Forte’s funding should be surrendered to Forte or to another administrating organisation.

11.4 Financial reports in prematurely terminated projects

If Forte decides to terminate payment of a grant, or if a project is prematurely terminated for other reasons, the project’s final financial report must be submitted no later than three months from the date that the parties agreed to terminate the project or that any of the parties unilaterally made such a decision. Forte will demand repayment of funds received and paid out to the administrative organisation within three months (90 days) of Forte receiving the final financial report.

11.5 Costs of prematurely ending projects

If Forte decides to terminate payment of a grant for reasons that do not constitute a breach of the terms and conditions on the part of the administrative organisation, the administrative organisation and Forte are expected to reach an agreement on how to fund reasonable termination costs for the project.

12. Violation of commitments made

12.1 Demand to comply with terms and conditions

If the project leader or the administrating organisation violate the terms and conditions of the decision, and the violation is of such a nature that it can easily be corrected, Forte may demand the project leader or administrating organisation to ensure the terms and conditions in question are complied with within a specified period. Forte may also demand that the project leader or administrating organisation or submits an action plan describing when and how the terms and conditions will be complied with. Forte will evaluate whether the action plan can be approved, or whether the funds shall no longer be paid out.

12.2 Decision to terminate payment of funds

The following circumstances may constitute grounds for a decision by Forte to terminate payment of a grant:

  • incorrect information in the application, or omission of required information,
  • the funds were granted incorrectly or in too high an amount for some other reason, and the recipient should have realised this,
  • economic irregularities,
  • unethical conduct,
  • the project leader, through other actions, is clearly shown to be an inappropriate recipient of funding from Forte,
  • failure to provide reports according to Forte’s instructions.
  • the terms and conditions have otherwise not been met.