This call aims to support skills and career development for junior researchers and to promote researcher mobility. In total, around SEK 100 million is reserved for the period 2026–2028. The starting grant is announced annually and in 2025 the call opens on 23 January and closes 20 March.

The call for proposals welcomes applications within Forte’s areas of health, working life and welfare. The research that receives funding shall be of high scientific quality and have good potential to benefit society in the short or long term.

About the grant

This grant is intended to promote establishment and independence in research by providing junior researchers with the opportunity to conduct their own research project. The grant also aims to promote research mobility.

You are sole applicant for this grant type. Funding may be sought for either two or three years. You may apply for a maximum of SEK SEK 2.5 million for two-year projects and 3.75 million for three-year projects. Please note that the maximum amount includes so called indirect costs/overheads (OH).

Good to know

  • Career age: You may apply for a starting grant up to three years after your doctoral degree certificate has been issued. If you have been prevented from conducting research for extended periods it is possible to apply for an exemption from the career age requirement.
  • Validate your doctoral degree in Prisma: Applicants with a Swedish doctoral degree must import his/hers doctoral degree from Ladok and validate it in the application system Prisma. A recommendation is to do this well in advance before the call opens. Read more in Prisma’s user manual »
  • Choose either Project grants 2025 or Starting grants 2025: You may not be the main applicant for an application in this call if you are also applying for a grant in Forte’s annual call for project grants. You may apply in this call and at the same time be a participating researcher in an application in the annual call for project grants.
  • International researcher mobility: Forte views international research collaborations positively. Forte’s areas of research cover complex societal challenges where international research collaboration and researcher mobility can provide important contributions. Projects in this call for proposals may be carried out fully or partially abroad. Please note, however, that the project leader must be employed by a Swedish organisation that will serve as the administrating organisation.

Time plan

Starting grants 2025 opens 23 January 2025 and close 20 March. Funding decisions are made in October 2025. The project period starts on 1 January 2026.

More information about this call will be available when the it opens.