The national programme on applied welfare research welcomes proposals within eight priority areas. The call offers five different types of grants. In total, around SEK 73 million is reserved for the period 2020–2023.

Focus area

This call welcomes proposals for client and practice-oriented research within the social services sector. The focus of the call is based on eight prioritised areas, presented in the strategic agenda of the programme:

  • The effects of interventions.
  • Methods for needs assessment for individuals.
  • Early/preventive measures of the social services.
  • Implementation and change management.
  • Coherent service-provision initiatives.
  • User participation.
  • Digitalisation and welfare technology.
  • Non-profit and entrepreneurial providers of social services.

Within this call for proposal, priority is especially given to the areas 1 to 3.

For more information about the prioritised areas, please see the following documents:

Strategic research agenda for the national applied welfare research programme »

Analysis by Forte and SBU on research needs regarding social services »

Grant types

The call will include five different types of grants. Only one application per grant type and main applicant is allowed. Applications for different types of grants may not relate to the same project. Information about each grant type, including grant amounts and eligibility requirements are found in the document “Information about the call”.

Project grant (2-4 years)

Project grants are grants for individual research projects. The research projects should be based on the questions and needs of the profession and those of the users/clients. Consequently, research projects are to be carried out in collaborations with social services, e.g. through regional support and collaboration structures (RSS), local research and development units, managers and personnel.

Network grant (2-3 years)

A network grant is aimed at increasing coordination within the prioritised research areas, between researchers from different disciplines and different parts of Sweden and the Nordic region. The networks can include researchers in other countries, but the coordinator must be affiliated with an administering organisation in Sweden. Network grants are awarded for a maximum of three years.

Grant for practice-oriented research fellows (3 years)

Grants for practice oriented part-time research positions will give researchers working with social services issues outside of the academy the opportunity to carry out research and translate their research experience into practice. The grant can be applied for by researchers working within the social services, medical services, research and development units within the social services, other public agencies and organisations.

Planning grant (1 year)

Planning grants are given to prepare for major research projects, establish collaborations with among others various research disciplines, practice and users including the possibility to launch a pilot study.

Systematic review (1 year)

Grants for systematic reviews are given to identify current knowledge and research needs within a well-defined topic.

The administering organisation must have an account

To be able to apply for a grant, a Swedish university or another research funding body must administrate the funding and have an organisational account in Prisma. The administering organisation should apply for this in due time via Prisma.

Forte’s criteria for administering organisations

Time plan

6 February 2020: The call closes

20 May 2020: Forte’s board decides on funding

1 July 2020: Project start