In this call, you can apply for planning grants within the framework of Forte’s ten-year research program on mental health. The planning grant can be used for various activities aimed at enabling a future application for project grants within the research program. A total of approximately SEK 11 million is allocated, with a maximum amount of SEK 700,000 to apply for within one year.

Background and purpose

To achieve the desired advancement in knowledge necessary for effective preventive and health-promoting initiatives, as well as efficient care and treatment, research is required to develop, test and evaluate measures and efforts at both societal and individual levels.  For this research to be successful, planning and different types of preparations are often required. Not least, fostering collaboration between academia the public sector and civil society is often crucial in the research processes. The intention of this call for proposals is therefore, among other things, to create beneficial conditions for such collaboration.

The purpose is to enable researchers to, in cooperation with organisations working with mental health and engaging with individuals in their operations, develop collaboration and improve the conditions for an upcoming call for project proposals in 2026. The collaboration between practice and research should primarily have a problem-solving approach.

Focus of the call

In this call for proposals, you can apply for a planning grant. The planning grant can be used for various activities for the purpose of enabling a future application for project grants. For example, this could involve testing an idea in a pilot study or developing a collaboration/co-creation with relevant partners and target groups outside of academia. This means that the activities funded by the planning grant do not strictly have to involve research.

However, research prepared using the planning grant must align with the priority areas of Fortes’ research programme on mental health:

  • Research on the causes, mechanisms, and development of mental health and ill-health.
  • Research on promotion, prevention, and early interventions for mental health.
  • Research on the organisation and structure of the welfare system related to mental health.
  • Practice-oriented research on effective interventions, methods, and treatment for mental ill-health and psychiatric disorders.

The call for proposals requests applications that aim to facilitate research on methods, work practices, and conditions in the field of mental health, spanning from mental well-being to psychological problems and psychiatric conditions, at both societal and individual levels.  There are no restrictions in terms of which age groups the projects plan to include. Forte also welcomes projects which include support for relatives.

  • All age groups are included in the work.
  • The focus can be on promoting efforts for people’s mental well-being, preventive work for mental health problems and psychiatric conditions.
  • A focus on civil society’s methods, ways of working and conditions in working with mental health.

Grant type

Planning Grant

Budget

For this call a budget of about SEK 11 million is available. The maximum amount to apply for is SEK 700,000 per year.

Number of applications

No more than one application per main applicant is permitted within this call for proposals.

Schedule

Call opens: 16 May 2024, 10.00 CEST

Call closes: 21 August 2024, 14.00 CEST

Decisions taken on funding: 12 December 2024

Project start: 1 January 2025

Review panel

The following persons have been appointed by Forte’s Board as reviewers for the call:

Chair person

  • Therese Julia Irene Skoog, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg

Scientific reviewer

  • Peter Larm, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University
  • Johan Vamstad, Associate Professor, Department of Civil Society and Religion, Marie Cederschiöld University
  • Annika Lexén, Associate Professor, Department of Health Sciences, Lund University
  • Charli Eriksson, Professor, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet
  • Pia Enebrink, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet
  • Claudia Bernhard-Oettel, Professor, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University

Community representative

  • Magnus Jägerskog, Secretary General, BRIS
  • Katja Glaas, Department of Labor Market and Social Services, Karlstad Municipality
  • Patrik Schröder, Coordinator (civil society), Fremia