Formas Career Grant for Early-Career Researchers

Formas Career Grant

Supports early-career researchers building independent projects in environment, agriculture, and spatial planning.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The Formas Career Grant is a dedicated funding instrument for early-career researchers working within Formas' three statutory areas of responsibility: environment, agricultural sciences, and spatial planning. It is offered annually by Formas — Sweden's government research council for sustainable development — and is structured around two career tracks. The 0–3 track targets researchers who received their doctorate within the past three years; the 4–7 track targets those who received their doctorate between four and seven years ago. Applicants may apply to only one track per cycle, and the choice of track is binding at submission. The 2026 cycle ran from January 20 to March 4, 2026, with funding decisions expected in October 2026.

Eligible host organizations include Swedish higher education institutions, research institutes, and public sector organisations; for-profit companies and sole proprietors are not eligible as administrating bodies. Grant amounts and project durations for the 2026 cycle were not published on the overview page at the time of data collection; historical awards have run approximately SEK 3 million per project over three to four years, but applicants should confirm current terms at call launch. All applications are submitted through the Prisma portal (prisma.research.se). Eligible direct and indirect costs include salaries, equipment, travel, and overhead.

The Career Grant is designed to build research independence rather than support a specific thematic agenda — the research question is chosen freely by the applicant within Formas' areas. Strong applications typically demonstrate a credible research plan, a compelling argument for the significance of the proposed work to sustainable development, and a clear trajectory toward independent research leadership. The next cycle is expected to open in January 2027 based on the program's annual pattern. Early-career researchers should contact careergrant@formas.se for guidance on track eligibility before the opening date.