Formas Explore

Formas Explore

Supports interdisciplinary research on environment, agriculture, and spatial planning in Sweden.

Formas — the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development — operates its annual open call, Explore, as the primary route for freely formulated research proposals within the agency's three statutory responsibility areas: environment, agricultural sciences, and spatial planning. Formas is a Swedish government agency that funds research and innovation for sustainable development; it awarded SEK 1.5 billion across all programs in recent budget years. The Explore call is open to researchers at Swedish higher education institutions, research institutes, public sector organisations, and special interest groups. Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research is explicitly encouraged, and projects involving researchers from two or three European countries can apply via the Weave co-funding route for simplified joint funding across national borders. The 2026 call cycle is expected to open in September 2026.

Applications are assessed by ten specialist review panels, each comprising 15–20 reviewers including both active researchers and experts with practical research experience. Formas' Scientific Council makes all final funding decisions. Awards historically run approximately SEK 3–4 million per project over three to four years, though precise amounts and duration for the 2026 cycle will be confirmed at call launch. All applications are submitted through the Prisma system (prisma.research.se). Sole proprietors may not serve as the administrating organisation. Projects involving researchers affiliated with Russian or Belarusian institutions are excluded.

Proposals are evaluated on two criteria: scientific quality and societal relevance — both carry equal weight in the panel review. Researchers with strong track records in the three thematic areas who can demonstrate a clear societal impact pathway stand the best chance of funding. Applicants should monitor the Formas website and contact explore@formas.se in advance of the September 2026 opening to confirm call parameters and any thematic priorities added for 2026.