Just Transition Fund (Fonden för en rättvis omställning)

Just Transition Fund

Funds Swedish regional teams through the Just Transition Fund to scale climate focused development projects.

The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is an EU structural instrument managed in Sweden by Tillväxtverket, targeting the transformation of Sweden's most carbon-intensive industrial areas toward climate neutrality by 2050. Three geographic territories are designated: Norrbotten (steel production), Västerbotten (metals processing), and Gotland (minerals extraction). The EU allocation for Sweden under the JTF is approximately EUR 156 million for the 2021–2027 period, with a national co-financing requirement of 50% from Swedish public or private sources. Calls are issued in Swedish by Tillväxtverket and published through the agency's utlysningar portal. Eligible project types include climate-smart technology development and deployment, workforce skills development and upskilling for affected workers, and carbon-neutral infrastructure investment.

Eligible applicants include for-profit companies, non-profit organisations, universities, and research organisations operating in the three designated transition regions. Individuals cannot apply. All applicants must secure 50% co-financing from non-JTF sources — the fund covers at most half of total project costs. Sector focus within each region reflects the dominant industrial base: steel and iron in Norrbotten, metals and non-ferrous processing in Västerbotten, and minerals extraction on Gotland. Cross-regional projects are not typical given the geographic-restriction structure of the JTF designation.

Applicants in the three designated territories should monitor Tillväxtverket's utlysningar page for active JTF calls and confirm the specific technology readiness and minimum grant size requirements for each open call, as these vary. The Just Transition Fund's geographic restriction is strict — organisations based outside Norrbotten, Västerbotten, or Gotland are not eligible regardless of their sector. Enquiries can be directed to fro@tillvaxtverket.se. Successful applicants in past rounds have typically been regional development companies, large industrial operators with decarbonisation roadmaps, and consortium applications linking industry with academic or training institutions.