Explore – Innovative research for the environment, agricultural sciences and spatial planning 2026
Explore – Innovative research for the environment, agricultural sciences and spatial planning 2026 supports researchers pursuing innovative research for scientific breakthroughs and sustainable development.
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Funder: Formas
Due Dates: August 26, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (Opens) | October 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (Application) | April 13, 2027 (Expected decision) | September 1, 2027 (Project start)
Funding Amounts: SEK 5–6 million per project for four years (48 months); call budget up to SEK 450 million
Summary: Supports innovative research in environment, agricultural sciences and spatial planning that advances knowledge and contributes to sustainable development.
Key Information: Project leaders must have a doctorate awarded by October 7, 2022, and commit at least 20% average full-time effort.
Description
Explore is Formas’ recurring call for innovative research aimed at scientific breakthroughs and societal benefits. Researchers may freely formulate questions within environment, agricultural sciences and spatial planning, their intersections, or overarching perspectives on sustainable development. The call welcomes basic and needs-driven research across all disciplines and combinations of disciplines, with priorities of high scientific quality and long-term sustainable development.
Innovation may involve empirical knowledge in underexplored areas, entirely new methods or models, challenges to established assumptions or theories, or radically new perspectives on familiar issues. Creativity and justified scientific risk-taking are central. Projects must make a clear, substantial contribution to Formas’ areas of responsibility and explain their potential contribution to sustainable development, whether addressing current problems or building knowledge for the longer term.
