How Formas works with open data

Open data is digital, public information that anyone can access and use for any purpose. Formas open data contains information about our calls, applications and funded activities.

Many authorities collect and store large amounts of public information. By digitizing, structuring, and making the information accessible to others, it can contribute to societal benefits even outside the authority. The information made available in this way is called 'open data'.

Open data via API

The most common way to share and access open data is via an Application Programming Interface (API). An API is a programming interface that can be manipulated and used, for example, to build apps or web services.

Through an API, a programmer can retrieve information from someone else's database or program. The data is sent, for example, via an app, database or Excel file that receives and stores a copy of the information.

Common government data standard for open data on research funding

Five Swedish research and innovation funding agencies are implementing a collaboration called GDP (Joint Data Project). The aim is to enable the sharing of open and comparable data in a uniform way using a common data standard, sometimes referred to as the GDP standard in government texts.

To determine the data content of the standard, the authorities also have ongoing dialog with external data consumers.

The project is a result of a government assignment and is run by the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas, Forte, the Swedish Research Council and Vinnova.

Information model, technical specifications and API portal

Information about the information model for the joint data project and technical specifications for the API are available on GitHub:
Common-data-project-GDP/Documentation: Documentation for the GDP standard External link.

The API has three endpoints that share data on three basic elements that are common to the five agencies' funding processes: calls, applications and funded activities.

To make data extractions using the API, you need to create an account and get an API key. Further information is available when you log in to the API portal below.

Data in the API is updated daily and can be used freely without fees or other restrictions.

Read more in the joint API portal. External link.

Formas open data in the joint API portal

Formas shares data on calls that are registered as of 2016, as well as data on applications and funded activities linked to these calls. Earlier data is of poor quality and is not shared.

In some calls, Formas only collects data on main applicants, corresponding to the role "AnsvarigPerson" for Person in the GDP standard. This means that there is no data on any participating researchers for applications and funded activities linked to these calls.

Formas' implementation of BeslutadFinansiering includes the financial resources that the agency has decided should be paid to the funded activity. It includes any subsequent decisions to increase or decrease the original amount granted, but not any repayments of funds already paid.

Research subjects (Forskningsämnen) in Formas' data are mainly specified according to the 2025 version of the Standard for Swedish Classification of Research Subjects (SSIF2025). https://www.scb.se/dokumentation/klassifikationer-och-standarder/standard-for-svensk-indelning-av-forskningsamnen/ External link. Applications that were classified using the 2011 version of the Standard for Swedish Classification of Research Subjects have been translated to the 2025 version as far as possible. However, the research subject codes that were removed in the 2025 version remain in the 2011 version of the standard.

The generic classification KategoriseringFinansiär in the GDP standard contains the subject areas that Formas encourages applicants to classify their applications with.

Delimitations and missing data

These applications and funded activities are not included in Formas' data in the common API portal:

• Applications that have been withdrawn by the applicant
• Applications that have been rejected on formal grounds
• Applications where the applicant has declined funding
• Funded activities that have ended prematurely and the application linked to the funded activity

The following information is not included because Formas lacks data for this:

• Program for calls, applications and funded activities

Due to a lack of data quality, Formas' data is not comprehensive for the following information:

• Applications and funded activities linked to calls where several parties can apply for funding for the same activity.
• For these applications and funded activities, NULL is instead entered in the fields Organisation and BeslutadFinansiering.
• Please note that summaries of Formas' approved funding are thus not comprehensive.

Some information that is missing from Formas' open data in the joint API portal can be found via the API linked to the Swecris - Swedish Research Council External link. database.

Formas' previous API

Formas' previous API contains data on the grant projects we have funded in our calls from 2006 onwards.

This API will be phased out and we recommend using the common API portal instead.

The data in Formas' previous API with information about grant projects is correct and updated daily as long as it is available.

Here you will find information about Formas' previous API: Open Data - API containing information on funded projects