Frequently asked questions and answers about Idea development: Future research for animal protection and wellbeing

Idea development means exploring, testing and further developing an initial research idea, rather than carrying out a fully formulated research project. The focus is on formulating and developing new questions, perspectives, approaches or collaborations. Unlike a research project, which generally starts with a predefined question and method to produce new knowledge, idea development is about developing questions, exploring possible methods and in other ways creating the conditions for future research. Since idea development projects aim to explore new and not yet fully formulated ideas, they often involve greater risk-taking than traditional research projects. This also means that the project does not necessarily have to lead to a positive or expected result. The fact that an idea proves to be less sustainable or not possible to develop further can also be an important result.

In this call, interdisciplinary means that researchers from different disciplines or research fields work together to develop new ideas and perspectives. The disciplines do not need to be fully integrated from the start, but there needs to be a clear idea of ​​how the meeting between them will contribute to the development of the project.

Applying a systems perspective means not only studying individual parts separately but also understanding how different parts are interconnected and influence each other within a larger whole. This can involve seeing the connections between people, organizations, rules, technology, environment and resources. When developing research ideas with a systems perspective, you understand both what is happening in different parts of a system and how changes in one part can have consequences in other parts.

This depends on the type of organisation the person is employed by and whether you will be applying for funds for that person. In this call, you may not apply for funds for people who are employed by companies or other organizations with economic activities. Exceptions are only made for research institutes and government agencies with a research mandate that are approved to manage grants for this call (the list is in the call text). Individuals employed by companies or other organisations engaged in economic activity may take part in the project if their participation is funded from other sources, such as in-kind contributions.

Economic activities here mean that an organisation offers goods or services on a market. The decisive factor is not the form of organisation or whether the activity is run for profit, but whether it is of an economic nature. Even activities offered without a fee can in some cases be considered economic activities. Many different types of organizations can therefore have economic activities, for example companies, non-profit associations, foundations, municipalities or museums.

Yes, participating researchers and other project participants can come from other countries, but a maximum of 15 percent of the project budget may be used to finance project participants who are employed in countries other than Sweden. The limit of 15 percent applies on average over the duration of the project. Project participants include the main applicant, project participants, doctoral students and other staff. People who are engaged through purchased services are not considered project participants. Any parts of the project that are carried out by project participants based in countries other than Sweden must be well justified.

No, there is no limit to how much of the budget can be spent on purchased services, such as consultants. However, you need to be aware that one of the assessment criteria in the call is about the competence of the project participants. Consultants are not counted as project participants.

It is possible to be a main applicant or participating researcher in this call if you have an ongoing Formas-funded project. The amount you can be granted for salary to an individual researcher, doctoral student or other staff member may never exceed one hundred percent of a full-time position. This also means that someone who has full salary funding throughout the project period cannot receive additional funds for salary. Your application may not include costs for purposes that are already funded by Formas or any other funder. Applications that are completely or largely the same as an application that has been granted funding from Formas, or another funder will be rejected.

No, you do not have to be employed by your intended administrating organisation at the time of application, but you must be employed by that organisation throughout the project period, including the disposition period and until the project is finally reported to Formas. This is certified by the administration organisation when it signs the terms and conditions for the project, if your project is granted.