Promising researchers contribute to a future-proof society

Excellence in research requires stability and the regular influx of talented researchers. In our new call for proposals, Career Grant for Early-career Researchers, we are placing greater emphasis on giving promising researchers better opportunities for developing independently and for contributing to innovative research environments. This call will allow them to be a part of, and eventually lead work on, addressing society’s major challenges.

In 2024, we are making a change to our calls aimed at early-career researchers. The goal is to support young researchers in contributing to ground-breaking discoveries with significant long-term benefit while also supporting more applied research that can contribute to near-term improvements for society.

“As climate and environmental challenges are playing an increasingly central role and the transition of society is becoming all the more urgent, talented individuals are needed with the ability to develop the research and innovations needed to future-proof society. By making this change to our calls, we at Formas want to give early-career researchers the opportunity to take new approaches and be more creative. The changes will contribute both to excellence in research that advances the state of knowledge and to skilled individuals who can lead the work in solving current and future societal challenges,” says Linda Bell, Head of Department at Formas.

New call for career grants opens in February 2024

The Career Grant for Early-career Researchers call opens in February 2024. With this call, we are now joining our efforts aimed at early-career researchers into one call, which makes it easier for applicants to navigate. The purpose of the call is to give promising early-career researchers more appropriate opportunities for taking the next step in their careers, developing independence, and contributing to innovative research environments. Projects are to include national or international mobility so that young researchers can broaden their perspectives, gain inspiration, and establish new contacts and networks. It is equally important that researchers work in a dynamic and inclusive home research environment that supports and enables good career development.

“We know that mobility improves the quality of research and opens new opportunities for career paths. Meanwhile, it is essential that higher education institutions strongly support researchers in their development. Adequate administrative support and job security also promotes creativity and encourage researchers to think outside the box. This is important because, ultimately, these researchers will take on leading positions not just in academia but also in the public and private sectors,” says Lina Westlund Hult, Project leader for the call.

Highly flexible career support

Expanding knowledge is a complex process and the conditions for different research domains and individual researchers vary. There are also vastly different ways of making a career. This career grant call offers a high degree of flexibility for applicants to formulate project ideas and designs. It is also possible to apply for grants for accompanying family members for international stays as part of the mobility requirement. Formas strives for gender equality among applying researchers and those receiving grants through this call for proposals.

How can applicants and administrating organisations prepare?

• Start by contacting the host institution(s) where you would like to visit as part of your mobility requirement. Choose the host institution(s) that suit your project and that offer an environment that you can contribute to while also being able to support you in taking the next step in your career.
• Start planning for future employment. Discuss with your home organisation about whether, how and under what forms you could eventually be employed.
• Also discuss with your home organisation and the human resources department about what applies when being stationed abroad and the terms and conditions in such cases (e.g., URA).

More information

We will be publishing more information about the call on our website in December and will be providing information at online meetings in connection with the opening of the call in February. Sign-up for our newsletter to stay updated.

Call page Career Grant for Early-career Researchers 2024

Frequently asked questions and answers

A new call for research projects opens this fall

We will open a new call for research projects in the fall of 2024.