About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
The funding is designed to help Swedish universities and approved research organisations recruit prominent researchers from outside Europe who can make significant contributions to Swedish research and academic environments.
Academic Conferences & Publications
The grant supports both the recruitment process and the visiting researcher’s employment in Sweden during the funded period.
The initiative is open across a broad range of academic disciplines, including:
Recruitment & Staffing
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Clinical Therapy Research
• Artistic Research
• Medicine and Health
• Natural and Engineering Sciences.
The programme forms part of the Swedish Research Council’s efforts to strengthen international research collaboration and enhance Sweden’s global research competitiveness.
Funding Details
Successful organisations will receive:
• Grant amount: 2 million SEK
• Grant duration: 12 months
• Total programme budget: Approximately 30 million SEK
Geographic Reference
• Funding type: Visiting Researcher Grant
• Support category: Research Environment and Collaboration Support
The funded visit must begin no earlier than 1 May 2026 and no later than 1 March 2027.
Who Can Apply?
Applications must be submitted by eligible Swedish organisations rather than individual researchers.
Eligible applicants include:
• Swedish higher education institutions (HEIs)
Primary & Secondary Schooling (K-12)
• Other Swedish organisations approved by the Swedish Research Council as administrating organisations
Each application must nominate a representative from the host department who will serve as the project leader throughout the grant period.
No additional participating researchers may be included in the application.
Eligibility Requirements for Visiting Researchers
The proposed visiting researcher must meet several important eligibility criteria.
At the time of application, the researcher must:
Science
• Be an internationally recognised researcher.
• Have been actively conducting research outside Europe for at least two years.
• Have a career age of at least five years after completing a PhD or equivalent qualification.
• Not already be established within the Swedish research system.
Applicants should note that researchers already holding Swedish Research Council grants or participating in certain mobility programmes are generally not eligible under this call.
The proposed researcher must also be aware of the nomination and agree to the recruitment if funding is awarded.
Finance
Purpose of the Visit
The Swedish Research Council expects the visiting researcher to contribute significantly to the host institution while building long-term research collaborations.
Successful researchers are expected to:
• Participate actively in departmental research activities.
• Strengthen existing research environments.
• Collaborate with researchers across Sweden.
• Contribute to research development beyond the duration of the funded visit.
• Support teaching, supervision, seminars, conferences, and other academic activities where appropriate.
Academic Conferences & Publications
The long-term ambition is for recruited researchers to establish sustained research relationships with Swedish institutions.
Eligible Costs
The grant may be used to support a wide range of recruitment and relocation expenses.
Eligible costs include:
• Salary during the research stay in Sweden.
• Relocation expenses.
• Travel between Sweden and the researcher’s home country.
• Temporary accommodation or housing costs.
Government Grants
• Research expenses directly resulting from relocation.
• Relocation costs for accompanying family members.
The grant also includes indirect costs based on the administrating organisation’s approved cost model.
However, grant funding cannot be used to provide scholarships.
Any expenses exceeding the awarded funding must be covered by the host organisation.
Application Process
Applications are submitted through Prisma, the Swedish Research Council’s electronic grants management system.
To access the application portal, eligible organisations must first request a dedicated application link by contacting the Swedish Research Council.
Colleges & Universities
Applications are assessed on a rolling basis throughout the application period.
Important application dates include:
• Opening date: 11 February 2026
• Closing date: 10 November 2026
• Application review: Rolling
• Decision timeline: Approximately two months after submission
Required Application Documents
Applications should include comprehensive information about both the proposed researcher and the planned research collaboration.
Geographic Reference
Required documentation includes:
• Project abstract.
• Research programme.
• Justification for the recruitment.
• Description of the researcher’s contribution to Swedish research.
• Participation plan within the host department.
• Employment plan.
• Visiting researcher’s CV.
Recruitment & Staffing
• Publication list covering research outputs from 2018–2026.
• Signed certificate confirming the researcher’s willingness to relocate and participate.
• Budget justification describing how the funding will be used.
Applications may be prepared in either English or Swedish.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will undergo competitive peer review by expert assessment panels.
Reviewers will consider two primary criteria:
Scientific Excellence
• Scientific achievements.
Science
• International research standing.
Relevance to the Call
• Potential to strengthen Swedish research.
• Contribution to the host institution.
• Long-term research impact.
• Quality of the participation plan.
• Contribution to research renewal, teaching, supervision, and academic collaboration.
Both criteria are assessed using a seven-point evaluation scale
How to apply