A positive shift in Sweden’s participation
Horizon Europe, the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation, is built on collaboration across borders and sectors. After several years of decline, Sweden strengthened its position in the programme in 2025. The share of awarded funding increased from 3.3 per cent to 3.5 per cent, moving closer to the national target of 3.7 per cent. The increase is relatively evenly spread across the programme, pointing to broader progress rather than isolated successes.
Sweden remains ranked eighth among participating countries. While the position is unchanged, the results signal renewed momentum at a time when around €25 billion in Horizon Europe funding is still available.
Strengths that endure – and evolve
Sweden continues to perform well in areas where strong research environments and collaborative ecosystems are already established. Life science remains a clear strength, built on close interaction between universities, healthcare and industry, and providing a solid foundation for international collaboration.
At the same time, Horizon Europe is increasingly characterised by larger and more complex projects, bringing together many partners across countries and sectors. In these settings, Swedish organisations are well positioned to contribute – combining scientific excellence with the ability to collaborate, coordinate and deliver at scale. Participation patterns remain relatively stable, with a strong role for academia alongside active engagement from the business sector.
Working with partners across Europe and beyond
Countries Sweden collaborates with most in Horizon Europe include:
Germany, followed by Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Belgium
Close collaboration with neighbouring and like‑minded innovation economies such as Finland, Denmark, Norway, Austria and Switzerland
Growing collaboration with recently associated countries including the United Kingdom and Canada
In Horizon Europe, collaboration takes place through multinational consortia formed around each call, bringing together complementary expertise across countries and sectors. As projects grow larger and more complex, long term relationships and the ability to collaborate at scale become increasingly important.
In this context, Swedish organisations appear to be taking on larger roles and a greater share of project budgets. Indications also suggest strong participation in projects involving associated, research-intensive countries
such as the United Kingdom and Canada – where established collaboration networks support effective contribution in large international consortia.
Would you like to learn more about how Sweden performed in Horizon Europe in 2025?
Explore the Horizon Europe Yearbook 2025 (published in Swedish, pdf)
Understanding the role of European partnerships
European partnerships play an important role in how Horizon Europe turns shared priorities into concrete research and innovation activities. A complementary analysis takes a closer look at Sweden’s participation in these partnerships. These partnerships bring together public authorities, industry and research actors to jointly shape priorities, co‑fund activities and accelerate the use of research and innovation results.
Partnerships Analysis (published in Swedish, pdf)