Providing opportunities for cooperation in the Baltic Sea region

2021 is here and we are all looking ahead to new possibilities to cooperate in the Baltic Sea region, however, still much influenced by the pandemic. 

The year starts off with our call within the seed funding programme, which is a great opportunity to build a partnership and become more competitive once the new EU programme period starts.

The call has been carried out much in a digital manner due to the pandemic. Several digital information seminars and two digital workshops have taken place, focusing on getting Swedish main applicants well informed and better prepared before applying. There is one more chance to take part in our digital infoseminar today 18 January 2021! (More info below). The advantage of being able to reach out also digitally is obvious, however we are all looking forward to being able to meet and continue to strengthen networks and cooperation throughout the region.

In this newsletter we take a closer look at some of our funded projects focusing on various aspects and solutions to strengthen cooperation in our region. The project BSR Interconnect ran between 2016 and 2017 with SI funding but managed to upscale with EU funding. The project BIBSR2018 shows us how important it is to work with transparency and anti-corruption in business.  

The Swedish Institute (SI) seeks to strengthen Sweden's relations and develop cooperation with the countries located around the Baltic Sea and the countries of the EU Eastern Partnership. Our funding for project cooperation and the Baltic Leadership Programmes aim to contribute to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) and the EU Eastern Partnership framework. We also provide scholarships and additional leadership- and visiting programmes.

> SEED FUNDING CALL CLOSING SOON!

Seed funding for cooperation projects  SI provides funding for joint projects in which Swedish organisations meet transnational challenges together with organisations from the Baltic Sea region countries including Russia and the countries of the Eastern Partnership. The SI call for seed funding cooperation projects in the Baltic Sea region closes on 11 February 2021. The seed funding can be used to start or expand collaborations aiming for example to:   conduct a feasibility study to develop a larger Baltic Sea regional project. prepare an application for funding from a EU program or other source of funding. establish new networks or expand and strengthen existing networks initiate and develop cooperation between the EU Member States and non-member countries of the EU collaborate with ongoing projects by cross-border nature.  SI arranges a short digital info seminar for Swedish main applicants (in Swedish) 18 January 2021 at 13:00-14:00 (CET). You can still register until 12:00 (CET) 18 January.

Basic facts about seed funding applications The seed funding is available for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russian Federation, Sweden and Ukraine.   The main applicant has to be based in Sweden. The application must include at least three actors in three different countries eligible for support, one of which is Sweden (as main applicant). A project can run up to 18 months. A project can apply for SEK 100,000 to SEK 500,000 There must be a clear connection to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the framework of the EU Eastern Partnership.  More requirements and instructions can be found on our website.  Have a look in our project database to see previously funded projects.  Deadline: 11 February, 2021 15:00 (CET) More information about the call in English  More information about the call in Swedish

> READ ABOUT OUR PROJECTS

A starting point for more investments in public transport in the Baltic Sea region
Five years ago, Region Blekinge in Sweden initiated an international project to connect public transport in the Baltic Sea region. This was a start for several major initiatives to make it even easier to use public transport between the countries. Read the full article.


Project wants more companies in the Baltic Sea region to fight corruption
Companies in the Baltic Sea region need to take corruption more seriously. That is the conclusion of Transparency International Sweden in a report following an international project on anti-corruption in countries around the Baltic Sea. Read the full article.

You can find more articles related to the SI project funding and leadership programmes in the Baltic Sea region on our website under the category Baltic Sea Region Cooperation. 

> ADDITIONAL SI CALLS FOR BALTIC SEA REGION

Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals

The call for SI scholarships for master’s studies in Sweden, starting in the autumn of 2021 has been published. The former Visby programme is, as of this call, part of the Global Professionals.

The name SI Scholarships of Global Professionals highlights the shift towards applicants with a strong professional background and an aim to contribute to a positive sustainable global development.

The call of Global Professionals opens on 8 February 2021 and closes 18 February 2021. Apply well in advance!

Note! It is only possible to apply for the SI scholarship if you have applied for a master’s programme at universityadmissions.se by 15 January 2021.      

More information about the scholarship on our website