Introduction
The Applied Welfare Project Grant, managed by Forte (the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare), provides a large grant aimed at the opportunity fund that wants to target doctoral students who are interested in trying out their competence in social services. Support projects lasting three to four years and with a budget of maximum 6.5 million SEK Challenge format promoting collaboration between academia and service providers resulting in evidence-based solutions adapted for the Sweden Social Services Act’s modern context.
Context and Background
Since 2017, the national programme for Applied Welfare Research that Forte has hosted has supported studies on social services with a client-centered and practice-oriented focus. Today, the programme has changed its focus, towards sustainability and prevention due to the 2025 Social Services Act. Those preventive, accessible social services should be based on the best science and the most expert professional and experience.
Under these conditions, the type of interdisciplinary partnerships between universities, research institutes and policy/practice that are required as part of the grant can help to ensure there is effective knowledge exchange between such stakeholders benefitting policy and practice.
Objectives and Priorities
The Applied Welfare Research Project Grant is intended to:
-
Generate and share evidential knowledge on social service delivery challenges
-
Facilitate researcher-practitioner collaboration on co-produced research
-
Help support the creation of evidence-based interventions that improve client outcomes
-
High impact – at least 2 peer-reviewed papers and stakeholder-focused seminars/workshops
Preference will be given to projects that focus on leading-edge welfare practices, prevention, and sustainable models of social service systems. Relevant areas of research include policy, evaluation, implementation science, and client/family experience.
Eligibility and Application Process
Eligibility: The applicants must have a PhD by the deadline of application and should be associated with a Swedish university or an equivalent institution.
Key application points:
-
One proposal per grant type may be submitted by one lead applicant
-
Co-researchers and practice partners contribute to the impact of project
-
Budgetary categories: personnel, ethics, fieldwork, conference, and language editing
-
No funding is provided for premises costs and applicant development time
Applications should include a specific budget justification and a work plan. Successful projects usually last for three to four years, with regular reporting and workshops needed to disseminate interim findings.
Impact and Importance
The importance of this discretion for the Swedish social policy landscape is by:
-
Building up the research infrastructure of social services
-
Informing policy and practice through strong evidence-based insights
-
Contributing to Sweden’s profile as a knowledge-based welfare society that is fair, efficient, and long-term
-
Stimulating international cooperation to place Swedish social research among the leaders internationally
Dissemination obligations guarantee that results from research will get to policymakers, behaviorists, and scientists in a way that potentially draws from proven interventions.
Strategic Fit and Future Outlook
In line with government guidelines to Forte, the Applied Welfare Research Project Grant focuses on urgent priority areas including changing demographics, social inequality, and comprehensive efforts of prevention.
In the longer term, as Sweden progresses towards sustainable social services, research financed by this programme will contribute to development of new instruments, models, and policy approaches that make it possible for the social services to anticipate rather than reactively respond to future challenges.
Practical Tips for Applicants
-
Emphasize authentic researcher and service provider collaboration
-
Ensure that your project matches national policies: sustainability, prevention, and evidence-based working
-
Project for a variety of dissemination channels, including peer-reviewed journals, seminars, and stakeholder workshops
-
Offer clear and comprehensive budget justifications, as well as realistic timelines
-
Deal with ethical concerns regarding client confidentiality and review procedures
Related on grant The CCAC Challenge Programme for Accelerating the Uptake of eCooking in Africa
Conclusion
The Applied Welfare Research Project Grant in Sweden offers a substantial and well-resourced opportunity for PhD-students with an ambition to change the social services towards preventivity & sustainability.
By promoting interdisciplinary applied research, it facilitates Sweden’s move towards a more knowledge-based and accessible welfare system that keeps pace with changes in society.
Here’s the official link and deadline for the grant:
-
Official link: Forte — “Applied welfare research – Sustainable Social Services 2026 – Project grants” Forte
-
Deadline: 2 December 2025, 14:00 (CET)
