There is significant interest among Swedish actors in cooperating with partners in Ukraine, the Baltic Sea region, and the Eastern Partnership. The projects seeking funding reflect current challenges and opportunities in these regions.
Strengthening Baltic Sea Region Cooperation through SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme
The latest call under this program resulted in 20 approved projects, focusing on cross-border challenges and opportunities with organisations from EU countries around the Baltic Sea and EU Eastern Partnership countries.
Two grant types are available under this program: seed funding and cooperation projects. This call focused on seed funding
“These projects now have the opportunity to build stable, long-term partnerships to address the region’s challenges. Our follow-ups show many cooperations continue beyond SI funding, often securing EU program funding, which is the goal of this support,” says Kurt Bratteby, head of the department for international relations.
Examples of approved projects:
- AICE – AI as an enabler for a circular economy in the food and packaging value chain: Examines how AI can support a circular economy in the food and packaging chain, with partners from Latvia, Poland, and Sweden. Lead: Packbridge.
- SSBSR: Safety and Security in the Baltic Sea Region – a police perspective: Aims to establish a network of researchers and practitioners addressing security challenges like cyberattacks and cross-border crime. Lead: Södertörn University.
- IMPACT: Impact Measurement through Partnership, Assessment, and Communicating Transparently: Supports social entrepreneurs in Sweden, Georgia, and Moldova in measuring and communicating societal impact. Lead: Reach for Change.
- Improving Social Values through Urban Design in Post-Soviet and Post-War Neighborhoods: Focuses on sustainable renovation of large-scale housing from the 1960s-1980s in Ukraine, Lithuania, and Sweden. Lead: Spacescape.
Increased Funding and New Approvals under SI Ukraine Cooperation Programme
The SI Ukraine Cooperation Programme received 168 applications, highlighting significant interest. With additional funding from the Swedish government, eight more projects have been approved.
“The approved projects address Ukraine’s challenges following Russia’s full-scale invasion and the country’s EU integration efforts, focusing on trade, job creation, institution-building, human rights, and civil society development,” says Kurt Bratteby.
This programme supports three project types: cooperation projects, training programmes, and project preparations. The new approvals strengthen trade and job creation areas, with an overall increase in training programmes, including two in human rights.
Examples of approved projects:
- Ukraine Thrive: Empowering Communities for Inclusive Jobs: Aims to improve conditions for Ukrainian internally displaced persons (IDPs) by fostering job creation and economic opportunities through civil society engagement and collaboration with local authorities. Lead: ForumCiv.
- Urban Governance for Human Rights and EU Integration (EUcation): Focuses on creating a holistic support system for Ukrainian veterans and vulnerable groups in Lviv, targeting local government officials. Lead: Lund University.
Upcoming Calls and Resources
In December, calls for proposals will open under SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme and SI Creative Partnerships Programme. Information seminars are held during the call for proposals within both programmes. See dates and registration links on each programme’s page.
For details on approved projects, visit the Swedish Institute’s programme pages:
SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme
SI Ukraine Cooperation Programme
and our project database.
Additionally, Swedish actors, universities, government agencies, and organisations now have the opportunity to apply for financial support from SI to organise training programmes within SAYP 2025-2026. The SI Academy for Young Professionals is a programme aimed at strengthening young professionals from countries within the EU’s Eastern Partnership with skills, networks, and inspiration to implement and drive change in their respective organisations and home countries.