What Svenska ESF-rådet does

Svenska ESF-rådet (The Swedish ESF Council) is a Swedish government authority established in 2000 that administers the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) within Sweden. Operating under the Ministry of Employment and the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the agency manages multi-annual EU structural funding allocations (8.7 billion SEK for 2014-2020, 8.6 billion SEK for 2021-2027) across six priority areas covering inclusive working life, job opportunities, poverty risk reduction, rural capacity, social innovation, and Ukrainian refugee support. The agency distributes grants to municipalities, enterprises, NGOs, and educational institutions through competitive calls for proposals managed via the Projektrummet+ online portal.

The agency's core technology platform comprises Projektrummet+ (the ESF+ 2021-2027 application portal), Tidrapport ESF+ (a project time-reporting system), Projektbanken (a searchable public project database), and Socialfonden i siffror (a statistics dashboard). Web infrastructure relies on Siteimprove Analytics and AWSELB. The organization runs nine regional offices providing nationwide applicant support and guidance, complemented by webinars, newsletters, and social media channels. The Webbshop distributes promotional materials to project implementers.

The agency's business model is non-commercial: it does not generate revenue from customers and instead acts as an administrative intermediary between the European Commission and Swedish project recipients. Project grants carry a typical 46% co-financing requirement from applicants. Svenska ESF-rådet reports a portfolio of 997 completed projects and 548,212 participants for 2014-2020, with 514 ongoing projects in the current 2021-2027 period. Notable outcomes include 75% employment transition rates in the Etableringslyftet project for foreign-born jobseekers and 100% placement in the Botildenborg Foundation's Ukrainian refugee program.

Name

Svenska ESF-rådet

Legal name

Svenska ESF-rådet

Website

https://esf.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Svenska ESF-rådet is a Swedish government authority that administers the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) in Sweden, distributing EU structural grants across labor market integration, skills development, and social inclusion projects nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Grant Administration (EU Structural Funds)

NAICS

International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Human Services & Benefits Administration (Welfare, Disability, Child & Family) (BPAIABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Assistance, Policy Lending & Capacity Building Programs (BPADACAN)

Keywords

• EU social fund administration
• Labor market integration programs
• Social inclusion funding
• Regional development grants
• Structural fund management

Headquarters

HQ city

Gävle

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. EU Structural Fund Administration: Svenska ESF-rådet administers European Union structural funds, specifically the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027. The agency distributes grants to projects that contribute to an inclusive labour market, skills development, and social inclusion across Sweden. Funding comes from the EU with co-financing requirements from project recipients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Svenska ESF-rådet is the Swedish government authority that administers the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027, distributing approximately 8.6 billion SEK in EU structural funds to projects supporting an inclusive labor market, skills development, and social inclusion across Sweden. The agency operates the Projektrummet+ application portal, Tidrapport ESF+ reporting system, and Projektbanken project database, and provides localized applicant support through nine regional offices.

Product overview

Svenska ESF-rådet operates as a government agency administering the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) in Sweden, serving as the primary platform for EU social investment funding. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected digital services including Projektrummet for project applications and reporting, Projektbanken as a searchable project database, Webbshop for resources, and the Socialfonden i siffror statistics dashboard. The ESF+ program itself is structured across six priority areas (A-F) covering inclusive employment, job opportunities, poverty reduction, rural development, social innovation, and refugee support. Regional offices provide localized delivery across nine Swedish regions, while the EaSI national contact point handles international program coordination. The core offering is project financing administration, not a traditional software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Europeiska socialfonden+ (ESF+) 2021-2027 EU grant program administered by Svenska ESF-rådet for projects covering inclusive working life, job opportunities, poverty reduction, rural capacity, social innovation, and Ukrainian refugee support. Open to municipalities, regions, government agencies, private companies, and civil society organizations as project applicants.
• Projektrummet+ Application Portal
• Projektbanken Searchable public database of all completed and ongoing ESF-funded projects in Sweden, browsable by region and program area. Available to applicants, researchers, and the public for project discovery and best-practice reference.
• Tidrapport ESF+ Time reporting system for approved ESF+ projects to log project activities, personnel time, and participant data. Used by project administrators in compliance with ESF+ reporting requirements.
• Socialfonden i siffror Interactive statistics dashboard displaying ESF program outcomes including total funding allocated (8.7 billion SEK for 2014-2020), completed projects (997), and participants supported (548,212). Available to the public and program stakeholders for transparency and reporting.
• Utlysningar (ESF+ Calls for Proposals) Public listing of all open and planned ESF+ funding calls, organized by fund, program area, region, and budget size. Project applicants use this to identify funding opportunities and submit applications through Projektrummet+.
• EaSI Sweden (Nationell kontaktpunkt) National contact point for the EU Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) program, providing information on EU calls and supporting cross-border cooperation. Serves Swedish organizations seeking EaSI funding opportunities.
• Regional Office Services Localized support and guidance services delivered through nine regional offices covering Övre Norrland, Mellersta Norrland, Norra Mellansverige, Östra Mellansverige, Stockholm, Västsverige, Småland och Öarna, Sydsverige, and ESF Nationellt. Available to project applicants and holders throughout Sweden.
• Webbshop Online shop for ordering ESF promotional materials, publications, and resources for project implementers and the public. Supports program visibility and stakeholder communication.

Quantifiable outcome

• 548,212 project participants supported during 2014-2020 program period
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Botildenborg FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CARE-funded project helping Ukrainian refugees integrate into Swedish labor market. Successfully placed 100% of participants in employment within two months.
• Sollentuna, Sigtuna, and Upplands Väsby MunicipalitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Collaborative partnership for Etableringslyftet project targeting foreign-born jobseekers in northern Stockholm region. 75% of participants achieved employment or studies.
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Commission, through its Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, oversees ESF+ implementation. Representatives participate in the Monitoring Committee in a supervisory and advisory capacity. The Commission approves the operational program and monitors fund usage.
• Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs Sweden's public employment service, Arbetsförmedlingen is a key partner for labor market integration projects. They participate in the Monitoring Committee and are the sole eligible applicant for Programme Area B grants.
• Mötesplats Social InnovationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational competence center for social innovations that presents methods for labor market projects. Collaborates with ESF-funded projects to share research and innovation practices.
• MSI-noden i Borås (Research Node)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch node in Borås that presents current research on social innovation methods and collaboration between academia and labor market practitioners.
• Malmö UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented on the ESF Monitoring Committee. Academic partner for research and evaluation of ESF+ projects and labor market interventions.
• University of BoråsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-owner of the Re:Skills project for sustainable textile industry transition. Provides research and innovation expertise for skills development.
• Science Park BoråsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-owner of Re:Skills project alongside University of Borås. Supports innovation and business development in the textile and fashion industry.
• Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents Swedish municipalities and regions on the Monitoring Committee. Key stakeholder for public sector labor market initiatives.
• Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor market representative on the Monitoring Committee. Represents blue-collar workers' interests in social fund governance.
• Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor market representative on the Monitoring Committee. Represents white-collar professionals' interests in social fund governance.
• Confederation of Swedish EnterprisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness representative on the Monitoring Committee. Represents employers' interests in social fund and labor market policy.
• Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy (IFAU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute represented on the Monitoring Committee. Provides evaluation expertise for labor market and education policy.
• Caritas Sverige / Mötesplats Caritas StockholmmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeasibility study (Conexus) for developing a model to help adults in complex social vulnerability progress toward labor market integration. Based on nearly a decade of practical experience.
• Swedish Public Employment ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaria Kindahl and Emil Johansson represent Arbetsförmedlingen on the ESF Monitoring Committee. Sole eligible applicant for Programme Area B funding.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurofound (European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions): EU tripartite agency providing research on working conditions, employment, and social policies. Provides evaluation and research infrastructure that supports evidence-based programming across ESF+ initiatives.
• Cedefop (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training): EU agency supporting vocational education and training policy that complements ESF+ skills development objectives. Operates at EU level with policy research and analysis capabilities that intersect with the agency's competence development programs.
• European Commission DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion: The EU-level oversight body for ESF+ that approves operational programs, supervises implementation, and sits on the Monitoring Committee. As the funder and regulator, it sets the strategic framework within which Svenska ESF-rådet operates.

Direct peers

• Tillväxtverket (Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth): Swedish government authority that administers the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), making it the structural counterpart to Svenska ESF-rådet for EU cohesion policy implementation in Sweden. Both agencies manage EU structural funds through similar national-regional delivery models.
• France Travail (formerly Pôle Emploi): France's national employment agency and ESF+ managing authority partner, with comparable mandates in labor market integration, skills development, and unemployment reduction funded through European Social Fund+ programs.
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency): Germany's federal employment agency that administers ESF+ programs alongside Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales. It operates under a similar public authority structure with nationwide regional coverage for labor market policy delivery.
• Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service): Sweden's national public employment agency that partners with Svenska ESF-rådet on labor market integration projects. As the sole eligible applicant for Programme Area B grants, it is the agency's largest single project sponsor and most operationally aligned peer for workforce development.
• IFAU (Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy): Swedish government research institute that sits on the ESF Monitoring Committee and provides evaluation expertise for labor market and education policy. Operates as a research partner but with a similar public-authority governance structure.

Others

• ILO (International Labour Organization): UN agency setting international labor standards and supporting employment policies globally. Provides international frameworks and policy guidance relevant to Swedish labor market integration initiatives funded through ESF+.
• European Investment Bank: EU-owned financial institution that co-finances social and labor market infrastructure across Europe. Provides complementary funding mechanisms and instruments relevant to ESF+ project co-financing strategies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCubaMpNIyNbzsH2jnedLa8g
• Facebookfacebook.com/svenskaesf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/svenska-esf-r-det

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Svenska ESF-rådet