Access to Funding

Translational Research Programme: call open

The Association of Dutch Health Foundations (SGF), ZonMw and Top Sector Life Sciences & Health joined forces in a new Call for Translational Research. The call is currently open until 19 April.

Translational research is the necessary translation of promising results from fundamental scientific research into application in the clinic. Translational research allows this translation to swiftly take place in a safe and responsible manner, thereby enabling patients to benefit as quickly as possible from the latest scientific developments. ZonMw has made it its goal to bridge the gap between theory and practice by stimulating the translation of preclinical knowledge into the development of new therapies. A shared vision of both Top Sector LSH and SGF that want to facilitate public private partnerships. Currently, the three partners joined forces on the Translational Research call. ZonMw and Top Sector will award projects that will be supplemented by Dutch Health Foundations.


Some requirements & information:

  • Projects that are completing the final phase of their translational research and will start with the ‘first in man’ study within six months.
  • Total budget of 10,5 million Euros: 4 million of ZonMw, 2 million of Top Sector LSH and 4,5 million of co-financing Health Foundations.
  • Participating Health Foundations: Diabetes fonds, Epilepsiefonds, Hartstichting, Hersenstichting, Maag Lever Darm Stichting (MLDS), Nederlandse Brandwonden Stichting, Nederlandse Cystic Fibrosis Stichting (NCFS), Reumafonds and Stichting MS Research.
  • Top Sector granted applications always require a public private partnership.
  • Maximum duration of projects: 4 years.

For more information on the grant, evaluation criteria, and matchmaking visit the website or read the programme (Dutch only).


Innovative small- and medium-sized enterprises can once again apply for grants this spring through the SME Innovation Incentive Scheme for Top Sectors (MIT scheme). Grants provided through the scheme may be used for the following: knowledge vouchers, innovation consultancy projects, feasibility studies and R&D joint ventures (small and large). Collectively, the government and regions will provide a total of 55 million euros for the MIT arrangement in 2016.


The exact structure of this year’s grant scheme and the amounts available per component will be announced later this year. The application date windows are as follows (subject to the publication of the MIT scheme, provisionally in mid-March):


Knowledge vouchers

An SME entrepreneur can present a knowledge voucher to a centre of expertise for a scientific inquiry into a research question. Applications will be processed in order of receipt. Application window: 10 May to 1 September 2016.  


Innovation consultancy projects

For obtaining advice and recommendations on innovation from a centre of expertise or independent consultancy. This may involve finding the answer to a research question or addressing a request for advice. Applications will be processed in order of receipt. Application window: 10 May to 1 September 2016.  


Feasibility studies

For identifying the technical and financial risks potentially involved in a proposed innovation project. Applications will be processed in order of receipt. Application window: 10 May to 1 September 2016.


R&D joint venture

For working with at least one other SME to innovate or develop a product, production process or service. Application window: 5 July to 1 September 2016. The structure is a call for tenders.


Any questions?

If you have questions, are looking for partners, or if you would like advice on your ideas for an innovative project, please call Customer Contact Centre of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency: 088 042 42 42.


Entrepreneurs’ experiences

The ‘Mkb innoveert’ booklet (only available in Dutch) contains testimonials by entrepreneurs who have made use of the facilities provided by the MIT scheme. In many cases, the scheme provided that extra push in the right direction to help them gain momentum and get their innovation projects off the ground.


The Netherlands Enterprise Agency will soon be updating the information on the MIT scheme on their website with details about the scheme in 2016, and the new one-stop MIT assistance page will also soon be up and running. This page will help entrepreneurs find their way when it comes to submitting applications in their own region or to national agencies.

NWO and Top Sector: Building Blocks of Life call open for application

Public-Private Partnerships on scientifically innovative subjects in the area of (molecular) building blocks of life.


With this call for proposals, NWO and partners Top Sector and STW promotes interdisciplinary public-private partnerships on scientifically innovative subjects at the interface of physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and systems analysis. The aim is to realise groundbreaking research and strengthen the interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers and industrial partners to understand the building blocks of life, from molecule to organism. Applications can be submitted by an academic researcher on behalf of a consortium of companies (including SME’s) and researchers appointed at a Dutch university or at a research institute recognised by NWO.  


The deadline for the submission of proposals is April 14, 2016, 15:00 hours.

For more information visit the website.

Open: ERA-HDHL Cofunded Call “Biomarkers for Nutrition and Health”

Researchers are invited to submit research proposals for the joint transnational call “Biomarkers for Nutrition and Health” (BioNH). The JPI HDHL  together with the European Commission has  launched the call using the ERA-NET Cofund instrument. The transnational call will focus on the “development and validation of biomarkers for nutrition and health, including nutritional intake, nutritional status, physical activity-related health, diet-related health and risk of developing diet-related diseases”.


The JPI HDHL aims to create an International Research Network on BioNH through the projects that will be funded in this ERA-HDHL cofunded call and the already funded projects of the JA BioNH . This network of researchers, carrying out studies at a pan-European and international level, will establish a critical mass of expertise necessary in this research area, allowing excellent science, sharing of standardised and innovative measures and research infrastructures, as well as training of young scientists in the field of BioNH.


Call time schedule

  1. The call is launched on 16th February 2016.
  2. The deadline for submission of pre-proposals is on 19th April 2016.


For more information on the ERA-HDHL cofunded call on “Biomarkers for Nutrition and Health” and the call documents, please visit the ERA-HDHL page.