Research Support

Dutch Research Council (NWO)

> Knowledge and Innovation Covenant

Profile: the Knowledge and Innovation Covenant (KIC) programmes focus on societal challenges in the Netherlands and aim to have an impact on the economy, people and society. The focus is on cooperation between knowledge institutions, private parties and the government. It is therefore essential that companies invest in every research project. There are four main lines: Mission, Demand, Strategy and Practice.

Target Group: the KIC funding programmes offer an excellent opportunity for researchers, companies and civil society organisations to work together on innovative solutions which solve societal challenges.

Amount: between 2024 and 2027, NWO will invest € 120M a year in the Mission, Demand and Strategy main lines and € 18M a year in the Practice main line. The budget range and mandatory co-funding per project varies per main line and call.

> Open Technology Programme

Profile: the Open Technology Programme (OTP) focuses on all disciplines of engineering sciences and application‐oriented practice of mathematics, natural sciences, medical sciences and life sciences and is characterised by the absence of disciplinary boundaries.

Target group: applied and technical-scientific research in close cooperation with public and private users of knowledge in order to contribute to a sustainable and inclusive society.

Amount: total grant ceiling per year is € 25.9M. NWO contributes a max. of € 900,000 per project. Projects with an investment character (min. € 150,000 in equipment), this contribution is a max. of € 1M. If the total project costs exceed € 650,000, co‐funding by users is required (i.e. 25% of the sum in excess of
€ 650,000).