To kick off the AI&I Cross-Institute Synergy Grant call, researchers from five Amsterdam UMC research institutes gathered for a networking event at Hotel CASA in Amsterdam on the 15th of June. The meeting was organised to spark new collaborations across institutes. Researchers affiliated with AI&I, ACS, AGEM, AMS, and APH came together for an afternoon of introductions, idea-sharing, and networking, followed by a walking dinner that further sparked new collaborations and project ideas.
Nearly 30 participants attended the event, with 11 researchers pitching their research ideas to the audience. The pitches reflected the diversity of research at Amsterdam UMC, with topics ranging from advanced electron microscopy and brain lipid metabolism to neuroinflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, fibroblast immune memory, cancer immunology and infection prevention.
Each pitch was followed by questions, discussion and suggestions for new connections. A recurring remark was: 'You should talk to this person or that person,' underlining the value of bringing researchers with different expertise together in the same room. These conversations continued during the walking dinner, where many participants stayed to explore potential collaborations and next steps.
Synergy Grant in practice: combining unique expertise
To inspire future applicants, we interviewed Synergy Grant 2026 laureate Dr Rens Zonneveld about his project Guardians of the Gut, in which he joined forces with AGEM researcher Dr Vanesa Muncan. You can read the full article here.
'The synergy grant fused two unique skills into an important and feasible project’.
About the Synergy Grant
This Cross-Institute Snergy Grant aims to break down institutional and disciplinary boundaries. By offering seed funding of €50,000 per awarded project, the grant encourages bold, interdisciplinary research that brings together complementary expertise from across the participating institutes.
Who can apply
Researchers who were unable to attend the Meet & Greet are still warmly invited to submit an application. One grant will be awarded for each combination of AI&I with one of the other participating institutes (ACS, AGEM, AMS or APH). The deadline for submissions is 21 September 2026 at 23.59 hrs.
For more information on eligibility, assessment criteria and the application procedure, please visit the AI&I website.
Read more about the experiences of previous AI&I grant awardees:
AI&I Collaboration Grant Facilitates In-depth Research on Rheumatic Muscle Dysfunction (October 2025)
The Puppeteers: Unraveling the Mind’s Complexity with Support from the AI&I Collaboration Grant (September 2025)
The Methotrexate Monitoring trial (February 2023)