Netherlands Funds €3.8M for Global Tech Solutions

The Dutch Research Council is opening its doors to ambitious research teams ready to change the world with cutting-edge technology.

Through the International Joint Initiative, Netherlands-based scientists can secure grants up to €760,000 per project. The program specifically targets research using disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and advanced materials to address real-world problems linked to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

What makes this funding unique is its focus on breaking down traditional barriers. Each team must include at least three lead researchers from different countries, each eligible through different funding agencies. Projects must blend expertise from natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and health fields into one cohesive effort.

The initiative also requires something many research programs overlook: mandatory involvement from the people who will actually use the results. Community members, businesses, and end-users must actively participate in shaping the research from day one, not just receive findings at the end.

Dutch universities, medical centers, and designated research institutes can apply through a three-stage process starting March 3, 2026. The total program budget of €3.8 million will fund multiple international teams over three-year periods.

Projects might develop new technologies, study how disruptive innovations affect society and economies, or create practical interventions that improve daily life. Each must demonstrate clear potential for long-term adoption and real societal impact.

The program sets aside mandatory funding for knowledge sharing activities, ensuring research doesn't just sit in academic journals. Between 5 and 20 percent of each grant must go toward spreading findings and building connections with communities that need them most.

The Ripple Effect

This collaborative approach recognizes that today's biggest challenges don't respect borders or academic departments. Climate change, public health crises, and economic inequality require diverse minds working together across continents and disciplines.

By requiring social sciences expertise alongside hard sciences, the initiative acknowledges that technological breakthroughs only matter if people can actually use them. The focus on stakeholder engagement means solutions will be designed with real communities rather than imposed on them.

International research networks formed through this program will continue generating collaborative projects and shared knowledge long after initial funding ends.

Netherlands researchers have until March 2026 to submit initial proposals, with full applications due in November for invited teams.