Deadline: 02-Sep-2025
ZonMw has announced a new Belgium-Netherlands funding opportunity for non-commercial, practice-oriented research. This joint initiative is supported by ZonMw and the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE). It is designed to support clinical trials that compare the effectiveness of existing health care interventions already in use, such as comparing medications, surgery versus medical therapy, or evaluating optimal treatment timing.
The focus of the program is on pragmatic and practice-based trials that can lead to real-world improvements. All studies must be non-commercial, and the treatment options evaluated must either be reimbursed or have the potential to be reimbursed by health care payers in Belgium and The Netherlands. The goal is to produce research that can have an immediate, significant impact on the efficiency of the health systems in both countries.
The total funding available for this call is €10.8 million. Each proposed trial should have a realistic timeline and must be completed within 10 years.
Eligible applicants include research teams based in Belgium and The Netherlands. The main applicant, or Sponsor, must be based in one of the two countries and be supported by a National Coordinating Centre located in the other country. Both Belgian and Dutch centres must be involved, and regional diversity is encouraged.
In Belgium, the Sponsor or National Coordinating Centre must be a non-profit that is qualified to lead non-commercial multicentre trials and meet all regulatory requirements. If the study involves products like drugs or medical devices, it must not benefit a single company exclusively. At least one participating centre must come from each region—Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels. All funding must comply with European state aid regulations.
In The Netherlands, the Sponsor or National Coordinating Centre must be a research or care institution. At least one participating Dutch institution should be a non-academic hospital. Interventions studied should fall under the Basic Health Care or Long Term Care packages. The research must align with ZonMw’s Efficiency Studies or Rational Pharmacotherapy programs. ZonMw will only fund projects that meet the conditions of the Exemption Decision for Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI).
The selection process involves three stages. First, applicants submit a Research Outline (RO) summarizing the proposal. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a Full Research Proposal (FRP), including a draft protocol and budget. A final submission stage follows, requiring a full protocol, revised budget, and a feasibility report incorporating committee feedback.
For more information, visit ZonMw.