International Joint Initiative for Research Harnessing Disruptive Technologies (Netherlands)

Deadline: 03-Mar-2026

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) is part of the International Joint Initiative, funding interdisciplinary, transnational research that uses disruptive technologies to address global societal challenges. Grants of up to €760,000 per project support teams that integrate expertise across natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and health sciences while engaging stakeholders to maximize societal impact. Applications are submitted in multiple stages, with deadlines for the Notice of Intent (3 March 2026), Letter of Intent (9 June 2026), and full proposal (3 November 2026).

Overview

The International Joint Initiative by NWO represents a collaboration among research funders to support international, interdisciplinary, and transformative research.

The initiative focuses on:

• Harnessing disruptive technologies for societal and economic impact

• Promoting research that is interdisciplinary, transnational, and transformative

• Addressing at least one eligible Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)

• Encouraging active involvement of stakeholders and end-users in co-development

Research Focus Areas

Funded projects may focus on:

• Development or implementation of disruptive technology

• Research on societal and economic impacts of disruptive technologies

• Contextually appropriate interventions to improve lives and promote adoption

Key requirements: Projects must demonstrate potential for long-term societal uptake and impact.

Team and Partnership Requirements

• Minimum three co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs), each eligible for a different participating funding agency

• At least one co-PI must be eligible for NFRF funding

• Teams must be interdisciplinary, integrating at least two broad areas:

  • Natural sciences and engineering

  • Social sciences and humanities

  • Health and life sciences

• Strongly encouraged to include social sciences/humanities expertise

• Stakeholder engagement is mandatory for co-development and co-leadership

Funding Details

• Maximum NWO contribution per project: €760,000

• Total NWO budget: €3,800,000

• Eligible expenses:

  • Personnel costs

  • Material costs

  • Knowledge utilisation activities (mandatory, 5–20% of total grant)

  • Project management costs (max 5%)

• PhD student costs are not allowed

• Projects designed for 3 years, with a possible 1-year no-cost extension

Eligibility Criteria for NWO Applicants

Applicants must:

• Hold a tenured or tenure-track position at eligible Dutch research organizations, including:

  • Universities and university medical centres

  • KNAW or NWO-affiliated institutes

  • Designated national research centres

• Additional conditions apply for lectors at universities of applied sciences and TO2 institutions

• Temporary or zero-hour contracts are not eligible, except where explicitly allowed

• Institutional guarantees are required if contracts may end before project completion

Mandatory Participation

Funded projects are expected to:

• Attend a virtual kick-off meeting

• Participate in knowledge mobilization fora at mid-term and project completion

• Include related costs in project budgets

Assessment Criteria

Proposals are evaluated based on:

1. Fit to program – Alignment with program objectives

2. Interdisciplinarity – Integration of multiple disciplines

3. Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research practice

4. Strength of project consortium – Expertise and collaboration

5. High-risk, high-reward potential

6. Feasibility and project plan quality

• Certain criteria are assessed pass/fail at Letter of Intent stage

• Weightings differ between Letter of Intent and full proposal stages

How to Apply: Step-by-Step

1. Form a qualified interdisciplinary team with minimum three co-PIs

2. Ensure eligibility of each PI for the participating funding organizations

3. Prepare Notice of Intent and submit by 3 March 2026

4. Develop Letter of Intent incorporating project concept, consortium, and relevance

5. Submit Full Proposal if invited, including detailed budget, work plan, and stakeholder engagement

6. Include knowledge utilisation and project management costs according to specified limits

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting teams without minimum co-PIs or cross-national eligibility

• Neglecting social sciences/humanities expertise or stakeholder involvement

• Failing to allocate mandatory knowledge utilisation funding (5–20%)

• Including PhD student costs

• Missing deadlines for Notice of Intent, LOI, or Full Proposal

Why This Initiative Matters

The NWO International Joint Initiative supports transformative research that:

• Tackles major global societal challenges using disruptive technologies

• Encourages interdisciplinary and international collaboration

• Enhances long-term societal impact and innovation uptake

• Strengthens networks between researchers and end-users

Conclusion

This call offers a unique opportunity for Dutch and international research consortia to secure funding for ambitious, interdisciplinary, and impactful research using disruptive technologies. With careful consortium design, stakeholder engagement, and adherence to funding and application requirements, projects can contribute to sustainable, long-term societal transformation.

For more information, visit NWO.