UT grants

In collaboration with TKI HTSM, each year the University of Twente supports public-private partnerships through its Connecting Industries instrument. The funding for this call comes from TKI HTSM, co-funded in cash by private enterprises and in-kind by the University of Twente. 

THE UT CONNECTING INDUSTRIES FUNDING SCHEME

Every year, the University of Twente stimulates public-private initiatives through its Connecting Industries instrument. Connecting Industries aims to support the ambition of the University of Twente to develop its relationships with industry. Each initiative should be co-funded in cash by a partner. A budget will approximately have the following breakdown: TKI HTSM 40%, private cash contribution 40%, in-kind UT 20%. At least one partner in the project should also commit an in-kind contribution to show that the initiative constitutes an actual collaboration.

Topics eligible for funding

An initiative must fit within at least one of the TKI HTSM strategic programmes (SPs) in which the University of Twente has a reserved budget. These SPs and their PPSI (public-private collaboration innovation scheme) subsidy reservations can be found in Appendix 1 of the call for proposals (CfP).

WHO CAN APPLY?

Main applicants and co-applicants should be employed by the University of Twente and should have access to sufficient university facilities and budget to carry out the project according to university standards. This call is also open for researchers employed by the Advanced Manufacturing Centre and the Max Planck Centre for Complex Fluidics at the University of Twente.

WHAT CAN BE APPLIED FOR?

• Personnel (PhD students and postdocs)
• Consumables and (purchase of) equipment directly needed for the execution of the project.
• Costs for travelling and other operational expenses for materials that are directly needed for the execution of the project.
• Cost for use of infrastructure.

Deadlines

TKI HTSM has published five deadlines for submission (Section 2 of the CfP). The UT PPSI subsidy reservations will be invested on a first come first serve basis. Initiatives are assessed and, if needed, prioritised.

MORE INFORMATION

Please contact a.h.zomer@utwente.nl for general information on this Connecting Industries call or one of the contact persons listed in the CfP.

The University of Twente (ut) and the University of Münster (UM) have launched the call for Strategic Collaboration Grants 2026. 

This year’s call focuses on Health, a priority area to both institutions. 

The call is aimed at strengthening the partnership between UT and UM, stimulating strategic joint research initiatives to enhance international collaboration. The Strategic Collaboration Grants (SCG) 2026 will support joint initiatives that foster innovation, advance research excellence, and create societal value through collaborative projects. 

Scientists at UT and UM are invited to co-apply with proposals that valorize synergies between the two institutions in the broader field of health/life sciences. SCG 2026 offers funding up to € 40k (for around 6 months) per project, to kickstart or intensify bilateral high-quality research cooperation. The grant must be used to fund the preparation of a joint funding application. 

Applicants are invited to submit proposals by 15 March 2026. 

Information on the call can be found here:

University of Münster, UT’s Global Academic Partner  

UT collaborates with three designated Global Academic Partners (GAP’s), amongst which University of Münster (UM). 

A Global Academic Partnership is a strategic collaboration involving two or more faculties that is a catalyst for achieving multiple strategic goals of the university. 

These partnerships are established with higher education institutions outside of the Netherlands, fostering joint initiatives that leverage complementary skills, knowledge, and expertise. Based on shared values, these collaborations aim to address common societal challenges. 

Besides UM, UT’s two other designated GAPs are Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico and University of Waterloo in Canada. 

The Alliance VU-UT invites researchers to submit collaborative Seed Grant proposals addressing major societal challenges. 

To strengthen collaboration within the Alliance VU-UT, we are pleased to invite researchers to submit collaborative research proposals for a Seed Grant of up to €35,000.

The aim of the joint research projects is to contribute to solving pressing societal challenges within the following thematic areas:

• Responsible Societies: Urban climate, Responsible use of natural resources, Natural hazards and societal impacts, Net zero emissions.
• Secure Societies: The citizen perspective, Crisis management, Undermining, Polarisation, The future of the police professions.
• Smart Societies: Smart health, Smart areas, Smart industries.
• In addition to the existing thematic areas, the Steering Group wishes to explore and encourage VU-UT collaboration in the Health domain. 

In addition to the aim of the Seed Grant, we hope the outcome of Seed projects is that VU-UT teams:

1. Work together and continue their collaboration after their projects are completed. 
2. Expand their network and pursue alternative forms of funding for their research after the seed grant period.

Early-career researchers are encouraged to form teams with senior colleagues from both the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) and the University of Twente (UT). Collaborations with external partners, both public and private, are also encouraged.

The Pioneers in Health Care Innovation Fund (PIHC) is all about technical solutions to overcome limitations in the current health care, or new medical applications of existing technology.

With the innovation fund, the University of Twente, Saxion, MST, ZGT and Deventer Hospital are promoting bottom-up collaboration between the world of new technologies and medical practice with a view to facilitating the introduction of innovative technology in the clinic.

OBJECTIVES

Long-term collaboration

The PIHC Innovation Fund aims to facilitate the introduction of innovative technology into the clinic and create long-term collaboration between parties. A bottom-up, project-driven approach is chosen in which clinicians and scientists jointly address specific clinical issues. Innovation vouchers are awarded to project teams as seed money that participants can use to test the feasibility of their ideas and evaluate the potential for developing them further. 

Impact on health care

By initiating the fund, the enormous research potential in the Twente and Salland region is directed towards improved patient care. The innovation fund will therefore ultimately benefit patients, not necessarily limited to the region. To ensure this impact on health care, the fund emphasizes the importance of valorization in its projects.

SIZE OF THE FUND

Together, UT, Saxion, MST, ZGT and Deventer Hospital provide a yearly budget of €600,000 for the PIHC Innovation Fund and are committes to long-term continuation of the program.  

Every year, a call for proposals is published for researchers of UT and Saxion and medical specialists MST, ZGT and Deventer Hospital. At the end of the year the innovation vouchers are awarded. Projects have to start within 6 months after the voucher has been awarded and the project duration is maximum 12 months.

MORE INFORMATION

The University of Twente and Radboudumc have set up the Twente University RadBoudumc Opportunities (TURBO) program. With a grant from the TURBO program, research groups from both institutions can expand an innovative idea into a large research project. 

GOAL

The goal of a TURBO grant is to prepare a research project for the acquisition of larger external grants, for example from national and EU-funds or from companies that work in the area of health and technology. The collaboration between the University of Twente and the RadboudUMC will also stimulate the exchange of students and researchers and the sharing of knowledge and expertise.    

FOUR GRANTS

Annually, four TURBO grants are awarded. These project-based grants of €80.000,- each will be awarded to four (preferentially) new collaborations between researchers from the University of Twente and Radboudumc. Grants are evaluated by a committee and selected on the basis of scientific quality, the odds of receiving additional grants, innovation and societal impact.

MORE INFORMATION