In collaboration with the Dutch Research Council (NWO), we are opening a new call to support existing Expertise Networks.
'Strengthening Knowledge Cooperation in Space Research' is aimed at existing Expertise Networks established under the Expertise Networks programme about the development and use of space infrastructure for various themes. The funding is intended to support Expertise Networks whose initial project grant has expired to continue their activities and update their composition. This Call for proposals aims to achieve this through grants for joint research projects at low Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) that keep the parties in the Expertise Network together and for network support activities. This funding instrument is a joint call of NWO and the Netherlands Space Office.
Call 2025 - how to apply
Download the call text here.
The grant ceiling for this Call for proposals totals € 1,425,000.
A maximum of one application will be awarded per theme within this Call for proposals.
To apply you should send in the application form to knw@spaceoffice.nl. The deadline for submitting applications is Thursday, June 19, 2025, before 14:00:00 CEST.
Who can apply
When this Call for proposals was opened, only the Expertise Networks projects funded by grants from the 'Expertise Networks Scheme 2017' round were closed. This funding round therefore is open for supporting and updating existing Expertise Networks around the themes from the Expertise Networks Scheme 2017, or on themes which are a combination of several of these themes. The relevant themes are:
Background
'Strengthening knowledge cooperation in space research', or 'Strengthening knowledge cooperation' for short, falls under the programme 'Partnerships for Space Instruments & Applications Preparatory Programme' (PIPP). The PIPP is part of Dutch space policy. Strengthening the Netherlands' international position in the development and use of space instruments, which is the focus of this Call for proposals, is a priority of this policy.
Previous funding rounds of the PIPP focused on supporting Dutch researchers to become Principal Investigator (PI) of a space instrument or mission (period 2010-2013) and on the formation of Expertise Networks (KNW) around the development and use of space instruments (period 2017-2022; the Expertise Networks Scheme). From 2022, the PIPP was further developed to remain effective in the future. The PIPP, together with the 'Use of Space Infrastructure for Earth Observation and Planetary Research' (GO) programme, has since fallen under the umbrella 'Strengthening Space and Science Synergy' funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) as part of the national space research policy. Under the PIPP, two variants of funding rounds will be offered in 2025: the 'PI Support' (to strengthen PI roles already fulfilled by Dutch researchers and their exploitation) and 'Strengthening Knowledge Cooperation' aimed at already existing Expertise Networks. This call for proposal concerns the first grant round of the variant 'Strengthening Knowledge Cooperation'.