NWO Opens Funding for Biochemical Diversity Research
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has opened the “KIC Biochemical diversity” call for research proposals. The program is focused on leveraging natural biochemical substances and pathways to enhance the sustainability of production processes, an area relevant to developing bio-based alternatives for construction and other industries.
- This funding call is part of the broader Knowledge and Innovation Covenant (KIC) through which the NWO invests over 100 million euros annually in public-private partnerships to address societal challenges. - The "Biochemical diversity" program has a total budget of €7 million, with individual projects eligible for funding between €600,000 and €1,360,000. - Proposals for this call must be submitted by February 12, 2026, and are required to have a minimum of 20% co-funding from public or private partners to ensure alignment with industry needs. - This research directly supports the Dutch government's National Biobased Construction Program, which has a goal that by 2030, at least 30% of new houses will be built with 30% or more biobased materials. - The program aligns with the national goal of achieving a fully circular economy by 2050 by stimulating the development of renewable, bio-based materials as alternatives to fossil-based resources. - The Dutch government has allocated €200 million to the National Approach to Biobased Building (NABB) to scale up the supply chains for biobased construction materials, from cultivation to final application. - The research is linked to several of the government's key Knowledge and Innovation Agendas (KIAs), specifically those for Key Enabling Technologies, Circular Economy, and Agriculture, Water, Food. - A matchmaking event will be held in September 2025 to facilitate the formation of consortia between researchers and companies, a key component of the KIC funding strategy.
