The KIN has opened two new subsidy rounds: the call “Sustainable Science Fund”, in collaboration with NWO, and “Transformative Practices and Processes for Climate Transitions”. Applications for both subsidies can be submitted until Tuesday 27 January 2026 (14:00:00 CET).
Sustainable Science Fund
With the new “Sustainable Science Fund”, NWO and KIN aim to promote sustainability in scientific research practices among researchers and research institutions. The goal is to prevent or reduce the undesirable environmental impact of research.
About the call
Developments such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution pose urgent challenges to our society. Science plays a crucial role in understanding, preventing and dealing with these sustainability issues. But science itself also has an interest in more sustainable working methods. This applies to all scientific disciplines. Consider CO₂ emissions from mobility, energy and data use, or material consumption in laboratories. How can we use research to contribute to knowledge about sustainability and ensure that research across all disciplines is conducted in a sustainable manner?
The urgency for more sustainable practices is widely felt in the scientific sector, but the right tools, resources and time are often lacking. The same applies to effective collaboration in this area. Existing initiatives are often fragmented and exchange is limited. With the call ‘Sustainable Science Fund’, NWO wants to promote sustainability enabling researchers to carry out their research with as little environmental impactas possible. Sustainable research practices contribute to becoming more future proof, risk mitigation, efficiency and cost reduction. In addition, it is apt for science to set an example in societal transitions such as the climate transition, and to develop new knowledge and innovations that can be widely applied in society.
Collaboration as the key
Sustainability is not the expertise of every researcher. Not everyone has the right knowledge and perspective to initiate real transformation. The key to effective sustainability in science therefore lies in collaboration. Within science itself, between the scientific sector and societal partners, and with partners from the knowledge chain. This call therefore aims to stimulate (transdisciplinary) collaboration, knowledge exchange and networking between researchers and other important (societal) actors.
Who can apply?
Applications may be submitted by individuals or consortia. Individuals may submit an application as a project partner if they have an appointment with a research organisation or a societal organisation for at least the duration of the application process and the proposed project.
A total of €1,000,000 is available for this call. A maximum of €50,000 can be requested per application. The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday 27 January 2026, before 14:00:00 CET.
Applications must be submitted via the online application system ISAAC. More information about this can be found on the funding page.
Transformative Practices and Processes for Climate Transitions
There is no ready-made recipe for a successful climate transition. What is clear, however, is that science and practice must work together to determine the desired direction of transitions. The subsidy call “Transformative Practices and Processes for Climate Transitions” invites societal organisations and knowledge institutions to further develop, test or scale up transformative practices and processes for just climate transitions.
About the call
Systemic change is necessary for the transition to make the Netherlands climate-neutral and climate-resilient. Knowledge can make a real difference in shaping the climate transition. However, the effective use of knowledge also requires a transition in how we do scientific research. Current research practice is often characterised by disciplinary specialisation, competition between consortia and fragmentation of knowledge, and falls short when it comes to tackling complex societal challenges such as climate transitions. With this call for proposals, KIN is focusing on a new scientific practice with a transition mindset: an attitude and way of working that prioritises collaboration between researchers and societal organisations, values different forms of knowledge equally, and offers space for transformative approaches that contribute to just system change.
Who can apply?
This call for proposal invites anyone who wants to connect science and practice to experiment and to develop, test or scale up transformative practices and processes for just climate transitions. From societal organisations, researchers and the creative sector that (want to) use facilitating working methods, processes and in-between spaces for system change and the development of a transition mindset to pioneers who are already working on (sustainable) alternatives for transformative societal impact. It is important that practice forms the starting point and that methods are scalable and transferable. Individuals or consortia can apply for funding.
The programme supports projects that:
- promote transdisciplinary collaboration between practice and science,
- use facilitating working methods, processes and spaces that contribute to systemic change,
- and strengthen the transition mindset among researchers and practice partners by supporting them and offering actionable guidance.
A budget of €500,000 is available for this call for proposals. A maximum of €50,000 can be requested per proposal. The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, 27 January 2026, before 14:00:00 CET.
Information meetings
On 25 November and 9 December, KIN is organising online information meetings about the call ‘Sustainable Science Fund’ and “Transformative Practices and Processes for Climate Transitions”.
Do you have any questions? Attend one of the online information meetings or send an email to programmas@hetkin.nl.
The information sessions will take place on:
– 25 November from 13:00 to 14:00 via this link
– 9 December from 10:00 to 11:00 via this link
Science in Transition
The calls for proposals ‘Sustainable Science Fund” and “Transformative Practives and Processes for Climate Transitions” are part of the Science in Transition programme line of KIN. Within this programme line, KIN is looking at new ways of collaborating, conducting and funding research, as well as working methods and processes that facilitate the dialogue between science and practice so that transformative solutions can emerge that accelerate the necessary transitions.