KIEM HighTech
Funds Dutch industry-linked applied research pilots and prototype development in high-technology fields.
KIEM HighTech is an exploratory applied-research grant administered by Regieorgaan SIA (the Dutch Taskforce for Applied Research) under the broader NWO funding umbrella. The programme funds new practice-oriented research activities that contribute to technology development across various innovation domains. The maximum award per application is €40,000, and the total 2026 budget is €2,121,262. The call accepts continuous submissions until 15 September 2026 at 14:00 hrs. Despite being listed on the NWO website, all applications and correspondence go to Regieorgaan SIA — not to NWO directly. The programme contact is Iris Veenstra, Programme Manager, reachable at kiem@regieorgaan-sia.nl or +31 (0)30 2594020.
Eligible participants include starting researchers, applied sciences researchers, interdisciplinary teams, and industry collaborators at Dutch higher professional education (HBO) institutions and universities of applied sciences. The grant is designed as a first step — a short, focused experiment establishing whether a research-practice collaboration is viable before scaling up to a larger programme. KIEM HighTech is one of seven KIEM variants active in 2026, alongside KIEM Logistiek, KIEM GoFood, KIEM MV, KIEM GoChem, KIEM Defensie, and KIEM Arbeidsbesparende AI; applicants should verify they are applying to the variant that matches their sector.
To strengthen an application, teams should demonstrate a clear link between the proposed exploratory research and a specific industry partner's innovation challenge, since KIEM explicitly targets knowledge utilization rather than purely academic inquiry. The €40,000 ceiling and relatively light reporting requirements make KIEM HighTech well suited for short feasibility experiments or pilot studies that could anchor a follow-on project under NWO's Open Technology Programme or a larger national programme.
Exploratory applied research contributing to technology development within various innovation domains. Delivered by Regieorgaan SIA.
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