With the Proof of Concept (PoC) programme, KWF wants to stimulate the translation of impactful innovations to ensure they reach patients more quickly. The programme focuses on mapping out the path toward (clinical) application.
Researchers face various challenges during this trajectory. Which developments or validation steps are necessary? Which stakeholders should be involved and when? How does the innovation compare to what is already on the market or to comparable initiatives elsewhere? Who will pay for it in the end? To make the innovation applicable in practice, technical adjustments may be needed, or IP rights need to be protected. It may also be necessary to hire additional expertise or to collaborate with a company.
In the PoC programme, researchers are asked to work together with the technology transfer office (TTO) of their research institute to create a roadmap outlining the steps needed for translating and implementing the innovation into practice.
The PoC programme serves as a bridge to the next development phase. Limited funding is available to facilitate obtaining funding for the subsequent development steps.
Eligible are KWF projects with promising results, where at least an initial validation has already taken place. The innovation must be at a stage where steps toward a concrete product or application need to be taken. Thus, there is a prospect of a concrete application, but the route is not yet (fully) clear.
The following activities/items are eligible for the PoC programme:
* Only if this expertise is not available within (the TTO of) the main institute or the participating organizations.
The following activities are not eligible:
Call 2025-1 / PoC | |
Call opens: | 2 December 2024 |
Call closes: | 21 January 2025 (12.00 noon) |
Funding Decision: | 8 April 2025 |
Call 2025-2 / PoC | |
Call opens: | 29 April 2025 |
Call closes: | 3 June 2025 (12.00 noon) |
Funding Decision: | Mid-September 2025 |
Call 2025-3 / PoC | |
Call opens: | 30 June 2025 |
Call closes: | 23 September 2025 (12.00 noon) |
Funding Decision: | December 2025 |
Maximum budget per proposal: € 150.000
Duration: 6-18 months
KWF organizes funding through structured Exploration, Development, Implementation, and Proof of Concept calls.
Select the correct call and funding mechanism—whether it’s a hypothesis-driven Research Project, a Young Investigator Grant, a high-risk pilot, or a clinical implementation project—to ensure initial eligibility .
Proposals must excel in peer review, assessed for:
Relevance to KWF mission (cancer understanding or patient care)
Scientific quality (rigor, innovation)
Feasibility (team, methods, resources, realistic objectives)
Research Projects require at least one scientific researcher (post-doc or PhD student) at ≥0.5 FTE
Consortium Projects need explicit added value across partner organizations
Proof-of-Concept and Implementation rounds prioritize translational, often multi-institution proposals
Unique High Risk Projects target novel, early-stage ideas with theory-based hypotheses, piloted over 1–1.5 years
Success in these rounds can pave the way to future larger grants.
Pre-proposal: eligibility, classification, and board review
Full proposal: scientific peer review (≥3 experts)
Patient Advisory Committee (PACO) review of lay summaries and patient relevance
Board deliberation & scoring (1‑5 scale), with final prioritization
👉 What to Do:
Ensure your lay summary effectively communicates patient impact.
Embed patient/public involvement early in design.
Follow KWF’s schedules and guidelines carefully—calls typically run in defined timeframes (e.g., PoC closes Jan 21, 2025; Exploration closes May 14, 2024; Development closes Nov 2023; Pipeline closes Sep 2024)
Use the KWF grant portal and include all required attachments (budgets, FTE info, consortium letters).
KWF programs, especially Proof-of-Concept, Pipeline, and Implementation, emphasize translating discoveries into clinical tools or practices
Provide clear development-to-clinic planning and resource needs.
There’s no hard cap—applications provide justified budgets across phases. KWF assesses cost-effectiveness and may extend or terminate funding based on progress .
📋 Summary Table
Success Factor | Key Strategies |
---|---|
Call alignment | Pick right phase & mechanism |
Scientific excellence | Emphasize relevance, rigor, feasibility |
Team structure | Include key personnel and collaborators |
Innovation orientation | Consider high-risk pilot options |
Patient relevance | Write clear lay summaries and involve patients |
Review compliance | Follow documentation, timelines, portals |
Translation focus | Show clear path from bench to bedside |
Budget rationale | Request justified funding with scalability plans |
🛠️ Final Tips
Match your proposal to call type early—research, pilot, implementation.
Integrate patient/public involvement meaningfully in design and description.
Submit a compelling lay summary for review by both scientific and patient panels.
Prepare budgets that align with proposal scope and value-for-money.
Build translational plans, showing how results will progress beyond the lab.
All research phases are available.
Eligible Countries:
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Dutch Cancer Society (KWF)
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: Postbus 75508, 1070 AM Amsterdam
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Sep 23, 2025
Sep 23, 2025
$176,825
Affiliation: Dutch Cancer Society (KWF)
Address: Postbus 75508, 1070 AM Amsterdam
Website URL: https://www.kwf.nl/en/forresearchers/funding/proofofconcept
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