Health~Holland International Kickstarter
The International Kickstarter Call aims to initiate new international public-private collaborations within the Life Sciences & Health (LSH) sector. The program specifically targets consortia that are in the early stages of collaboration with partners from the target countries, as identified in the International Strategy 2024–2027. Through this call, the Top Sector LSH seeks to stimulate international R&D initiatives that foster innovation, valorisation, and long-term economic and societal impact.
The International Kickstarter Call is complementary to existing instruments such as Eurostars, Horizon Europe, and PPP subsidy, while addressing a recognized gap in the current funding landscape. It supports smaller, exploratory initiatives led by a Dutch SME or research organization, with the potential to evolve into enduring international partnerships. Moreover, this instrument not only invites foreign stakeholders to collaborate, but also encourages strategic investments in the Netherlands — for example, through the establishment of joint research projects, integration into Dutch innovation ecosystems, or exploration of opportunities to establish or expand their presence within the Dutch LSH sector.
Why participate?
A successful International Kickstarter project lays the foundation for sustainable collaboration between consortium partners, with clearly defined next steps toward valorisation and/or implementation. While outcomes may not be immediately realised, the project must demonstrate clear potential and commitment to evolve into a long-term partnership. Demonstrable added value from international cooperation is essential.
Who is eligible?
This call is open to consortia consisting of at least one research organization and one for-profit enterprise (company). The lead applicant must be based in the Netherlands and may be either a research organization or a company. Additionally, the consortium must include at least one partner located in one of the target countries identified in the International Strategy 2024-2027. For further details, please refer to the full call text.
Available Budget
The total available amount of PPP Allowance for the HHINT Kickstarter programme 2025 is €1,500,000. The amount of PPP Allowance that can be applied for is between €50,000 and €250,000 per project.
Application procedure and deadlines
To be considered for funding under the International Kickstarter program, applicants must follow a two-step application process. Applications are accepted on a continious basis via tki@health-holland.com, and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Step 1: Pre-Application Submission - Deadline: September 25, 2025, 17:00 CET
Pre-applications will be assessed within three weeks of submission. A full application may only be submitted upon receiving a positive evaluation of the pre-application. Please note that Health~Holland is not responsible for estimating the time required by the consortium to complete and submit the full application.
- Required document:
Step 2: Full Application Submission - Deadline: October 23, 2025, 17:00 CET
- Required documents:
- Full Application Form (update June 4, 2025: question C.4b has been added)
- Budget Form
- Templates Letters of Commitment (Dutch or English)
- Template Consortium Agreement (Standard or Clinical Studies)
- If applicable: Template for Declaration of No Company in Difficulty
- Supporting documentation:
- Appendices application form
- Additional explanation article 8 consortium agreement
More information?
The full call text and all necessary submission documents are available for download below. For further questions, please contact tki@health-holland.com.
