The themed call for proposals entitled ‘Digital Twinning – Current and accurate models for insight, optimalisation, and decision-making’ is now open. This innovation-focused call, published by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), is part of the Knowledge and Innovation Covenant (KIC). The KIC is a joint investment programme – involving the NWO, businesses, public administrations and non-profits – to support research that contributes to the Dutch innovation landscape.
A themed, multiannual programme is developed for each Knowledge and Innovation Agenda (KIA) each year. There is a budget of 7 million euros for each KIA, in this case the KIA Digitalisation, which is coordinated by Digital Holland (formerly Topsector ICT). The theme is decided by the KIA Digitalisation’s theme team. Further details are added to the call once the theme is approved by the NWO’s KIC programme committee, comprised of market experts and researchers from all disciplines, and by the NWO’s Supervisory Board. Following approval by the Supervisory Board, the call is published in the Government Gazette (Staatscourant).
Summary of KIC call for Digital Twinning
This call for proposals aims to develop knowledge for Digital Twins and reduce barriers to application in a wide range of sectors. It should, at the same time, generate solutions to societal challenges while delivering social impact. Research within public-private consortiums focuses specifically on the opportunities, possibilities and development of Digital Twinning, a Digital and Information Technology, as well as the risks and limits to its use.
This call for proposals focuses on four preconditions for the development and application of Digital Twins:
- Coupling and integration of Digital Twins
- Current information
- Autonomous and semi-autonomous decision-making
- Human-machine-society
Research proposals for this call for proposals must contribute to two or three of the above preconditions, including at least those related to ‘human-machine-society’.
More information and key dates
This call for proposals is open to applications for funding by researchers working at universities, universities of applied sciences (hogescholen), university hospitals (UMC) and other research institutes in the Netherlands. A consortium must comprise at least one main applicant, a co-applicant and two co-funders. These may be joined by one or more collaborators.
The NWO has earmarked 1.5 to 2.2 million euros per project, with a total budget of 7 million euros. The consortium partners are expected to match 20% of the project budget. An online information session will be organised in December 2025. Further information will be posted on this website and elsewhere in due course.
The deadline for completed proposals is Tuesday 14 April 2026. On 3 February 2026, the NWO will be hosting a matchmaking event for this call for proposals. The KIC’s matchmaking activities aim to bring together and connect different scientific disciplines and organisations Participation is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended. You may submit a research idea while signing up for the matchmaking event.
Assessment criteria
All submitted proposals are assessed following the deadline. The assessment is performed by a committee of five to ten experts. The consultation phase runs from May to June 2026, followed by the interview phase in September and October 2026.
The assessment criteria for the KIC’s Digital Twinning Call are as follows:
- Problem definition and analysis (20%)
- Envisaged impact and route to impact (20%)
- Quality of the consortium (30%)
- Quality of the research (30%)
Winning projects announced at start of 2027
The NWO will announce its decision on winning projects in November/December 2026. The NWO will notify applicants of its decision and inform the organisation why proposals have or have not been awarded funding. The winning projects will be launched in the first months of 2027 and will receive support from the NWO.
This background article provides more information about how the NWO stimulates innovation