Proof of Concept Programme - Bridging the Gap to Impact

The KWF Proof of Concept (PoC) programme is designed to accelerate the development of promising innovations emerging from ongoing KWF projects, helping them move closer to practical, real-world application. Its goal is to ensure that impactful innovations do not stall after initial validation but continue toward implementation that benefits patients.

While researchers are encouraged to anticipate translational pathways and stakeholder involvement as early as possible within standard KWF funding rounds, this does not always happen in practice. There are several reasons for this:

• Researchers often lack the specific knowledge or expertise needed to plan the development trajectory beyond scientific validation.
• Valuable findings can shift the direction of a project, requiring new partnerships, technical modifications, or additional expertise not foreseen in the original plan.
• The translational route itself may be unclear or underdeveloped, with uncertainty around aspects such as regulatory pathways, business models, IP strategy, or stakeholder alignment.

The PoC programme is intended to address these gaps. It serves as an add-on to existing KWF projects that have already generated promising results and require targeted support to define and take the next development steps. This includes:

• Mapping out a realistic pathway toward (clinical) implementation.
• Identifying necessary validation steps and development milestones.
• Clarifying which stakeholders (e.g. clinicians, patients, companies, payers) need to be involved, and when.
• Assessing how the innovation fits within the current landscape of existing solutions and market dynamics.
• Defining what technical, regulatory or commercial expertise is required and how it will be secured.

Applicants are required to collaborate with the technology transfer office (TTO) of their research institution to develop a tailored roadmap that outlines the route toward practical implementation and sets the stage for subsequent funding.

This programme is positioned as a strategic bridge between academic research and application-driven development. Limited PoC funding is available to strengthen the proposition and prepare the innovation for follow-up funding – either within or outside the KWF ecosystem.

Eligibility

Projects must be KWF-funded and have already reached at least initial validation. The innovation should be at a stage where further steps toward a concrete product, intervention or service are needed – but where the pathway is not yet fully defined or resourced.

How does the PoC programme differ from other KWF calls?

Whereas regular KWF funding rounds encourage applicants to include implementation perspectives early on, the PoC programme provides targeted support at a later stage, when new developments, knowledge gaps, or strategic redirections emerge after initial project execution. It helps ensure that promising ideas are not lost due to missing expertise, insufficient stakeholder engagement, or unclear pathways to practical use.

In scope

The PoC programme supports activities that strengthen the route toward practical application and prepare the innovation for the next development phase. Eligible activities fall into three categories:

1. Defining and structuring the development pathway

   These activities aim to clarify the necessary steps toward application, especially when the translational route is still uncertain:

   • Exploring how development steps should be carried out.
   • De-risking the innovation or development steps.
   • Assessing the feasibility of the implementation route (e.g. reimbursement, regulation, market entry).
   • Developing a business case or market validation strategy.
   • Input from a business developer* or innovation expert.
      
2. Targeted development and validation
   
   These are limited, focused activities that help make the innovation more mature or implementation-ready: 
    
   • Conducting limited development steps.
   • Limited technical validation of the innovation.
   • Strengthening the IP position or preparing a patent application.
   • Engaging external expertise to support specific development steps*.
   • Cost-effectiveness analysis (HTA): only if this expertise is not available within the applicant’s research institute or its technology transfer office (TTO).
   • Communication tools to support external collaboration (e.g. pitch deck, partner presentation).
   • Training for collaboration with a commercial partner.
      
3. Regulatory and implementation preparation
   
   Activities to assess and plan for compliance, certification or market access:
    
   • Exploring and preparing steps to ensure compliance with MDR/IVDR (e.g. early-stage regulatory advice on device classification, evidence generation strategy, study design, IMDD drafting, strategic consultation to clarify regulatory pathway) and/or obtaining CE marking.
   • Assessing the pathway toward an approved therapy (e.g. EMA consultation, orphan drug designation, patient engagement strategy, preclinical study design, IMPD drafting).

We encourage the involvement of micro (academic-derived) enterprises. Under specific conditions, funding for project-related costs incurred by micro enterprises may be granted. More information is provided in the Specific Guidelines (for download below)

For diagnostics, e-health and medical devices (MedTech) topics, Health Innovation Netherlands (HI-NL) gives innovators early insights into the path to market (e.g. MDR/IVDR) and the needs of all relevant stakeholders along the way; see Bringing Health Innovation to the next level | Health Innovation Netherlands for more information and the Intake form | Health Innovation Netherlands. If applicants want to make use of (HI-NL), an exploratory conversation with the HI-NL team (30 mins) is a requirement. In case of interest, HI-NL should be included in the application. The costs for the Round Table Service (€ 33.275) should be included in the PoC project budget.

Downloads

Out of scope

The following activities are not eligible for PoC funding:

• (Extension of) activities already included in the original KWF project budget.
• Answering fundamental or applied research questions.
• Target identification.
• Large-scale validation studies (technical or clinical).
• Further development of an innovation that is already commercially available.
• Developing innovations that can be implemented directly within the academic institute (e.g., inclusion in clinical guidelines). However, if the optimal route (academic vs commercial) is unclear, PoC funding may be requested to define and assess this.
• Implementation projects aimed at large-scale roll-out of the innovation.
• Projects better suited for other KWF programmes in terms of scope and size (e.g., Research Project, Young Investigator Grant, Unique High Risk, Consortium Project).
• Direct costs for obtaining CE marking.

Terms & Conditions

The KWF Kankerbestrijding Funding Conditions 2025 and the KWF Kankerbestrijding Auditor's Protocol 2025 apply. See Essential Downloads.

Additional terms include:

• The PoC application must be linked to an ongoing or recently completed KWF-funded project (=related KWF project). This includes KWF-PPP or TTW projects within the Technology for Oncology programme.
• For KWF-PPP projects, the PoC application must not conflict with the terms and conditions that apply to the related KWF-PPP project.
• Applications may be submitted during the project or up to one year after its end date.
• All research phases (basic to clinical) and KWF funding types are eligible.
• The innovation must have reached at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3.
• Project duration: 6–18 months.
• Budget: maximum €150,000 incl. VAT. The format in GMS is leading for budget requests.
• The involvement of 0.5 FTE scientific staff is not mandatory.

Budget guidelines

• Budget may include activities or expertise not covered in the related KWF project.
• External expertise not covered by NFU salary scales can be submitted as ‘service provider’ costs. Maximum hourly rates can be found in the KWF Wage & Salary Policy. If higher rates are proposed, a justification and two comparable quotes must be submitted.

Required documents

• A commitment letter from the TTO is mandatory (whether or not involved). It must specify the TTO’s role, in-kind contribution and any recommended IP-strengthening activities. A letter is also required if the TTO is not involved and must clearly explain why the TTO cannot collaborate on the project.
• A letter of intent/support is required when a commercial partner is involved.
• A letter of support from potential end-users is optional but encouraged, and must explain how the innovation addresses their needs.
• Written consent from the related KWF project leader is required if they are not involved in the PoC application.
• For TTW projects, approval from the user committee is required and must be submitted with the application.

Additional notes

• Exploitation agreements related to the innovation must be reviewed by KWF before project start.
• Multiple PoC applications may be submitted for one KWF project, as long as they concern different innovations.
• Early termination of the related KWF project may lead to reconsideration of the PoC grant.

Timeline

Budget & duration

Maximum budget per proposal: € 150.000 
Duration: 6-18 months

Additional info & recommendations

We recommend checking suitability with the science liaison associated with the KWF project before submitting a proposal.

Apply for funding