Holomicrobiome 2026 programme

Holomicrobiome 2026 programme is sponsored by Dutch Research Council (NWO). A thematic call under the National Growth Fund inviting researchers to build consortia for targeted research and development in the field of holomicrobiology. This program is highly relevant for biomedical research related to microbiomes.

Holomicrobiome 2026 - Towards novel microbiome applications for the environment, food and health | NWO 26-08-2026: the two budget templates have been replaced with new versions. Our society faces major challenges in the areas of climate, environmental quality, circularity, and animal and public health.

Microbiomes have the potential to offer sustainable solutions, for example by reducing harmful emissions in agriculture and livestock farming, and by strengthening the resilience and health of humans and animals. Microbiomes can also play a role in preventing and combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) or improving the quality of surface water.

The knowledge gained through this programme therefore not only leads to the development of innovative solutions, but also helps to tackle these societal challenges. Full, associate and assistant professors and other researchers with a comparable position may submit an application if they have a position at one of the Dutch knowledge organisations as mentioned in the Call for proposals.

Applications are submitted by a main applicant and one or more co-applicants on behalf of the consortium. An important condition is that the main applicant (or their replacement) has participated in the matchmaking.

Staff members of the following organisations may act as co-applicants: the research organisations listed under ‘main applicant’ in the Call for proposals; Dutch research organisations that meet the eligibility criteria for organisations based in the Netherlands; foreign research organisations that meet the eligibility criteria for organisations based abroad; companies and other public and private organisations.

The description of who may act as an applicant in the Call for proposals is decisive. An application is submitted by a consortium. In case of Flagship projects, at least two different research institutes need to be involved.

Collaboration partners are not obligatory, but can be part of the consortium. The subsidy ceiling for this Call for proposals is € 26,000,000. In this Call for proposals there are two categories for which a grant can be applied for: ‘Flagship projects’ and ‘Use Case projects’.

For each of these categories, a maximum € 13,000,000 is available. Flagship projects Per project, a minimum of € 1,500,000 and maximum € 3,250,000 grant can be applied for. Maximum duration: 60 months.

Each application requires at least 15% of the total project costs to be ‘Non-NWO funding’. Use case projects Per project, a minimum of € 500,000 and maximum € 1,500,000 grant can be applied for. Maximum duration: 36 months.

Each application requires at least 30% of the total project costs to be ‘Non-NWO funding’. A minimum of 50% of the applied for grant should go to the research organisations listed as ‘main applicant’ in the call for proposals. The main applicant and co-applicants can apply for personnel, material, knowledge utilization and (only Flagship projects) investments.

Deadline registration for matchmaking: 25 June 2026, 14:00:00 CEST. Matchmaking: 30 June 2026. Deadline request for assessment of organisations: 29 September 2026, 14:00:00 CEST.

Deadline application: 27 October 2026, 14:00:00 CET. Comply with the Framework for State aid for research, development and innovation (RDI Framework) For research organisations: the assessment committee assesses to what extent the activities denoted as noneconomic in nature qualify as independent scientific research by the research organisation in the partnership, aimed at more knowledge and better insight. Criterium 1.

Fit of the project in the selected category (10%), Criterium 2. Quality of the consortium (30%), Criterium 3. Scientific and/or societal impact (30%), Criterium 4.

Quality of the research plan (30%). Participation in the matchmaking is obligatory for main applicants. Admissible proposals are assessed by independent external experts.

Applicants will be invited for interview to elucidate their proposal to the assessment committee. If more than twice the amount of proposals is submitted in a category than can be awarded, this Call for proposals will include an interview selection. The assessment committee prepares a ranking and advices the board of domain AES about the quality of the applications.

The board of domain AES decides, based on the advice of the committee and the available funds, on whether or not to award funding. More information on the National Growthfund programme Holomicrobiome Responsible research data management is an essential component of good research practice. Prepare a data management plan after the grant is awarded and before the project starts.

Registration for the matchmaking is obligatory for main applicants (who can send a representative) and is done via the website. Please keep an eye on the Events page. You can find this page on the website’s homepage.

Applications must be submitted through the Isaac application and reporting system. If you do not have an Isaac account yet, then please create one at least one workday in advance. More information about writing a proposal and which forms you need to use can be found in Isaac.

Please download and use the forms in Isaac. Below you will find examples of the required forms. The application makes use of the correct application form (i.e. either for a Flagship project ór a Use Case project), and should clarify which problem the project addresses (i.e. either a Challenge for a Flagship project or development of a microbiome product in the Use Case projects).

The application also describes the goals, hypotheses, research methods and scientific feasibility of the project. In addition, at leaste two cofunders must be mentioned, as well as any collaboration partners. The application should also describe how the research will lead to scientific and/ or societal impact.

Mandatory consortium-building activities Registration for and participating in the matchmaking is obligatory for main applicants (who can send a representative) and is done via the website. Please keep an eye on the Events page. You can find this page on the website’s homepage.

The following must be included as mandatory attachments when registering for the matchmaking: Registration form for the matchmaking.

The following must be included as mandatory attachments with the complete applications: Declaration of general terms and conditions under the GBER, Downloads for your application Holomicrobiome 2026 | call for proposals Holomicrobiome 2026 | application form flagship Holomicrobiome 2026 | application form use case Holomicrobiome 2026 | general statement agvv and hmb Holomicrobiome 2026 | general statement Holomicrobiome 2026 | statement appointment and project supervision Holomicrobiome 2026 | declaration of support without co-funding Holomicrobioom 2026 | declaration co-funding Holomicrobiome 2026 | statement permission to request IKS rates HMB Holomicrobioom 2026 | budget format flagship Holomicrobioom 2026 | budget format use case Holomicrobiome 2026 | statement research organisation Online manual grant application system ISAAC ISAAC offers applicants for research funding the possibility to track their application in the assessment process.

The funding process explained NWO has a fixed procedure for handling all applications. Learn more about how the application procedure is set up – from the moment you apply until a decision is reached. Do you already have an account in Isaac?

Have you completed the application form? Has the statement been signed by the main applicant? Have you completed the obligatory attachments?

Do the co-applicants meet the eligibility criteria for Dutch or foreign organisations? (if applicable) You can read all the details about the application for funding in the Call for proposals. If you have any questions, please contact the contact person.

Life sciences and medicine