Calls for Food & Business Research Programme

As part of the cooperation between NWO and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in selecting and financing proposals for relevant research in development challenges, the new Food & Business Research Programme (FBRP) has been launched. The programme provides grants to consortia of researchers and practitioners (private and/or public) for research that contributes to food security in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). Cooperation within the programme between public and private parties is expected to facilitate the utilisation of results research, thus contributing to new products, policies and practices. 

FBRP consists of two separate funding instruments:
• The Food & Business Global Challenges Programme (GCP), promotes research that contributes to sustainable solutions for global food security, in particular for vulnerable and resource-poor populations in developing countries.
• The Food & Business Applied Research Fund (ARF) promotes research supported innovation that is demand-driven, evolves in co-creation and whose results are readily applicable by practitioners in Dutch (LMIC) partner countries.

The Global Challenges Programme is now open. Deadline for submissions is July 9, 2013. The maximum financial contribution is € 600,000 for a four to five year period. The overall budget is € 3.6 million. Applications should be submitted by consortia of research organisations and various public and private organisations from both the Netherlands and at least one Low and Middle-Income Country (LMIC). Dutch enterprises are especially encouraged to participate. Co-funding from private partners of at least 20% of the total project budget is a prerequisite.

The Applied Research Fund is soon to be opened. Consortia of at least one practitioner organisation located in a Dutch LMIC-partner country and one Dutch research or higher education organisation may apply. Grants amount between € 50,000 (for six months) and € 300,000 (for 36 months). For-profit enterprises are encouraged to participate in the consortium, but cannot reimburse costs from the grant.