NetherlandsNon-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
NWA Opportunities and value chains for side streams in the protein transition
Opportunities and value chains for side streams in the protein transition
Funding Amount
Up to €3.9M
Deadline
27/01/2026
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the NWA Opportunities and value chains for side streams in the protein transition Call?
Grant Description
This call supports collaborative scientific and practice‐oriented research to valorize plant‐based side streams as protein sources for human consumption. It aims to develop knowledge and innovations across the entire value chain to foster a more sustainable and circular food system, and to promote consumer adoption of side‐stream proteins.
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
– New scientific and practical knowledge enabling efficient valorisation of plant-based side streams into safe, palatable, and nutritionally adequate protein ingredients and end-products.
– Detailed mapping and understanding of the entire value chain from raw side-stream sourcing through processing, formulation, distribution and consumer behaviour, identifying key bottlenecks and levers for system change.
– Demonstration of scalable processing technologies or product prototypes derived from side streams.
– Evidence-based consumer adoption strategies, communication tools and market-entry pathways to achieve broad uptake.
– A validated route-to-impact plan outlining policy recommendations, industry guidelines and outreach activities that contribute to a more sustainable, circular food system.
– Strengthened interdisciplinary networks and public–private partnerships positioned to drive ongoing innovation beyond the project lifecycle.
– Comprehensive research data management outputs (e.g., DMPs, FAIR datasets) and final reports meeting NWO standards for open, reproducible research.
– Detailed mapping and understanding of the entire value chain from raw side-stream sourcing through processing, formulation, distribution and consumer behaviour, identifying key bottlenecks and levers for system change.
– Demonstration of scalable processing technologies or product prototypes derived from side streams.
– Evidence-based consumer adoption strategies, communication tools and market-entry pathways to achieve broad uptake.
– A validated route-to-impact plan outlining policy recommendations, industry guidelines and outreach activities that contribute to a more sustainable, circular food system.
– Strengthened interdisciplinary networks and public–private partnerships positioned to drive ongoing innovation beyond the project lifecycle.
– Comprehensive research data management outputs (e.g., DMPs, FAIR datasets) and final reports meeting NWO standards for open, reproducible research.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
– Focus: plant-based agricultural or industrial side streams as novel protein sources for food applications and large‐scale consumer adoption.
– Consortium composition: at least one main applicant (research institution), one co-applicant (academic or applied research partner) and one cooperation partner (industry or societal organisation); optional co-funders.
– Interdisciplinary approach: integration of fundamental and applied research disciplines (e.g., life sciences, technology, sociology, chemistry, law, business administration) and collaboration with social and industrial partners.
– Value-chain perspective: projects must generate knowledge on each stage (sourcing, processing, product formulation, distribution, consumer acceptance) to enable system-level change.
– Project parameters: maximum duration 6 years; maximum grant €3.875 million; budget requests restricted to vital project costs as defined in the call text.
– Procedural deadlines: research idea by September 16, 2025; matchmaking October 2, 2025; request review of foreign organisations by January 13, 2026; full proposal by January 27, 2026.
– Submission via ISAAC, using prescribed forms (application form, budget form, co-funding declarations, statements, signature forms).
– Responsible Research Data Management: plan to be drafted after award and before project start.
– Consortium composition: at least one main applicant (research institution), one co-applicant (academic or applied research partner) and one cooperation partner (industry or societal organisation); optional co-funders.
– Interdisciplinary approach: integration of fundamental and applied research disciplines (e.g., life sciences, technology, sociology, chemistry, law, business administration) and collaboration with social and industrial partners.
– Value-chain perspective: projects must generate knowledge on each stage (sourcing, processing, product formulation, distribution, consumer acceptance) to enable system-level change.
– Project parameters: maximum duration 6 years; maximum grant €3.875 million; budget requests restricted to vital project costs as defined in the call text.
– Procedural deadlines: research idea by September 16, 2025; matchmaking October 2, 2025; request review of foreign organisations by January 13, 2026; full proposal by January 27, 2026.
– Submission via ISAAC, using prescribed forms (application form, budget form, co-funding declarations, statements, signature forms).
– Responsible Research Data Management: plan to be drafted after award and before project start.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
– Mandatory preliminary research-idea submission and attendance at the single matchmaking meeting before full application.
– Only project-critical costs may be applied for; all budget modules and maximum amounts are defined in the call text.
– Foreign partner organisations require prior NWO review request by January 13, 2026.
– Applicants must be available for administrative corrections post-submission to maintain admissibility.
– Proposals will be disqualified if they fail to meet consortium composition, deadline, format, or submission requirements.
– Compliance with NWO’s general and call-specific regulations, including Research Integrity, Data Management Policy, and the use of ISAAC for all communication.
– NWO may facilitate additional consortium-building events but only the specified matchmaking is required.
– Only project-critical costs may be applied for; all budget modules and maximum amounts are defined in the call text.
– Foreign partner organisations require prior NWO review request by January 13, 2026.
– Applicants must be available for administrative corrections post-submission to maintain admissibility.
– Proposals will be disqualified if they fail to meet consortium composition, deadline, format, or submission requirements.
– Compliance with NWO’s general and call-specific regulations, including Research Integrity, Data Management Policy, and the use of ISAAC for all communication.
– NWO may facilitate additional consortium-building events but only the specified matchmaking is required.
Important dates
Deadline:27/01/2026
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