Proof of Concept Programme

With the Proof of Concept (PoC) programme, KWF wants to stimulate the translation of impactful innovations to ensure they reach patients more quickly. The programme focuses on mapping out the path toward (clinical) application.

Researchers face various challenges during this trajectory. Which developments or validation steps are necessary? Which stakeholders should be involved and when? How does the innovation compare to what is already on the market or to comparable initiatives elsewhere? Who will pay for it in the end? To make the innovation applicable in practice, technical adjustments may be needed, or IP rights need to be protected. It may also be necessary to hire additional expertise or to collaborate with a company.

In the PoC programme, researchers are asked to work together with the technology transfer office (TTO) of their research institute to create a roadmap outlining the steps needed for translating and implementing the innovation into practice.

The PoC programme serves as a bridge to the next development phase. Limited funding is available to facilitate obtaining funding for the subsequent development steps.

Eligible are KWF projects with promising results, where at least an initial validation has already taken place. The innovation must be at a stage where steps toward a concrete product or application need to be taken. Thus, there is a prospect of a concrete application, but the route is not yet (fully) clear.

In scope

The following activities/items are eligible for the PoC programme:

• Exploring how development steps should be carried out
• Conducting limited development steps
• Limited technical validation of the innovation
• De-risking the innovation or development steps
• Activities to strengthen the IP position or a patent application regarding the innovation
• (External) expertise that can support the path to practice*
• Cost-effectiveness analysis (HTA)*
• Input from a business developer*
• Identifying potential commercial partners*
• Communication materials (e.g., preparing a pitch deck) or training* for collaboration with a commercial partner
• Business case*
• Exploring and preparing steps to ensure an innovation complies with European regulations for medical devices (MDR) and in-vitro diagnostics (IVDR) and/or obtaining CE marking.
• Assessing the (feasibility of the) pathway to approved therapy and associated costs such as strategic advice consultation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), setting up a patient engagement plan, assessing whether orphan drug designation status is applicable, preclinical study design and drafting of an Investigational Medicinal Product Dossier (IMPD). 
• Reimbursement for a Health Innovation Netherlands (HI-NL) innovation trajectory for project proposals involving the development of MedTech. (This pertains to MedTech innovations under IVDR/MDR, including AI, diagnostic kits, companion diagnostics; but not molecular diagnostics such as companion diagnostics, or pharmaceuticals). This trajectory provides a consensus recommendation from all key stakeholders for the innovation (including ZIN, health insurers, if necessary the NZa, CE experts, patient representatives, medical specialists, HTA experts, methodologists, and entrepreneurs) and thereby offers insight into the steps needed for further development so that the innovation can be successfully implemented in practice. The pathway is guided by so-called case teams, consisting of experienced methodologists and HTA experts. At the end of the trajectory, an innovation guide is delivered. This service must be specified in the application and included as a cost item in the budget. For more information, see www.healthinnovation.nl. Prior to the application, an intake interview with HI-NL is mandatory. For the PoC application, proof must be provided in the form of a statement that the interview has taken place, along with the results and recommendations that emerged from it.

* Only if this expertise is not available within (the TTO of) the main institute or the participating organizations.

Out of scope

The following activities are not eligible:

• Research projects
• Target identification
• Large-scale validation studies (technical or clinical)
• Further development of an already commercial innovation
• Innovations that will be developed and brought to practice within the academic institute directly, such as innovations that only need to be included in guidelines. However, if researchers are unsure which route (academic or commercial) is best feasible for their innovation, they are encouraged to apply for PoC funding to define and choose the best route.
• Implementation projects, i.e., rolling out the innovation nationwide
• Expansion of activities/budgets already requested within the ongoing KWF project
• Projects that are better suited for regular KWF funding in terms of scope and size, such as a Research project, Young Investigator Grant, Unique High Risk project, or Consortium project.
• Costs for obtaining CE-marking.

Terms & Conditions

• The PoC application must be related to an ongoing or recently finished KWF project. This also applies to KWF-PPP (Public-Private Partnership) projects or TTW-projects from the KWF-NWO Partnership-programme Technology for Oncology.
• The PoC application can be submitted during the duration of the KWF project and up to 6 months after the end date.
• All research phases are eligible (basic – clinical).
• All KWF funding types are eligible, such as Research projects, Consortium projects, Young Investigator Grants, Unique High Risk projects, etc. For TTW-projects from the Partnership NWO Domain AES – KWF Kankerbestrijding – Top Sector LSH 'Technology for Oncology', permission from the user committee is required. A document proving this must be part of the submission.
• The innovation must have at least a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 (www.rvo.nl/onderwerpen/trl).
• Duration: 6-18 months (guideline).
• Budget: 150.000 euros, including VAT (guideline). The budget can be requested for additional expertise and activities within the scope of the PoC programme that were not budgeted in the related KWF project.
• The format in GMS is leading for budget requests.
• The budget for additional expertise not covered by the NFU salary scales can be requested in GMS as a 'service provider'. KWF applies maximum hourly rates for hiring freelancers (external hire): supporting (MBO): €85; project management (HBO): €100, specialist (WO): €125. These are the maximum hourly rates excluding VAT and including all other costs (travel expenses, parking fees, travel hours, etc.). Quotes for external service providers must be submitted, specifying the effort in hours. In the exceptional case that the costs of service providers exceed €125/hour, we request 1) a detailed justification explaining why this particular service provider is of critical importance to the project, and 2) two additional quotes from comparable parties. By comparable parties, we mean those that could deliver work of the same quality. These documents need to be uploaded in GMS and submitted together with the application. The committee will then take the justification and rates of comparable parties into consideration in their evaluation.
• A commitment letter from the TTO of the main applicant is mandatory. This letter must clearly state which TTO expertise is involved in the project (and which may be missing) and what the exact contribution of the TTO is (tasks and hours). The TTO's contribution to the project is in-kind. If the TTO advises additional activities to strengthen a patent application, these must also be mentioned in the letter. A letter from the TTO is also required if the TTO is not involved in the project. This letter must clearly explain why the TTO cannot collaborate on the project.
• A letter of intent/support is mandatory if a commercial partner is involved in the project.
• A letter of support from (potential) end-users/customers is not mandatory but can be submitted with the application. This letter must clearly state that the innovation solves an existing problem for them.
• If a commercial partner with more than 250 FTEs plays an active role in the project, this partner is considered a 'participating organization' and must therefore make a financial contribution to the project: this means 10% co-financing (in-kind/in cash) of the requested budget.
• The involvement of 0.5 FTE scientific staff is not mandatory.
• The project leader on the KWF project does not need to be the project leader on the PoC application. If the project leader of the KWF project is not involved as a project leader on the PoC application and is also not a participating party, the project leader on the KWF project must provide written consent for the submission and execution of the PoC application.
• It is possible to submit multiple PoC applications for a KWF project, given that different innovations are being further developed.
• Any early termination of the KWF project will lead to reconsideration of the PoC grant.
• The KWF Kankerbestrijding Funding Conditions 2025 (soon available for download) and the KWF Kankerbestrijding Auditor's Protocol 2025 (soon available for download) apply.

Timeline

Indicative budget & duration

Indicative budget per proposal: € 150.000 
Indicative duration: 6-18 months

Additional info & recommendations

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