Session leads:

Annet Kleiboer, Professor of Clinical Psychology (VU)
Michel Hoogenkamp, Assistant Professor of Preventive Dentistry (VU)

Many funding programmes require large collaborative partnerships between knowledge institutes, societal partners and industry. How do you go about setting up such collaborations? How do you find the right partners, what challenges may arise, and how do you maximise the potential of interdisciplinary teams? Two VU researchers will share their experiences on their successful proposals for a consortium grant: Annet Kleiboer is coordinator of the Horizon Europe project RECONNECTED on digital solutions for mental health issues, while Michel Hoogenkamp coordinates the NWO-KIC project EPIC on developing a treatment for antibiotic-resistant biofilm infections.  

Session lead: 

David Ashford, poet, cultural critic and literary scholar, Assistant Professor at University of Groningen.

This workshop offers a fun and hands-on introduction to the historical use of games, to develop the skills and strategies required for wealth acquisition, management and investment. From the popularity of Whist in the Second British Empire, to Poker in the period of American hegemony, games can tell us much about the aspirations and organisation of specific political, social and economic systems, and can offer valuable insights into how people thought and felt in various places at different times, their understanding of rewards, rules and risks.
The practical use of games in the present funding environment will be explored, with the Tarot Reading being offered as a means of developing the analytical, narrative and pattern-recognition skills that are essential for successful funding-bids.

Come and let the cards fall before you. What will you discover about your proposal – or yourself? 

Session leads:

Lisanne Hameleers, Biotech Booster Business Developer (VU IXA-GO)
Berno Bucker, Director Demonstrator Lab (VU)
Maurijn de Heus, Impact and Business Developer (VU IXA-GO)

Join IXA-GO and DLAB for a hands-on workshop. Hear an inspiring example from a fellow VU researcher who has navigated the funding journey themselves, get clear information about the call, and learn practical do's and don'ts for putting together a strong application form. This session is designed to be concrete and actionable: rather than just theory, you'll leave with real next steps you can apply straight away. Whether you're just starting to explore funding opportunities or refining an application already in progress, this workshop offers the inspiration and practical guidance to move your project forward. 

Session leads:

Abigaël Klumperbeek, Legal advisor for grants, grants applications, consortium agreements at VU
Marco Bakkenhoven, Legal advisor for grants, consortium agreements and civil law at VU

Research grants raise contractual, financial and practical questions. In this session, we will discuss key considerations when entering into research collaborations funded by NWO, ZonMw and Horizon Europe. Using practical examples, we will look at consortium agreements, governance, intellectual property and financial arrangements. The session is intended to help researchers and support staff recognize important issues at an early stage and understand when additional legal or financial advice may be useful.