This call-by-invitation is open to projects that have previously been submitted within the ValNAM call and have now been selected for funding. These projects can thereby validate an existing animal-free innovation in a regulatory context.
Who can apply
Now that all ValNAM projects have been assessed and prioritized by the committee, the best projects can be awarded. Only project members who have been approached by ZonMw to resubmit their ValNAM project can resubmit here. If a consortium has several Dutch partners, one of them will be appointed as the project leader for the Dutch share; this institute therefore provides the administrative representative for this and takes care of the financial settlement with the other Dutch partner(s).
What for
The ValNAM call for proposals offers funding and a framework to stimulate the validation and implementation of existing animal-free models. Eligible projects validate an existing animal-free, humane-relevant method that is at a technology readiness level (TRL) of 3-7 in terms of development. The aim is to raise this level during the project and that they can eventually be used in legal safety and/or efficacy assessments through inclusion in guidelines.
No new applications can be made at this time, but information about this call can be found on www.valnam.eu
What to request
In this phase of ValNAM, the prioritised projects are honoured, with ZonMw only honouring the Dutch consortium partners and the BMFTR/PTJ honouring the German consortium partners. It is therefore important that the My ZonMw portal now only includes information from the Dutch partners, as it appears in the original application. The financial numbers provided must also be identical to the previously submitted budget.
When
Submitting a grant application No later than 3 February 2026, 14.00 pm
Decision ~ March 2026
For the submission, you use the information from your original ValNAM application. Grant applications can only be submitted via the online submission system by (one of) the Dutch consortium partners, who will therefore also become the main applicant for the Dutch share of the project. The closing date is 3 February 2026, 14.00 p.m.
For questions about the submission, please contact mkmd@zonmw.nl.
- Only applicants who have been approached by ZonMw, because their ValNAM project has been prioritised for funding, may submit an application.
- Consortia with several Dutch partners must mutually determine who will be the project leader for the Dutch share; the institute of this project leader also provides the administrative representative and takes care of the financial settlement with the other Dutch partner(s).
- The PDF file with the previously submitted ValNAM project must be uploaded in the My ZonMw portal; no changes may have been made to this.
- Within the My ZonMw portal, only the budget figures of the Dutch consortium partners must be submitted (in the appropriate fields and in the Excel file that can be downloaded for this purpose). The amounts must correspond to the budget originally submitted. The amounts for the German consortium partners may not be included because they are not paid by ZonMw.
- The deadline for submission is 3 February 2026, 14.00 p.m.
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Features
- Opening date: 1 December 2025
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Budget subsidy round:
- 2.98 million euro
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Maximum budget per application:
- See grant call text
- Part of programme: