How can we accelerate the transition to a circular society? The Institute for a Circular Society (i4CS) is looking for researchers from TU/e, WUR, UU, and UMC Utrecht who want to find out, together with societal partners and across disciplinary boundaries.
Quick links:
- Link to the Circular Society Co-Creation Event
- Full Call Text and Thematic Tracks
- Budget
- How to participate in 2 steps
- Register now
- Seed Funding Call at a glance
- Additional documents
This seed funding call supports early-stage, transdisciplinary project ideas that generate knowledge, strengthen collaboration, and create societal impact. Up to €40,000 per project is available, with a total budget of €160,000. The deadline is September 18th 2026.
What makes this call different: proposals are not developed behind a desk. They take shape during the Circular Co-Creation Event on 8 June at Antropia, Driebergen, in direct exchange with societal stakeholders, fellow researchers, and practitioners.
Link to the Circular Society Co‑Creation Event
A unique feature of this seed call is that all proposals are developed during and after the Circular Co-Creation Event. Participation is a two-part process, and both parts are essential for developing and submitting a proposal.
1. During the Co-Creation Event (09:00 – 14:30), you will: explore the thematic tracks of the call, connect to societal stakeholders, connect with fellow participants and find potential collaborators and shape your ideas in interactive sessions.
2. During the afternoon seed call matchmaking programme (14:15 – 17:30), which is exclusively for participants who want to submit a proposal, you will: meet likeminded researchers, form research teams and work on drafting proposals.
Full Call Text and Thematic Tracks
This call is structured around four tracks that reflect key areas for advancing circular transitions. Each track is developed with a societal partner and will be central to the co-creation sessions at the co-creation and matchmaking events. Full details, including scope, background, and guiding questions, are available in the full call text.
Click on the tracks for a quick summary, download the full call text for detailed information:
Track 1: Informed and Sustainable Decision Making in Surgery
Research line: Circular Hospitals | Societal partner: UMC Utrecht
Can patients play a role in making surgery more sustainable? This track explores whether informing patients about the environmental impact and costs of different anaesthesia options can support more sustainable choices in clinical practice.
Track 2: Lifecycle Choices for Medical Devices
Research line: Circular Hospitals | Societal partner: NVZ
Dutch healthcare accounts for roughly 13% of national material use. This track focuses on circular interventions for high-impact medical disposables, from immediate steps like reducing and reusing, to a long-term shift toward biobased and green-chemistry materials.
Track 3: Tackling the Housing Crisis with Fast and Circular Concepts
Research line: Urban-Rural Circularity | Societal partner: ROM Utrecht Region
How do we build faster without compromising sustainability? This track brings together modular construction, bio-based materials, and digital tools like AI and digital twins to address the housing shortage with circular solutions.
Track 4: Mapping and Recovery of Critical Materials for Circular Construction
Research line: Urban-Rural Circularity | Societal partner: ROM Utrecht Region
Reliable access to essential materials is under pressure. This track examines how transparency, circular strategies, and digital innovations can strengthen supply chain resilience, particularly in the construction sector.
Budget
A dedicated budget of €160,000, up to €40,000 per proposal, supports the development and implementation of the funded projects.
How to participate – How it works in two steps
Participation is a two-part process. Both parts are essential for being eligible to develop and submit a proposal.
Step 1: Register for the Circular Co-Creation Event (09:00 to 14:15)
During the main programme, you will explore the thematic tracks of this call, connect with societal stakeholders and fellow researchers, and shape your ideas in interactive co-creation sessions.
> Register for the Circular Co-Creation Event
Step 2: Register for the Seed Call Afternoon Programme (14:30 to 17:30)
This afternoon session is exclusively for participants who intend to submit a proposal. You will form research teams and start drafting your proposal.
After registering for the co-creation event, please confirm your participation in the afternoon programme:
Seed Funding Call at a glance
- Date: 8 June 2026
- Location: Antropia, Driebergen
- Programme: 09:00 to 14:15: Circular Co-Creation Event (main programme) 14:15 to 17:30: Seed Call Afternoon Programme (for proposal teams)
- Funding: Total budget of €160,000. Up to €40,000 per funded proposal.
- Who can participate: Researchers affiliated with TU/e, WUR, UU, or UMC Utrecht.
- Registration:
- 1. Register for the Circular Co-Creation Event
- 2. Confirm participation in the Seed Call Afternoon Programme [see form above].
- Seed Fund Deadline: After the event you and your team have time to complete the proposal. The deadline for submission is on: September 18
Additional Documents
We are looking forward to seeing you on June 8th. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via i4CS@EWUU.nl
The EWUU alliance is a collaboration between Eindhoven University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University, and University Medical Center Utrecht. Together, they combine strengths to tackle major societal challenges through transdisciplinary research, education, and innovation.