The KIC call Reducing Health Disparities: Technology for People in a Lower Socioeconomic Position has been opened for applications. People with a lower socioeconomic position (SEP) have less chance of good health. Health technology can help reduce this inequality. This call aims to gain insight into how technology can contribute to this.
Social Challenge
Health is a fundamental right for everyone. However, society is marked by significant health disparities between different groups of people. A lower SEP further limits the chance of good health. Health technology can contribute to reducing these health disparities. However, current technological products and services do not sufficiently meet the needs, desires, and behaviors of people with a lower SEP. Moreover, the current healthcare and welfare landscape primarily consists of technological point solutions, which are often not integrated into the daily lives of people with a lower SEP, or into the existing healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, the (re)development of technology takes a long time, and funding for companies is challenging. Therefore, it is crucial that parties in the entire innovation ecosystem collaborate to develop and scale health technology sustainably, with an eye on the future.
The Goal and Intended Impact
The intended impact of this call is a demonstrable reduction in health disparities through the smart use of appropriate preventive and curative health technology by people with a lower SEP. Their perspective is also essential in the research for the development of health technology and necessary to create broad support among both developers, healthcare providers, and target groups. Thinking from the users ensures that solutions contain the right properties. This way, the technology lands where it is needed and can be used sustainably.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
For this call, NWO invites researchers to submit applications that they have formulated together with researchers from relevant other disciplines and societal organizations, including companies. For applications, it is crucial to take the socio-societal context of the target group into account. This context translates into the frameworks within which people in vulnerable situations can gain control over their health, where health technology can play an important role. Further development is another focus: this health technology must be sustainably secured in the long term from a technological, commercial, economic, and societal perspective.
Information Session and Collaborative Workshop
An online information session will follow on Friday, May 9, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. You can register via the link below.
The collaborative workshops will take place on Friday, May 30, 2025, and Friday, June 27, 2025. Participation in the workshops is mandatory for main applicants. More information about registration will follow soon.
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Register for the meetings for this call
Deadline and Budget
The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, December 2, 2025, by 14:00:00 CET.
The budget for this call is € 7,000,000. Within this call, a maximum of two applications are expected to be awarded.
NWO-KIC: Innovation Programs in the Knowledge and Innovation Covenant
NWO develops innovation programs aimed at the societal challenges of the Netherlands with the goal of realizing impact for the economy, people, and society. In these programs, the emphasis is on collaboration between knowledge institutions, private parties, and government. The results contribute to realizing economic opportunities. It is therefore essential that private parties invest in each research project.