The final SDI call: three days of ideas and connections

News September 30, 2026

From Leiden via Groningen to Oss: the PharmaNL Connection Days SDI brought professionals from across the pharmaceutical sector together in recent weeks. The focus was on the final open funding round within our Shared Development Infrastructure (SDI) programme. But just as important were the conversations around new ideas, projects and potential collaborations.

laatste SDI-call

During the three events, participants received more information about the new SDI call, including from our funding partner ZonMw, and had plenty of opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas. Representatives from existing SDI projects also shared their experiences. What can shared infrastructure deliver? How do you approach a complex collaborative project? And what opportunities arise when organisations share their knowledge and facilities?

These practical examples brought the possibilities of SDI to life. At the same time, the Connection Days provided an opportunity to make new contacts and discuss initial project ideas. Because good collaborations often start with a conversation.

Final open SDI call

The events marked an important milestone: this is the final open funding round for SDI within PharmaNL. Through this call, consortia have another opportunity to jointly invest in infrastructure that contributes to the development of the Dutch pharmaceutical sector.

“Relevance and quality are the most important factors for a strong project proposal,” said Renske Bolder of ZonMw. “So don’t wait for the outcome of your project idea submission before moving forward. Keep working on finding the right partners and securing co-financing, so you are well prepared for a full proposal.”

A total of €23.3 million is available in this funding round. Applicants can request up to €5 million per project, with projects running until the end of June 2030 at the latest. A mandatory co-financing contribution of 50% of the total project costs applies.

Ready to submit a project idea?

Following the three Connection Days, the next step is now up to the sector. In the coming period, organisations can further develop their ideas, find partners and build consortia. Initial project ideas can be submitted through the ZonMw website by Monday 23 November 2026 at 14:00 CET.

For an overview of all requirements and deadlines for this funding call, visit the ZonMw website.