From next-generation ideas to real-world change: turn your ideas into action! Submit your proposal for a Sprint Project 2026 before Thursday 30 November 2025, 11:00 CET.

Tackling the complex challenges children and young adults face — from health inequalities to mental well-being and participation in society — requires action, creativity, and collaboration across disciplines. Healthy Start invites researchers, practitioners and partners in society to submit proposals for Sprint projects that will run in 2026.

In this year’s call, you can choose between two project types:

1. Conceptualization projects

These projects are about exploration and creativity as well as strengthening transdisciplinary collaboration. Designed to expand Healthy Start’s impact and community, and spark innovative approaches to societal challenges.

2. Implementation projects

These projects aim to transform knowledge into solutions that bridge science with society. They should demonstrate clear pathways to research findings translated into practice, policy, or community solution, or support the implementation of solutions. Strong partnerships with implementation stakeholders are key to success. Note: this project type can also be applied for to follow up on a previously granted Sprint project.

Please read the full Call for Proposals 2026, for detailed information about the call and examples of the two project types. The call text is leading.

Who can apply

Conceptualization applications can be submitted by an academic staff member from one of the Convergence institutes (Erasmus University, Erasmus MC or TU Delft). Implementation applications can be submitted by an academic staff member from one of the Convergence institutes, or a non-academic organization. The project team (for both project types) should consist of at least two Convergence institutes (Erasmus MC, Erasmus University, TU Delft) and one external partner with a concrete contribution to the project.

How to apply

The deadline for applications is Thursday 30 November 2025, 11:00 CET. Applicants should fill out the Application Form, including the support letters, and send it as a single PDF–file to healthystart@convergence.nl before the deadline.

Contact for questions

Anoek van Vlaardingen (a.vanvlaardingen@tudelft.nl) and Georgia Taxiarchopoulou (georgia.tax@eur.nl).