Open call: SPRONG round 1
SPRONG stimulates collaboration between research groups from different universities of applied sciences that have the potential to develop into a powerful SPRONG group within 8 years. A SPRONG group consists of a collaboration between (at least) 2 universities of applied sciences and partners in practice, such as companies from the professional field (e.g. SMEs), public institutions and governments. Powerful SPRONG groups have a broad impact on the quality of the research of the universities involved.
Promote profiling and positioning of research groups
The collaboration between universities of applied sciences in SPRONG groups means that everyone's knowledge contributes to the development of more generic knowledge about current, social issues. This promotes the profiling and positioning of the research group(s).
Good cooperation and coordination also prevents the wheel from having to be reinvented. The universities of applied sciences can learn from each other's working methods, for example in the field of data management, quality assurance or the connection between research and education.
Mission-driven Top Sector and Innovation Policy
SPRONG aims to strengthen the position of applied research at universities of applied sciences. The universities of applied sciences are therefore in the national and international playing field in which various parties generate and apply knowledge. In this way, SPRONG enables universities of applied sciences to make a significant contribution with their practice-oriented research to social issues within the Mission-driven Top Sectors and Innovation Policy. The scheme is therefore part of our commitment to the Mission-driven Top Sector and Innovation Policy.
For SPRONG Round 3, the context is Mission-Driven Innovation Policy. Starting in 2024, the Mission-Driven Innovation Policy consists of 8 Knowledge and Innovation Agendas (KIAs):
- Climate and Energy
- Circular Economy
- Agriculture, Water, Food
- Health and Care
- Safety
- Key Technologies
- Digitalization
- Social Earning Capacity