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Call for Projects: Chemistry and Materials for Defence

The Dutch Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth are making €3.76 million available for public-private research projects in the field of chemistry and advanced materials for defence applications. The PPS-I 2026 Call Chemistry & Materials for Defence is coordinated by ChemistryNL.

The call focuses on innovations that strengthen both the Dutch knowledge position and Europe’s strategic autonomy. Projects may cover the entire innovation chain, from fundamental research to experimental development in a civilian environment. The funding is intended for public-private consortia consisting of knowledge institutions and companies.

Three innovation themes
Projects should address one or more of the following themes:

  • Coatings
    • Corrosion protection
    • Alternatives to hexavalent chromium (chromium VI)
    • Reducing detectability and electromagnetic signatures
  • Technical ceramics
    • Lightweight protective materials
    • Hybrid ceramic structures
    • Novel manufacturing and repair techniques
  • Additive manufacturing
    • New materials for 3D printing
    • On-site production of components
    • Recycle by Design
    • Reducing dependence on critical raw materials

Budget
Total available budget: €3,760,000
Maximum grant per project: €500,000

Who can apply?
The call is open to public-private consortia consisting of Dutch research organisations, SMEs and large companies. The lead applicant must be a researcher affiliated with a Dutch research organisation.

Timeline

  • Call opens: 1 August 2026 – 12:00 CEST
  • Deadline for optional pre-submission review of draft proposals: 14 October 2026
  • Application deadline: 29 October 2026 – 14:00 CET
  • Funding decisions expected: January 2027
  • Evaluation criteria

Projects will be evaluated based on:

  • Alignment with the scope of the call
  • Quality and feasibility of the research proposal
  • Strength of the consortium
  • Degree of innovation and expected societal and economic impact

Documents

  • Call document
  • Application form template (coming soon)
  • Budget template (coming soon)

More information

If you have any questions, please contact Harmen Veldman, PPS-I Coordinator, at +31 6 31976594.