Pre-announcement: Venture Challenge 2026 call expected in January and May
In 2026, the LifeSciences@Work Venture Challenge will again run two editions for early-stage Life Sciences & Health startup teams: a Spring and a Winter round. The Spring call is expected to open on 1 January 2026, followed by the Winter call on 5 May 2026, as shown in the Venture Challenge 2026 schedule.
What is the Venture Challenge?
Many promising scientific discoveries never reach patients because researchers often lack the tools and guidance to turn their ideas into scalable ventures. The Venture Challenge helps bridge this gap.
Over an intensive 8–10 week programme with two multi-day bootcamps and personalised 1-on-1 coaching, selected teams work with experienced experts to:
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define a strong value proposition and business model
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validate their solution with key stakeholders
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develop a clear venture plan and investor-ready pitch
The programme is organised by LifeSciences@Work, powered by Health~Holland and NWO.
Click here for more information
Who can apply in 2026?
The 2026 calls are open to teams of three or four people who:
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are building, or planning to build, a new Life Sciences & Health startup
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develop a product, process or service related to therapeutics, medical technologies, diagnostics or enabling technologies
Medical devices and digital health propositions are fully integrated in the broad Life Sciences & Health scope; there is no separate MedTech call.
Academic founders, clinician-innovators and early-stage startup teams are all encouraged to apply.
What’s new in 2026?
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One call text covering both rounds. NWO is expected to publish a single call document at the start of the year. This allows applicants to see all key information (deadlines, conditions and timelines for both the Spring and Winter rounds) right away.
This approach makes the process more efficient and offers better clarity for applicants. -
The two application windows remain unchanged:
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Spring call opens 1 January 2026
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Winter call opens 5 May 2026
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Full details on budget, co-funding and eligibility will be provided in the official NWO website and via LS@W channels.
Stay informed
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The full 2026 schedule for both rounds is shown in the timeline.
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As soon as NWO publishes the official call text, we will share it on the LS@W website and LinkedIn page.
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If you would like to check whether your idea or team fits the programme, feel free to contact the LS@W team via our contact form.
