ZonMw and Health~Holland are joining forces for the programme Citizen Science for Health and Care (CS4HC). The focus is on research and innovation in personal health and care, on the initiative of citizens who collaborate with researchers, (care) professionals, entrepreneurs and, if relevant, the government. The aim of the programme is to realise creative, innovative and especially sustainable solutions based on Citizen Science for the Social Theme Health and Care.

The Citizen Science programme contributes to the transition to self- and collaborative management of health and “participation” in society. Promoting people’s health and participation in society according to their wishes and capabilities are important goals but also a valuable route to even greater impact. Participation has a preventive effect and offers people a physical, mental, social and economic perspective. Moreover, in terms of size and commitment, citizens are a driving force for societal challenges, such as the transition in health and care. Enablingcitizens to initiate research and play a keyrole in research should lead to an improvement of their health, participation in society and position in the quadruple helix.

The Netherlands and Switzerland are jointly announcing a bilateral call for project proposals on eHealth. This call is connected to the Dutch-Swiss long-term strategies in public health laid down in The Federal Council’s health policy strategy 2020–2030 and the Dutch Knowledge & Innovation Agenda (KIA) on Health and Care 2020-2023.

The primary focus of this call will be on stimulating application-driven research and development of technologies and innovations that allow children and adolescents in the primary/secondary school context, as well as their families and (in)direct relatives, to gain insight into their own health, related to their daily functioning and (inter)related  determinants, manage their health and daily functioning and contribute to health research (i.e. citizen science) through the use of health (related) data (“quantified self”-approach), with a view to improving both individual and population health (for instance via a personalised individual ePartner).

Dutch innovative entrepreneurs and researchers can apply for funding from the new Horizon Europe research and innovation programme until 2027. This programme is actively supported by the Dutch government and aimed at the development of new technologies for societal challenges in themes such as digitalisation, healthcare, mobility and the energy transition. Next spring, the EU programme worth a total of 95.5 billion euros will open.

Horizon Europe provides financial support to knowledge and research institutions and companies engaged in research and innovation. The programme offers top researchers the opportunity to carry out their groundbreaking research projects, facilitates knowledge institutions and companies collaborating internationally on major societal issues, and enablesinnovative entrepreneurs to realise their international ambitions.

The Netherlands has so far collected about €5 billion from the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme(2014-2020, € 63.5 billion), which means that it leads the EU ranking per inhabitant. Over the next seven years, thirty percent more funding will be available for European entrepreneurs and researchers to work on increasing scientific knowledge and accelerating economic growth.

With the National Growth Fund, the Dutch government is taking an active role in stimulating “pioneering projects” that directly or indirectly ensure economic growth and prosperity in the longer term. Over the next five years, €20 billion will be available for this. The money from the National Growth Fund goes to knowledge development, infrastructure and research, and innovation. With this fund, the Dutch government is investing in future generations in the Netherlands so that they can also enjoy good healthcare, a decent education and a liveable environment.