Dutch Caribbean Research & Innovation Networks
Connecting Dutch and European research and funding expertise with Caribbean innovation and priorities.
PROMAFUN CRIO supports organisations in the Dutch Caribbean that aim to participate in Dutch and European research and innovation programs.
Whenever a Dutch or European research and innovation call explicitly allows participation from Dutch Caribbean organisations, PROMAFUN CRIO can support with strategic positioning, proposal preparation, eligibility clarification and partnership alignment.
We help local institutions, NGOs, SMEs, and research groups position themselves for ZonMw, NWO and EU-funded consortia.
Response within 24-48 hrs • NDA available upon request
FOR Dutch Caribbean Organisations
Participation in International and EU calls
When an international or European call expressly allows participation from the Dutch Caribbean, PROMAFUN CRIO can support organisations and consortia with regional research design, positioning, and implementation planning. We assist with aligning project strategies to the call’s eligibility and evaluation criteria, and with practical coordination for programmes where Dutch Caribbean participation is possible.
Access funding, partnerships, and international projects
Many organisations in the Dutch Caribbean have strong local knowledge and valuable field experience, but face structural barriers when engaging with large funding programmes and international consortia.
Competitive participation in such programmes requires more than local relevance, it requires evidence. Organisations that can demonstrate robust data, documented outputs (report and publications), and delivery capacity are far more likely to be selected by consortium leaders and funders.
Without this foundation, promising organisations are often overlooked, regardless of their regional importance.
PROMAFUN CRIO support organisations in strengthening this foundation and translating local expertise into internationally credible project contributions.
We support you with:
• Identifying relevant ZonMw and NWO Dutch Caribbean calls
• Assessing research readiness, data quality, and documentation
• Strengthening research design and methodological robustness
• Supporting proposal development and reviewer readiness
• Preparing eligibility and positioning for competitive proposals
• Strengthening research design and implementation planning
• Connecting you to suitable Dutch & European partners
• Supporting proposal development and reviewer readiness
• Ensuring alignment with funder expectations
Whether you are research institute, NGO, healthcare organisation, or SME, we help you move from initial interest to funded participation by building the scientific and strategic credibility required for long-term collaboration.
Ready to strengthen your funding position?
Dutch & 
European Partners
Reliable Caribbean partners for high-impact consortia
For many EU and international research projects, meaningful regional participation is essential, especially in areas such as public health, climate, sustainability, and innovation.
In practice, establishing effective collaboration in the Caribbean context is rarely straightforward. Differences in institutional culture, communication styles, administrative systems, and expectations often slow down or weaken partnerships, even when scientific interests are well aligned.
Initial outreach may go unanswered, expectations may remain implicit, and misunderstandings can emerge around roles, timelines, and governance. These challenges can undermine consortium performance and, in some cases, affect funding outcomes.
PROMAFUN CRIO bridges these gaps by providing not only access, but trusted local engagement and strategic preparation.
We support partners with:
• Access to qualified and reliable Dutch Caribbean partners with demonstrable scientific contributions
• Introduction based on established professional relationships
• Local coordination and communication
• Guidance on regulatory, institutional, and operational realities
• Consortium building and governance support
• Ongoing coordination and relationship management
• Long-term partnership development
By operating at the intersection of European standards and Dutch Caribbean realities, we help ensure that collaborations are productive, credible, and resilient from initial contact trough long-term implementation.
Our dual regional experience allows us to anticipate risks, align expectations early, and prevent avoidable friction
Looking for reliable Dutch Caribbean partners?
Discuss your consortium strategy with us.
Recent Case Studies & Grant Opportunities
Strategic grant development and funding opportunities in the Caribbean region
FUNDED CASE STUDY -DENPACT
DENGUE PREPAREDNESS FOR MOTHER AND CHILD HEALTH IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN
- Study sites: Curaçao & Bonaire
- Programme: ZonMw – Strengthening Public Health & Wellbeing (ABCSSS Islands)
- Funding awarded: €100,000
- Theme: Dengue | Maternal & Child Health | Public Health Preparedness
- Focus: Dengue during pregnancy, clade displacement, and outbreak preparedness
Upcoming Grant Opportunities
Focus:
- Dutch Caribbean & Caribbean region
- EU & Dutch funding programmes
Upcoming NWO KIC Call (2026): Early Detection of (Emerging) Infectious Disease Outbreaks
→ Official call published by the Dutch Research Council (NWO)
EU-LAC Digital Accelerator: An Open call for Corporates Addressing Digital Challenges across the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Strategic Grant Development
From concept to funded project
Funding Challenges & Insights
Organisations in the Dutch Caribbean and wider Caribbean region face distinct structural and systemic challenges when accessing national and international research funding.
Through our work with local institutions, public health organisations, and research networks, PROMAFUN CRIO actively engages with these challenges. We are currently developing a series of in-dept insights and practical reflections based on real project experience in the region.
Coming soon
Bridging Regions and Systems
Our background and Perspective
PROMAFUN CRIO is founded and led by professionals with roots in the Dutch Caribbean and extensive experience in the Dutch and the European research and funding landscape.
Having lived and worked across these regions, we understand both local operational realities, international institutional expectations, and cultural contexts on both sides.
Our leadership is complemented by an international team of researchers, consultants, and funding specialists, bringing diverse expertise from Europe and beyond.
This dual perspective allows us to act as a credible intermediary between Dutch Caribbean organisations, Caribbean organisations, Dutch institutions, and European funding bodies.
Our role is to ensure that regional expertise is not lost in translation, and that international opportunities remain practically accessible and strategically aligned.
Why Organisations Work With us:
Many organisations have strong ideas and valuable data, but struggle to translate these into competitive, well-positioned proposals.
Common challenges include:
• Limited experience with international evaluation standards
• Fragmented project design
• Weak consortium positioning
• Insufficient governance and risk planning
• Misalignment between research, funding, and implementation
PROMAFUN CRIO supports organisations in overcoming these barriers through independent review and strategic structuring, enabling their projects to meet international evaluation, governance, and implementation standards.
Building On Extensive Experience In Both European And Dutch Caribbean Funding Environments, PROMAFUN CRIO Supports Organisations By Translating:
• Local priorities into fundable project structures
• EU and Dutch frameworks into locally executable programmes
• Regional initiatives into internationally credible projects
IN PRACTICE, THIS INCLUDES:
• Supporting consortium design and governance
• Aligning research methodology with evaluation criteria
• Strengthening feasibility and implementation planning
• Facilitating strategic partnerships
• Redusing adminstrative and strategic risk
Through this integrated approach, we help organisations move from isolated initiatives to sustainable, high-impact collaborations.
Programmes We Support
PROMAFUN CRIO supports organisations in the Dutch Caribbean and Europe in navigating national and international research and innovation programmes. Beyond facilitating access and participation, we work closely with teams to strengthen the scientific, methodological, and strategic foundations of their projects. Our objective is not only to secure funding, but to build, fundable, and sustainable development pathways.
We help organisations identify appropriate opportunities, understand eligibility conditions, and structure participation in line with programme requirements, evaluation criteria, and long-term institutional objectives.
Our experience includes support for participation in the following major programmes:
• ZonMw – Dutch Caribbean Research & Health
Supporting regional health, public health, and capacity-building initiatives aligned with local priorities and Dutch funding frameworks.
We assist organisations in strengthening research design, implementation planning, stakeholder engagement, and impact strategies to meet ZonMw’s evaluation standards and monitoring requirements.
→ Explore Research in the Caribbean
→ Explore Caribbean Health Research Programme
• NWO Dutch – Caribbean Programmes and Calls
Supporting participation in Kingdom-wide and Caribbean-focused research and innovation programmes.
We help organisations prepare and position high-quality proposals with strong scientific coherence, feasibility, governance structures, and consortium logic.
→ Explore Caribbean Research Programme
→ Explore NWO Programmes
• Horizon Europe – Participation & Eligibility
Participation in Horizon Europe and other EU research and innovation programmes is governed by call-specific eligibility conditions.
Organisations based outside the EU, including those in the Caribbean Netherlands (OCT status), may participate when explicitly permitted by the call and typically in collaboration with EU or associated country partners.
Several Dutch Caribbean territories, including Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius, are classified as Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) under EU treaties.
PROMAFUN CRIO supports organisations in interpreting these rules and structuring compliant, fundable participation pathways.
Our support includes consortium positioning, work package development, feasibility assessment, partner alignment, and compliance with Horizon evaluation and reporting criteria.
To check eligibility before applying, we recommend consulting the official sources below:
→ Overseas Countries and Territories – European Commission (International Partnerships)
→ EU Eligibility Rules (European Commission)
A guide to beneficiary profiles and conditions for EU funding participation
→ Horizon Europe – Official Programme Information
Understand programme structure, objectives, and participation requirements.
→ Horizon Europe Work Programmes (2026-2027)
Explore current calls and funding priorities.
For region-specific guidance relevant to the Caribbean and Latin America partners, specialised programme resources and guide documents should be consulted.
• EIC Pathfinder & Accelerator (via EU/associated partners)
Facilitating access to EIC funding through consortium building, strategic positioning, and collaboration with eligible European partners, with focus on technological readiness, risk management, and long-term value creation.
START WITH A STRATEGIC INTRODUCTION
If you are exploring participation in national or international funding programmes and would like to assess your readiness, positioning, or partnership strategy, we invite you to schedule an introductory consultation.
We have supported projects across Curaçao, Bonaire, Aruba, the Netherlands and multiple EU member states
Integrated Support Across the Funding Cycle
Our program support is closely integrated with our services in:
• Grant writing and co-writing
• Research and data readiness
• Business development and partnerships
• Dissemination and impact
• Institutional strengthening
This integrated approach ensures consistency from early concept development to project execution and follow-on funding.
Our approach to Programme Participation
Eligibility rules, funding mechanisms, and participation conditions differ across programmes and calls.
PROMAFUN CRIO provides tailored guidance to ensure that organisations engage in funding opportunities in a compliant, realistic, and strategically aligned manner.
Our support focuses on:
• Assessing eligibility and funding conditions
• Designing appropriate partnership and consortium structures
• Supporting consortium formation and governance
• Aligning project design with programme objectives and evaluation criteria
• Reducing administrative, financial, and strategic risk
By integrating scientific quality, strategic positioning, and operational feasibility, we help organisations participate effectively, not only in securing funding, but in building sustainable international collaborations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there funding calls specifically for the Dutch Caribbean?
Yes. Several ZonMw and NWO programmes are specifically designed to support research, health, and innovation activities in the Dutch Caribbean. These calls often encourage collaboration between Dutch Caribbean and Dutch organisations.
Can we apply for EIC Pathfinder or Accelerator funding directly?
EIC Pathfinder and Accelerator programmes generally require applicants to be established in an EU Member State or associated country. Dutch Caribbean organisations usually participate through collaboration with eligible European partners.
We support consortium building and strategic positioning for EIC-related opportunities.
What if we are unsure about our eligibility?
Eligibility rules differ per programme and call. PROMAFUN CRIO provides tailored eligibility assessments and strategic advice before organisations commit time and resources to proposal development.
You can contact us for an initial eligibility review.
Does PROMAFUN CRIO guarantee funding success?
No consultancy can guarantee funding. Our role is to improve strategic alignment, proposal quality, and partnership structure, thereby increasing the likelihood of success and reducing avoidable risks.
How early should we contact PROMAFUN CRIO?
Ideally, before major commitments are made, such as selecting partners, defining work packages, or allocating budgets. Early engagement allow us to support positioning and consortium design effectively.
Can Dutch Caribbean organisations apply directly to EU funding programmes?
In some cases, participation is possible through European research programmes such as Horizon Europe. However, eligibility and funding conditions vary by call. In most situations, Dutch Caribbean organisations participate through structured collaborations with EU or associated country partners.
PROMAFUN CRIO supports organisations in identifying appropriate opportunities and building compliant consortium structures.
Interested in Upcoming Calls?
If you are considering participation in national or European funding programmes, we invite you to discuss your objectives with our team.