Programming coordinated research

Together with the Netherlands National Committee for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (NCad), the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) explored the feasibility of a research consortium for animal-free innovations, as opportunities can be exploited more effectively if research programming is coordinated at the national level. Five-track programming would seem better than forming a large consortium. They wish to programme research in areas where more effort is needed to bring about real change:

• the education of future researchers;
• case study elaboration in a public-private partnership for validation in the EU;
• the exploration of emerging scientific ideas;
• the further development of models with a low technology readiness level (TRL);
• round tables on the implementation of cases with various stakeholders.

These five tracks can each go at a different pace and have different sources of funding. There is support from potential networks and existing programmes, such as More Knowledge with Fewer Animals (MKMD).