KIEM HighTech Call 2026 | 28 projects awarded funding in first round

The research projects focus on technologically driven innovation challenges from real-world practice. These challenges include vision-language-action models for a pick-and-place robotic arm, robust electrical connections in e-textiles, ultra-small force sensors for robotic applications, the analysis of thermal drone images for meadow bird monitoring, the creation of molds using cold spray forming, and ultrasonic inspection techniques for steel bridges. Researchers from knowledge institutions are tackling these 28 challenges within the projects in close collaboration with the professional field.

With the KIEM HighTech grant scheme, Holland High Tech and Regieorgaan SIA stimulate technological innovation through collaboration between researchers, SMEs, and other practical partners.

The second and final application deadline for the KIEM HighTech 2026 grant is September 15, 2026.

Eindhoven University of Technology

• Adaptive SLS process development for circular PA12 with thermal monitoring

Fontys University of Applied Sciences

• VLA-Pick: Vision Language Action models for flexible pick and place in smart manufacturing

• Hand-E: Embodied AI for sorting e-waste

• Fashionable Connect: interconnection in e-textiles

• WorldSynth: World Foundation Models for Photorealistic Synthetic Data Generation in

  Robotic Machine Tending

• DRESSENSE: Automatic detection of dressage movements with inertial sensors

HAN University of Applied Sciences

• Replicate

• KINETIC (Kingpin-based Intelligent Node for E-Trailer Torque and Interoperable Control)

• SafeBike

• Human-in-the-Loop Feedback on Machine Learning models

• Intelligent Process Mining

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

• Open source standardized interfaces for (autonomous) ships

Utrecht University of Applied Sciences

• From healthcare waste to healthcare innovation: an exploratory study into the development of a sustainable wrist brace for wrist fractures

• Movement analysis: From the lab to practice

• Feasibility of Magnetically Docked Aerial Ultrasonic Inspection for Steel Bridges

University of Applied Sciences Windesheim

• Cold spray forming for flexibility in injection molding

• Mobile manipulator for flexible low-volume manufacturing (Mobi-Flex)

Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

• CRAFT

NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences

• Multi-frame AI analysis of thermal drone images for meadow bird monitoring

University of Twente

• Multimetal 3D Printing of Shape Memory Alloys for Medical Applications (MultiShape)

• 6D ultra-small force sensor for robot applications

• Physics-Informed Modelling of Rail Track Degradation from Sparse Inspection Data

Saxion

• ALTER: Autonomous Land Transformation for Ecological Restoration

• Silicone Shield for Thermal Spraying

• SLING-UAV

• EASE: Enhanced Automatic Sludge Estimation

Wageningen University & Research

• The Perfect Picture: influence of environmental factors in the barn on imaging technologies