CIIIC Start: exploratory research into immersive experiences

Are you a researcher or IX creator and want to conduct practical research into the functioning and impact of immersive experiences? 

CIIIC Start offers funding of up to €50,000 for one-year exploratory research. The scheme is intended for consortia in which researchers from colleges, universities, or other research organizations collaborate with at least two other parties: enterprises (such as IX creators) and/or social organizations.

For more information, read the official call page from Regieorgaan SIA and the page Application round January 2026.

Purpose of CIIIC Start

Immersive experiences, where a digital layer is added to physical reality, are increasingly being used. Think of VR, AR, XR, games, installations, story worlds, and other forms of digitally enriched experiences. These applications are finding their way into various sectors such as healthcare, education, culture, heritage, journalism, industry, and beyond. But when do these applications work best? And how do you use them responsibly?

CIIIC Start focuses on short-term, exploratory research that answers fundamental questions about the effectiveness and responsible use of IX. It is not about developing new technology, but about:

• Insights into effective elements: Which elements of IX create effective experiences in different contexts?
• User experiences and effects: How do people experience IX, what is the demonstrable added value, and how do we measure this reliably?
• Public values and ethics: How do we ensure responsible use and prevent unethical use?
• Applicable knowledge for the sector: How do we make existing methods, practices, and insights generically applicable?

The acquired knowledge accelerates innovation in the IX sector and provides valuable input for future grant schemes and projects within the CIIIC program.

Who is this scheme for?

Consortia can have different compositions. A possible consortium consists of:

• A college, university, or other research organization conducting the research
• A company developing IX applications
• A social organization providing the testing ground where the research takes place

There is room for various forms of immersive experiences – whether you work with VR, AR, XR, games, installations, story worlds, or other digitally enriched experiences. The application domain is also broad: from healthcare, culture, education, heritage, and journalism to industry and other sectors. CIIIC Start offers the opportunity to explore the possibilities of your application.

Budget and process

Researchers from research institutions can conduct exploratory research into responsible and effective IX for 1 year with CIIIC Start funding. They do this together with at least two enterprises and/or social organizations. You can receive a maximum of €50,000 funding per project. The co-applicants in the research contribute at least 25% of the research budget.

• Maximum grant per project: €50,000
• Project duration: maximum 1 year
• Co-applicants' contribution: co-applicants in the research contribute 25% to the total project costs

The application is submitted by a college, university, or other research institution. Prepare your application carefully – expect a period of 2 to 4 months.

Applications are assessed by an independent committee with experts from science and practice, in order of receipt (first come, first served). Your application will only be eligible for funding if you score sufficiently on all criteria.

Consortium requirements

For this call, the consortium must consist of at least:

• One research organization (college, university, or other research institution)
• Two different SMEs (these can also be sole proprietors/freelancers)

Interested?

On November 4, 2025, an information meeting took place where interested parties could learn more about the scheme and meet potential research partners. We collected and answered all questions asked during this meeting. You can download the full Q&A here.

Would you like to stay informed about future updates? And are you interested in finding research partners? Sign up for our newsletter for all updates about CIIIC Start and other CIIIC programs.

CIIIC Start is carried out by Regieorgaan SIA, a part of NWO that funds practice-oriented research and stimulates collaboration between colleges, businesses, and public institutions.

For questions about CIIIC Start, you can contact Ruth Timmermans, program manager at Regieorgaan SIA: ruth.timmermans@regieorgaan-sia.nl or 030 - 600 13 21.