Frequently Asked Questions

A Demonstrator Project is a selected preclinical discovery or development project for an oncology asset. Demonstrator Projects utilize one stage of the preclinical drug development pipeline for one of the four therapeutic modalities that form our Workstreams:

• Small Molecules
• Biologics
• Cell and Gene Therapy
• Therapeutic Vaccines

Additionally, they incorporate innovative advancements from at least one of the Oncode Accelerator innovation Platforms:

• Patient Cohorts
• Organoids
• Artificial Intelligence

The Oncode Accelerator Foundation, funds on average 50% of the total cost to execute a Demonstrator Project. The maximum contribution of the Oncode Accelerator Foundation per Demonstrator Project is 1.5 Million euro.

In order to cover the full costs of a Demonstrator Project, the funding provided by the Oncode Accelerator Foundation needs to be matched to 100% by the lead applicant of the Demonstrator Project (referred to as the Demonstrator Project Lead Owner). This will cover the costs of executing the Demonstrator Project for the partners that are running it. 

The Oncode Accelerator program leverages existing innovative state-of-the art infrastructure across four preclinical drug discovery or development pipelines, to accelerate the development of four of the most common and promising types of cancer therapies: 

• Small Molecules
• Biologics
• Cell and Gene Therapy
• Therapeutic Vaccines

These four types of cancer therapy modalities translate into so-called Workstreams. Through the execution of Demonstrator Projects, they aim to provide the necessary infrastructure, expertise, and facilities to cancer researchers in academia and industry, both nationally and internationally, to accelerate the preclinical development of cancer treatments.

To accelerate the development of safe, personalized and effective therapies, Oncode Accelerator places the patient at the center of the preclinical development pipeline. We do this by fully utilizing the power of three innovation Platforms: 

• Patient Cohorts
• Organoids
• Artificial Intelligence

The Platforms integrate innovative technology into the preclinical discovery and development infrastructure built and implemented within the Oncode Accelerator Workstreams. The combination of our Workstreams and Platforms creates a synergistic effect, which should allow for earlier and more accurate predictions of the safety and effectiveness of newly developed therapies for specific patient groups, eventually resulting in better therapies tailored to individual patients or patient subgroups.

What makes us unique is that we are not a CRO or a grant provider. Our aim is to turn your assets into de-risked clinical candidates. We do this by giving you access to the research infrastructure of Oncode Accelerator that is built on a solid scientific backbone and backed up by expertise from industry leaders, from over 35 partners including universities, university medical centers, pharmaceutical companies, and more.  

The combination of our Workstreams and Platforms creates a synergistic effect, which should allow for earlier and more accurate predictions of the safety and effectiveness of newly developed therapies for specific patient groups, eventually resulting in better therapies tailored to individual patients or patient subgroups.

Furthermore, through the Dutch National Growth Fund, second-tier (non-dilutive) funding is available for the execution of your Demonstrator Project.

So what’s in it for you? 

• Co-funding of up to 1.5 Million euro for eligible Demonstrator Projects
• Access to the latest innovations in discovery & preclinical development
• Access to well-defined patient cohorts, patient data and patient-derived models
• Better prediction of efficacy and safety using AI
• Accelerated development of de-risked clinical candidates
• Project Management support throughout the duration of the Demonstrator Project

Oncode Accelerator is an initiative with an open nature. Our call is open to any type of organization, academic or industry, regardless of where you are situated in the world, with a focus on drug development in the preclinical setting. 

If you have a promising oncology asset, validated target or hit you wish to further develop and increase the technology readiness level, we invite you to contact our Business Development Managers via the contact form below to discuss your idea for a Demonstrator Project.

Between Oncode Accelerator partners, confidentiality agreements are currently in place at various levels of the organization. If you wish to discuss an idea for a Demonstrator Project, a dedicated (multi-party) Non-Disclosure Agreement can be arranged upon request to ensure full confidentiality of any information provided. 

This is not mandatory during the initial intake phase but will be required once the initial intake has been successful and you are invited to submit a full proposal for your Demonstrator Project.

If you have an idea you would like to discuss, or if you want to apply for a Demonstrator Project, you are invited to contact the Oncode Accelerator Business Development Managers via the contact form at the bottom of this page to explore options for a Demonstrator Project. 

The application process formally starts with the submission of an Intake Form. This is seen as an initial expression of interest, and it should take approximately three to four hours to complete. The Intake Form is intended to explore whether the project fits within the scope of the Oncode Accelerator program. Completed Intake Forms are submitted to demonstrators@oncodeaccelerator.nl.

The full application process is managed by the Oncode Accelerator Foundation. The Business Development Managers will be the main point of contact throughout the intake process.

Download Intake Form

The first call for Demonstrator Projects is currently open and ends on 31 December 2026, or as long as funding is available. The application process starts with the submission of an Intake Form, which can be downloaded here:

Download Intake Form

Applications will be evaluated on a continuous basis and must be submitted via e-mail before the closing date to: demonstrators@oncodeaccelerator.nl

Your intake form will be carefully reviewed by our dedicated team at Oncode Accelerator based on our pre-defined criteria. These criteria include evaluating the technical feasibility, general suitability, and strategic fit with Oncode Accelerator of your project.

Depending on the drug modality you aim to develop and the innovative technologies you wish to integrate into your Demonstrator Project, we will consult the relevant Workstream and innovation Platform(s) (under confidentiality) to ensure your project is technically executable and aligns with our program's scope.

If your initial assessment is successful, we will notify you and invite you to submit a full Demonstrator Project Proposal where plans and budget will be further outlined, in consultation with the partners that will support the execution of the Demonstrator Project.

Demonstrator Project applications are assessed based the submitted Intake Form. The assessment criteria include program criteria as well as technical feasibility to execute a Demonstrator Project.

Intake criteria on which the application will be assessed:

• Is the aim to develop a clinical candidate for an oncology therapy?
• Will the Demonstrator Project use one stage from one of the Workstreams (Small Molecules, Biologics, Therapeutic Vaccines or Cell and Gene Therapy)?
• Does the Demonstrator Project make use of at least one innovation from the Platforms (Patient Cohorts, Organoids and/or Artificial Intelligence)?
• Is the asset which is to be developed at a minimum a validated target or a validated hit?
• Is the end-point of the Demonstrator Project at a maximum a small cohort first in human study (no more than 10 patients)?
• Are you able to match the co-funding which is required to cover all the costs to execute the intended Demonstrator Project (note: State Aid Regulation applies)?
• Are you aware of, and do you agree with the Demonstrator Project Funding Conditions

The technical feasibility criteria may vary depending on the stage of the Workstream and the specific innovation Platform you plan to integrate into your Demonstrator Project.

If your application meets the above criteria, you will be invited to submit a full Demonstrator Project Proposal where plans and budget will be further outlined, in consultation with the partners that will support the execution of the Demonstrator Project.

After successfully completing the intake process, where we assess program criteria and technical feasibility, you will be invited to submit a full Demonstrator Project Proposal. A Project Manager from the Oncode Accelerator Foundation will provide the necessary documentation and guide you through the process. 

The full Demonstrator Project Proposal is written in collaboration with our expert partners. It includes an outline of the project plan with clear descriptions of work packages, deliverables, milestones, and go/no-go decisions. Furthermore, additional detail on the background, rationale, target product profile (TPP) en future considerations for marketing and approval are described. Finally, the proposal will include a detailed budget with costs. 

Since the Oncode Accelerator Foundation funds on average 50% of the project costs, you will also need to include a signed commitment letter from yourself or any other party contributing cash or in-kind, to meet the matching requirement.

The full proposal includes an outline of the project plan with clear descriptions of work packages, deliverables, milestones, and go/no-go decisions, as well as a detailed budget with estimated costs. This information is required for an independent Demonstrator Advisory Board, consisting of leading experts in the field, to assess your Demonstrator Project Proposal on the basis of the following selection criteria:

• Strategic fit
• Core competences utilized
• Product and competitive advantage
• Market attractiveness
• Technical feasibility
• Organizational feasibility

This thorough review process is required to ensure:

• High quality and feasibility of the projects
• Strategic fit with the Oncode Accelerator program
• An effective validation of the innovated infrastructures
• A fair, transparent and independent treatment of all proposals
• Confidentiality of submitted information

The final funding decision is made by the Board of Directors from the Oncode Accelerator Foundation.

During the year, there are four opportunities to submit the full proposal, which are aligned with the dates for the review by the Demonstrator Advisory Board. The final deadlines for the next four submitting rounds are:

• Thursday, 5 March 2026
• Friday, 17 July 2026
• Wednesday, 30 September 2026
• Wednesday, 2 December 2026

An independent Demonstrator Advisory Board, consisting of leading experts in the field, assess Demonstrator Project Proposals on the basis of the following selection criteria:

• Strategic fit
• Core competences utilized
• Product and Competitive advantage
• Market attractiveness
• Technical feasibility
• Organizational feasibility

The final funding decision is made by the Board of Directors from the Oncode Accelerator Foundation.

After a thorough assessment, an independent Demonstrator Advisory Board, made up of leading experts in the field, will prepare a report with recommendations to grant, adapt and re-submit, or decline the Demonstrator Project Proposal.

This report is then submitted to the Board of Directors of the Oncode Accelerator Foundation for a final decision on the co-funding. You will be notified of this decision through the Oncode Accelerator Foundation.

If your project is approved, the funding allocation will be confirmed in an allowance letter from the Oncode Accelerator Foundation.

If your project got approved to receive co-funding, it means you agree to the conditions outlined in the Demonstrator Project Funding Conditions, which detail non-negotiable principles for a Demonstrator Project. Also, it means you are able to contribute the matching funding needed to pay the total execution costs to run the project.

Additionally, before starting the project, everyone participating in the Demonstrator Project will need to provide input and sign a Demonstrator Project Agreement. This agreement will cover the final project plan, milestones, payment schedules, reporting requirements, performance outcome expectations, and conditions for obtaining Lead Foreground after the project has finished.

If you are submitting an application for a Demonstrator Project and your initial intake is successful, we will invite you to submit a full Demonstrator Project Proposal. A Project Manager from the Oncode Accelerator Foundation will be assigned to guide the process.  

The full Demonstrator Project Proposal is written in collaboration with our expert partners. It includes an outline of the research plan with clear descriptions of work packages, deliverables, milestones, and go/no-go decisions. Furthermore, additional detail on the background, rationale, target product profile (TPP) en future considerations for marketing and approval are described. Finally, the proposal will include a detailed budget with costs. 

Once the Demonstrator Project Proposal and the funding have been approved, the Demonstrator Project Agreement will be negotiated, which includes the final project plan (containing milestones, payment schedules, reporting requirements, performance outcome expectations) and conditions for obtaining Lead Foreground after the project has finished.

To ensure smooth execution, a Study Director from one of the other participating partners, who has no affiliation with your organization, will be appointed to oversee the project. Once the Demonstrator Project starts, the Project Manager from the Oncode Accelerator Foundation will continue to monitor the progress and the budget. 

Payment terms for the execution of a Demonstrator Project are pre-agreed based on milestones, payment schedules and work packages that are part of the project plan within the Demonstrator Project Agreement. 

Oncode Accelerator funds on average 50% of the total cost to run a Demonstrator Project (never exceeding 1.5 Million euro). 

If you are submitting an application for a Demonstrator Project, you (as the Demonstrator Project Lead Owner) will responsible to cover the remaining costs.

No, this is not a requirement to receive co-funding and/or to run a Demonstrator Project. 

Depending on the work packages defined within the final plan of a Demonstrator Project, which are included in the Demonstrator Project Agreement, several partners can be part of the team that executes the project.

This will always include at least one partner from within the Oncode Accelerator Workstream (depending on the drug modality; Small Molecules, Biologics, Cell and Gene Therapy or Therapeutic Vaccines), and at least one partner from within one of the Oncode Accelerator Platforms (Patient Cohorts, Organoids and/or Artificial Intelligence). 

If you want to apply for funding with Oncode Accelerator to support the preclinical development of your oncology asset, you are invited to contact the Oncode Accelerator Business Development Managers via the contact form at the bottom of this page to explore options for a Demonstrator Project. 

The application process formally starts with the submission of an Intake Form. This is seen as an initial expression of interest, and it should take approximately three to four hours to complete. A completed Intake Form is submitted to demonstrators@oncodeaccelerator.nl 

The full application process is managed by the Oncode Accelerator Foundation. The Business Development Managers will be the main point of contact throughout the intake process.

Download Intake Form

Oncode Accelerator offers co-funding of on average 50% of the total project costs. As the applicant for a Demonstrator Project (referred to as the Demonstrator Project Lead Owner), you will need to match the co-funding provided by the Oncode Accelerator Foundation to cover 100% of the total project costs.

The minimum percentage of matched funding required depends on the development stage or Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of your project. The higher the TRL level, the higher your matching contribution will need to be.

The Oncode Accelerator Foundation cannot provide a contribution that exceeds the state aid rules and regulations, which cap the maximum at 1.5 Million euros.

Oncode Accelerator is an initiative with an open nature. Our call is open to any type of organization, academic or industry, with a focus on oncology drug development in the preclinical setting, regardless of where you are based in the world. 

If you have a promising asset, validated target, or hit that you wish to further develop and increase the technology readiness level, you are invited to contact the Oncode Accelerator Business Development Managers via the contact form below to explore options for a Demonstrator Project. 

If you are submitting an application for a Demonstrator Project, you will responsible for securing your own matching funds, which need to be available when the project has been approved prior to start. 

It is not possible to receive co-funding for a Demonstrator Project without being able to provide the in cash contribution necessary to cover the total cost to run the Demonstrator Project. 

Funds earmarked as government subsidy from the EU, cannot be used as matching; this is not in line with state aid regulations that apply. However, you can use cash funds when they are not earmarked as government subsidy. 

If you have a grant from outside of the EU, it may be used for matching but only if eligible according to the conditions of the funding you have received. As the submitter of a Demonstrator Project application, this is your responsibility to confirm. 

In some exceptional cases, in-kind contributions are allowed.  Additional conditions apply. Contact our Business Development Managers via the contact form below to find out what is possible in your situation. 

If you are the lead applicant of the Demonstrator Project (the Demonstrator Project Lead Owner) and you wish to publish data generated during the project, this is permitted after the partners in the Demonstrator Project approve and after you have paid a compensation fee (based on fair market value) to obtain ownership of the results. For publication of confidential results related to a method consent of the party that developed the method is needed. 

As the submitter of a Demonstrator Project application, you and the partner(s) responsible for running (part of) the Demonstrator Project will each:

1. Identify and share the necessary background information and resources required for the project.
2. Make existing research infrastructure available, subject to successful negotiations.

These obligations apply for the duration of the project and to the extent needed to execute it, all on a royalty-free basis and as outlined in the Demonstrator Project Agreement.

The partner(s) responsible for running (part of) the Demonstrator Project must also ensure that the confidential nature of the project information is maintained and respected.

As the submitter of a Demonstrator Project application, you (as the Demonstrator Project Lead Owner) have the exclusive option to obtain all rights, interests, and titles to any newly generated results related to the asset, including commercial use (Lead Foreground).  A compensation fee to gain these rights, based on fair market value and additional terms are pre-negotiated through the Demonstrator Project Agreement.

If the results include personal data, access to such data will only be provided if it complies with applicable data protection laws and the appropriate agreements are in place.

The partner(s) responsible for running (part of) the Demonstrator Project must ensure that the confidential nature of the project information is maintained and respected.

If you exercise the option to obtain full assignment of the results related to the asset (Lead Foreground), and you have paid the pre-agreed compensation fee, you will need to grant the relevant partner(s) that have supported the execution of the Demonstrator Project a royalty-free Research Use Only (RUO) license to use the Lead Foreground for research and educational purposes, and for improving its research infrastructure. ​

You will also commit to exercise reasonable efforts to progress the Lead Foreground into practical application. 

As the lead applicant of the Demonstrator Project (referred to as the Demonstrator Project Lead Owner), you may wish to exercise the option to acquire all results related to your lead (the Lead Foreground). In that case, you will pay a pre-negotiated compensation fee, after which you will receive full assignment of all Lead Foreground.

The exact conditions and amount will be agreed upon in the Demonstrator Project Agreement before the project starts. If you are an academic (or a micro-company with less than 10 employees and results or revenue below 2 Million euro), you can negotiate deferred payment terms as part of the Demonstrator Project Agreement.

If the lead applicant of a Demonstrator Project (the Demonstrator Project Lead Owner) chooses to exercise the option to obtain all Lead Foreground against a pre-agreed compensation fee (based on fair market value), the net value of the payments made to the partner(s) responsible for running (part of) the Demonstrator Project will be transferred to the Oncode Accelerator Sustainability fund.

This fund, is initiated to enables the continuous innovation of the discovery and preclinical development process and the development of innovative cancer therapies beyond the scope of the National Growth Fund funding of the Oncode Accelerator Project. ​

In the case the lead applicant of the Demonstrator Project (the Demonstrator Project Lead Owner) does not wish to exercise the option to obtain the results related to the asset (Lead Foreground), the Lead Foreground remains with the Demonstrator Project partner that that has generated the result. ​

This partner shall restrict its and any third party’s use of its Lead Foreground to non-commercial research and educational purposes only. ​

If the partner wants to use its Demonstrator Project Lead Foreground for commercial purposes, this will require a contribution to the Oncode Accelerator Sustainability fund.​

Pre-agreed terms as outlined in the Demonstrator Project Agreement will apply.

The matching contribution of the lead applicant of a Demonstrator Project (the Demonstrator Project Lead Owner) in combination with the co-funding provided by the Oncode Accelerator Foundation for the execution of the Demonstrator Project must comply with the conditions set by the National Growth Fund and applicable law and regulations, including but not limited to the GBER and other state aid regulations. ​

Each partner that is part of a Demonstrator Project team is responsible to comply with the conditions set by the National Growth Fund and applicable law and regulations. ​

For any conflict and/or dispute in relation to Demonstrator Projects is subject to and will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands, unless otherwise agreed upon within the Demonstrator Project Agreement. ​

The competent courts of Rechtbank Midden-Nederland will have exclusive jurisdiction for any conflict and/or dispute in relation to the Demonstrator Project Funding Conditions. ​