Mieke Rijken
Publicatie
Publication date
16-02-2026
Involvement of Dutch partners in EU projects on cancer: experiences and perceived value for cancer control in the Netherlands.
Rijken, M. Heide, I. van der, Hansen, J. Involvement of Dutch partners in EU projects on cancer: experiences and perceived value for cancer control in the Netherlands. Nivel: Utrecht, 2026. 18 p.
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This report describes a study conducted in 2025 at the request of the team Verbinding in de Aanpak van Kanker (Connection in the Approach to Cancer), hereafter team VAK, of the Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). The aim of the study was to gain a better understanding of how individuals and organisations in the Netherlands are involved in projects funded by European Union programmes (‘EU projects’1) in the field of cancer, what these partners' experiences are with participating in these projects, and what they perceive as added value for cancer control in the Netherlands.
Conclusion
Dutch research / knowledge institutes and healthcare organisations play an important role in EU cancer projects. European collaboration is crucial for the Netherlands, amongst others, because (i) EU programmes make more funding available for research and innovation, (ii) Dutch research capacity and expertise are strengthened, (iii) it facilitates research into rare cancers, (iv) research can be conducted more quickly, making its results available to healthcare sooner, and (v) it provides access to more data, substantially expanding research opportunities.
Recommendations
To strengthen the implementation of European project results within the Netherlands, a clear overview is needed of which results are important and promising for implementation and scaling up. In the Netherlands, stakeholders who could play a role in the implementation of potentially valuable results should be identified and brought together. Parties responsible for the implementation of certain results should be facilitated and supported in this regard.
To ensure that Joint Actions and other EU actions contribute to the realisation of the NKA, the Netherlands could exert more influence on EU programming. This requires strong involvement of the relevant policy departments of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, as well as other ministries. It is important that all stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the NKA are consulted. To this end, structured consultation between the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and these parties is desirable. This could also further strengthen the implementation of the results of EU projects in the Netherlands.
Conclusion
Dutch research / knowledge institutes and healthcare organisations play an important role in EU cancer projects. European collaboration is crucial for the Netherlands, amongst others, because (i) EU programmes make more funding available for research and innovation, (ii) Dutch research capacity and expertise are strengthened, (iii) it facilitates research into rare cancers, (iv) research can be conducted more quickly, making its results available to healthcare sooner, and (v) it provides access to more data, substantially expanding research opportunities.
Recommendations
To strengthen the implementation of European project results within the Netherlands, a clear overview is needed of which results are important and promising for implementation and scaling up. In the Netherlands, stakeholders who could play a role in the implementation of potentially valuable results should be identified and brought together. Parties responsible for the implementation of certain results should be facilitated and supported in this regard.
To ensure that Joint Actions and other EU actions contribute to the realisation of the NKA, the Netherlands could exert more influence on EU programming. This requires strong involvement of the relevant policy departments of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, as well as other ministries. It is important that all stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the NKA are consulted. To this end, structured consultation between the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and these parties is desirable. This could also further strengthen the implementation of the results of EU projects in the Netherlands.
This report describes a study conducted in 2025 at the request of the team Verbinding in de Aanpak van Kanker (Connection in the Approach to Cancer), hereafter team VAK, of the Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). The aim of the study was to gain a better understanding of how individuals and organisations in the Netherlands are involved in projects funded by European Union programmes (‘EU projects’1) in the field of cancer, what these partners' experiences are with participating in these projects, and what they perceive as added value for cancer control in the Netherlands.
Conclusion
Dutch research / knowledge institutes and healthcare organisations play an important role in EU cancer projects. European collaboration is crucial for the Netherlands, amongst others, because (i) EU programmes make more funding available for research and innovation, (ii) Dutch research capacity and expertise are strengthened, (iii) it facilitates research into rare cancers, (iv) research can be conducted more quickly, making its results available to healthcare sooner, and (v) it provides access to more data, substantially expanding research opportunities.
Recommendations
To strengthen the implementation of European project results within the Netherlands, a clear overview is needed of which results are important and promising for implementation and scaling up. In the Netherlands, stakeholders who could play a role in the implementation of potentially valuable results should be identified and brought together. Parties responsible for the implementation of certain results should be facilitated and supported in this regard.
To ensure that Joint Actions and other EU actions contribute to the realisation of the NKA, the Netherlands could exert more influence on EU programming. This requires strong involvement of the relevant policy departments of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, as well as other ministries. It is important that all stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the NKA are consulted. To this end, structured consultation between the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and these parties is desirable. This could also further strengthen the implementation of the results of EU projects in the Netherlands.
Conclusion
Dutch research / knowledge institutes and healthcare organisations play an important role in EU cancer projects. European collaboration is crucial for the Netherlands, amongst others, because (i) EU programmes make more funding available for research and innovation, (ii) Dutch research capacity and expertise are strengthened, (iii) it facilitates research into rare cancers, (iv) research can be conducted more quickly, making its results available to healthcare sooner, and (v) it provides access to more data, substantially expanding research opportunities.
Recommendations
To strengthen the implementation of European project results within the Netherlands, a clear overview is needed of which results are important and promising for implementation and scaling up. In the Netherlands, stakeholders who could play a role in the implementation of potentially valuable results should be identified and brought together. Parties responsible for the implementation of certain results should be facilitated and supported in this regard.
To ensure that Joint Actions and other EU actions contribute to the realisation of the NKA, the Netherlands could exert more influence on EU programming. This requires strong involvement of the relevant policy departments of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, as well as other ministries. It is important that all stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the NKA are consulted. To this end, structured consultation between the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and these parties is desirable. This could also further strengthen the implementation of the results of EU projects in the Netherlands.
