# CDD Scouting Programme

**Funder:** KWF
**Budget:** Up to €2 million per project
**Consortium:** Required - collaboration with Centre for Drug Development (Cancer Research UK) via project-specific agreement with CRUK
**Application:** Scouting form → internal KWF assessment → CDD Stage 1 review → NDA → Stage 2 review and subsequent review stages → New Agents Committee decision
**TRL:** 6-9
**Frequency:** Continuous
**Eligible countries:** NL
**Official call:** https://www.kwf.nl/en/forresearchers/funding/cdd-scouting-programme
**Last updated:** 6 Sept 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Co-funding for oncology drug candidates in late-stage preclinical development through to early clinical trials (Phase I/IIa), delivered via KWF's partnership with the Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug Development. Open to Dutch academic groups and (spin-off) companies only; non-Dutch initiators are excluded, and applicants must hold or secure full IP rights and freedom to operate.

## Summary

The CDD Scouting Programme funds late-stage preclinical to early clinical (Phase I/IIa) oncology drug candidates developed by Dutch academic groups and biotech companies, with KWF contributing up to €2 million per project alongside co-funding from Cancer Research UK's Centre for Drug Development. The call runs year-round on a rolling basis and requires applicants to hold or secure full intellectual property rights and freedom to operate. This is a multi-stage process emphasising clinical translation and international development partnerships.

## Who should apply

- Dutch academic research groups with late-stage preclinical or early clinical oncology candidates
- Dutch biotech and spin-off companies developing novel or repurposed non-registered pharmaceuticals
- Applicants holding or able to secure complete IP rights and freedom to operate
- Projects with strong clinical development partners or willingness to engage international collaborators

## Key dates

- Rolling applications year-round; scouting form submitted to KWF initiates multi-stage review
- Multi-stage process: scouting form, KWF assessment, CDD review, Stage 1 and Stage 2 review gates
- Timeline from application to KWF funding decision varies with stage progression

## Tips for applicants

- Include a named clinical trial partner or signal early willingness to engage one; KWF strongly prefers Dutch centres in trial consortia.
- Prepare IP documentation early, applicants must demonstrate full rights or a credible path to securing them before NDA phase.
- The scouting form is not perfunctory; clarity on drug class, target, and clinical-readiness stage determines which review track you enter.

## Frequently asked questions

### What stage of drug development does the CDD Scouting Programme fund?

Late-stage preclinical to early clinical (Phase I/IIa) oncology candidates, covering technology readiness levels 6-8.

### How much does the CDD Scouting Programme pay?

KWF contributes up to €2 million per project; total budgets are typically supplemented by co-funding from Cancer Research UK's Centre for Drug Development.

### Who can apply to the CDD Scouting Programme?

Dutch academic research groups and biotech or spin-off companies based in the Netherlands working on novel oncology therapeutics with secured or securable IP rights and freedom to operate.

### Is the CDD Scouting Programme a one-time submission or rolling?

The programme runs year-round with rolling applications; you submit a scouting form to KWF at any time to initiate the multi-stage review process.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/kwf-cdd-scouting-programme-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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