SCIENCE WITH PURPOSE

Excellent, context-grounded and impact oriented research

Developing researchers, leaders and knowledge capable of contributing to resilient, inclusive and thriving societies.

WHY RESEARCH NEEDS TO EVOLVE

Beyond academic excellence

Excellent science is the foundation of everything we do. To create meaningful societal impact, however, research must also be connected to the realities it seeks to understand and serve.

Researchers increasingly need to work across disciplines, sectors, cultures and knowledge systems while engaging stakeholders throughout the research process.

GROW supports research that is academically rigorous, deeply connected to context and intentionally linked to pathways towards impact.

THE GROW RESEARCH APPROACH

Excellent | Context Grounded | Impact Oriented Research

The GROW approach combines academic excellence, transdisciplinary design, stakeholder participation, context engagement, leadership development and reflection to strengthen pathways from research to societal impact.

Knowledge Creation

Academic Excellence
Rigorous science embedded in strong disciplinary foundations, excellent supervision and leading research environments.

Transdisciplinary Design
Combining disciplines, knowledge systems and stakeholder perspectives to understand complex challenges more holistically.

Connecting Science & Society

Context Engagement
Building understanding through fieldwork, dialogue and long-term engagement with local realities.

Stakeholder Participation
Bringing societal perspectives into the research process through collaboration, Advisory Committees and shared learning.

Developing People & Leadership

Leadership Development

Supporting researchers, supervisors, students and societal partners in navigating complexity, strengthening collaboration and contributing to societal change.

Reflection & Adaptation

Learning from peers, stakeholders and emerging insights while adapting research where needed to strengthen relevance, learning and impact.

Our Flagship Learning Model

GROW seeks researchers who bring more than academic talent. Fellows are selected for their strong connection to the contexts in which they work, their understanding of societal challenges, their ambition to contribute to positive change and their potential to become future leaders in science and society.

The GROW Fellow Programme is a proven model for developing researchers, leaders and knowledge capable of addressing complex societal challenges. It translates the GROW Research Approach into practice through academic excellence, context engagement, stakeholder participation, leadership development and reflective practice.

Fellows are embedded in leading universities, international learning communities and long-term partnerships, while benefiting from graduate-level courses, peer learning and specialised training in transdisciplinary research, knowledge transfer and societal impact.

Beyond individual research projects, the programme develops the people, capabilities and partnerships required to make science matter.

1st GROW Cohort with 50 PhDs

African Phds researching African SDGs

Cofunded by the European Union

Find the project details

An Ecosystem for Learning & Impact

International Learning Community

Researchers do not develop in isolation.

GROW connects fellows, supervisors, students, advisory committee members and societal partners.

Supports:

Peer learning
International exchange
Alumni network
Community building

Events & Development

Learning extends beyond individual research projects.

Through community events, workshops, leadership development and specialised training, participants strengthen their capabilities.

Supports:

Graduate-level courses
Leadership development
Reflection & learning
Knowledge transfer

Universities & Partners

Strengthen research through collaboration.

GROW is embedded in Dutch universities and connected to a growing network of academic, governmental, civil society and business partners across Africa, Europe and beyond.

Supports:

Academic excellence
Context engagement
Advisory support
Societal relevance

Explore our projects

Find a selection of our projects so far. You can open the window in a new tab and explore the entire table to your liking.

Research themes

The GROW research portfolio typically addresses major societal challenges as have been defined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Africa 2063 Agenda: The Africa we want, or in the Netherlands by the NWO-NWA programme "Dutch Research Agenda". Such themes typically include:

Climate, Water & Resilience

Health & Wellbeing

Energy Transitions

Food Systems & Livelihoods

Inclusive & Triving Societies