Events & Learning
Building Researchers, Leaders and Partnerships for Change
GROW events bring together researchers, innovators, ecosystem builders, policymakers and societal partners to learn together, build trusted relationships and strengthen pathways from knowledge to societal impact.
Today's societal challenges require people from different disciplines, sectors, cultures and countries to learn from one another and work together.
Designed by and for our community, GROW events create spaces where researchers, innovators, policymakers and societal partners build relationships, exchange perspectives and strengthen pathways towards impact.
Understand
Across disciplines, sectors, cultures, countries and lived experiences.
Build Trust
Connecting people, ideas, organisations and networks for long-term collaboration.
Learn Together
Combining reflection, collaboration and fun in a community designed by and for its members.
Unlike traditional scientific conferences, our events focus as much on people and partnerships as on knowledge itself. We take serious challenges seriously, without taking ourselves too seriously. Learning, curiosity, connection and enjoyment all matter.
Researchers, innovators, ecosystem builders, policymakers, educators, students and societal partners are all welcome to join.
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COP - REIMAGINING FUTURE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
7 September 2026
An open online conversation exploring how entrepreneurship can become more human-centred, regenerative and connected to real societal challenges. Building on insights from collaborations across Africa, Europe and Asia, participants will exchange perspectives on the future of entrepreneurship, innovation and societal change.
Online - via Zoom
Open to the GROW community and invited guests
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EVENT
18 - 19 April 2027
Entrepreneurs, GROW incubator participants, impact investors, researchers and other stakeholders discuss pathways to regenerative entrepreneurship.
Mennorode - Elspeet, the Netherlands
Open to the GROW community and invited guests
[REGISTRATION FOLLOWS]
START GROW INCUBATOR
7 OCTOBER 2026
The GROW Incubator supports researchers, innovators and changemakers in transforming scientific knowledge into regenerative ventures that address shared societal challenges and contribute to resilient, inclusive and thriving societies.
New cohort starts October 7.
Spui Campus - The Hague, Netherlands
Open to teams with GROW type concept and entrepreneurship ambitions.
GROW COMMUNITY EVENT
19 - 20 April 2027
Fellows, supervisors, entrepreneurs, policymakers and societal partners exploring how knowledge can contribute to meaningful societal change.
Mennorode - Elspeet, the Netherlands
Open to the GROW community and invited guests
[REGISTRATION FOLLOWS]
FELLOW AUTUMN EVENT
16 November 2026
A dedicated learning event for GROW Fellows, focused on leadership, reflection, communication, peer exchange and professional development.
UvA - AMC, Amsterdam
Open to MSCA GROW PhD candidates
[REGISTRATION FOLLOWS]
Since 2019, GROW has brought together researchers, innovators, students, policymakers, entrepreneurs and societal partners to learn from one another and explore new pathways from knowledge to impact.
What started with early conversations around the SDGs and global development has grown into an international learning community connecting people across disciplines, sectors, countries and cultures.
Beyond learning and networking, GROW events also help shape future collaborations, research agendas and funding opportunities. By bringing together diverse disciplines and stakeholders early in the process, we create space for more equitable, relevant and impactful research and innovation partnerships. Examples include the development of the MSCA GROW programme and collaborative responses to Dutch Research Agenda (NWA) and international funding opportunities.
Explore a selection of past events and learning moments below.
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Workshops on e.g. citizen science, stakeholder engagement, entrepreneurship and impact communication
Representation from engineering, social sciences, economics, law, medicine, public health, religion, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Theme: From Insight to Impact - Using knowledge to advance the SDGs.
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WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY & RESEARCH
Through pitch training by GROW partner We Are Changemakers and peer2peer learning, Fellows strengthened their ability to communicate research beyond academia, learned from each other's experiences, and further developed the trusted relationships that underpin the GROW community.
Theme: Engaging with Your Context as a Researcher
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DELFT - THE SOCIAL HUB
The kick-off meeting created space for Fellows to get to know one another and the supervisors, explore opportunities for collaboration, secondments and peer learning, and begin their journey as members of a growing international research community.
GROW meets NWO-WOTRO
Co-hosted with NWO-WOTRO, this event showcased the outcomes of international SDG research collaborations while creating space to shape future initiatives. Participants explored priorities for upcoming NWO-NWA programmes, including maternal and child health in the first 1,000 days of life.
Contributions from the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Africa policy representatives, researchers, entrepreneurs and societal partners highlighted the importance of linking science, innovation, policy and long-term partnerships to address shared global challenges.
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