Dutch Research Council Supports New Initiatives to Translate Subsurface Research into Practical Solutions

Dutch Research Council Supports New Initiatives to Translate Subsurface Research into Practical Solutions

(IN BRIEF) The Dutch Research Council has awarded the first two projects under the DeepNL Top-up Call, a funding initiative aimed at enhancing the integration, application, and impact of subsurface research. The selected projects focus on improving earthquake risk assessment in the Groningen region and engaging primary school students through interactive science education. With a total budget of €500,000, the programme supports efforts to translate scientific findings into practical tools, policy insights, and public understanding. These initiatives contribute to a broader effort to ensure the safe and sustainable use of subsurface resources in the Netherlands.

(PRESS RELEASE) THE HAGUE, 16-Apr-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has announced the first two projects selected under a new funding round within the DeepNL initiative. The Top-up Call, titled Opportunities for integration and impact, is designed to support smaller-scale projects that extend and apply existing research outcomes, with a focus on practical implementation and broader societal engagement.

This funding round enables researchers involved in DeepNL to build on previously supported work by integrating knowledge across multiple projects, scaling results to real-world applications, and strengthening collaboration with stakeholders. The initiative also emphasizes outreach and knowledge transfer, encouraging activities that communicate scientific findings to professionals and the wider public.

A total budget of €500,000 has been allocated to the call, with applications accepted on a rolling basis until September 22, 2026, or until the available funding is fully distributed.

The first awarded project, DeepNL2Risk, is led by Dr. Y. van Dinther of Utrecht University. It focuses on improving earthquake risk assessments in the Groningen region by translating years of physics-based research into practical tools for policymakers and stakeholders. By refining understanding of how and where earthquakes originate and propagate, the project aims to reduce uncertainty in safety evaluations and support more informed decision-making regarding infrastructure, energy production, and public safety.

The second project, From Subsurface to Classroom, is led by Dr. J.M. Miocic from the University of Groningen, in collaboration with researchers from TU Delft and Utrecht University. This initiative takes a different approach by focusing on education and public engagement. It translates complex subsurface science into accessible learning experiences for primary school students, using interactive experiments and demonstrations to explain how underground processes, including gas extraction, can influence surface-level phenomena such as earthquakes.

The educational programme will be delivered through a mobile science truck visiting schools across Northern Netherlands, offering hands-on activities aimed at children aged 8 to 13. By connecting scientific research with everyday understanding, the project seeks to increase awareness of subsurface dynamics and their societal relevance.

The DeepNL programme as a whole is dedicated to advancing knowledge of the deep subsurface and the effects of human activities such as gas extraction, geothermal energy production, and underground storage of carbon dioxide and hydrogen. A key focus is understanding induced seismicity and land subsidence, particularly in regions like Groningen, where these issues have significant societal and environmental implications.

By supporting projects that bridge fundamental research with real-world applications and public engagement, the new funding round reinforces the programme’s goal of enabling safer and more sustainable use of subsurface resources.

Media Contacts:

Jennifer Bendsneijder
Spokesperson
+31 6 47141061
j.bendsneijder@nwo.nl

Freek Hofland
Spokesperson
+31 6 58920086
f.hofland@nwo.nl

SOURCE: NWO