Innovation Impact Challenges
Large-scale innovation challenges with societal impact. Consortia develop immersive solutions for concrete issues posed by launching customers.
The Innovation Impact Challenge (IIC) is an innovation competition in which IX creators and entrepreneurs are challenged to develop new products or services as a solution to a concrete societal issue. Each challenge connects creators with major public clients (launching customers) and focuses on a specific domain. The instrument is carried out by RVO and used within CIIIC under action line 4.
What is the Innovation Impact Challenge?
The Innovation Impact Challenge is not a grant scheme but a pre-commercial procurement instrument: a proven RVO format that challenges entrepreneurs to develop innovations that public parties can ultimately procure. Each challenge centres on a societal issue, such as immersive experiences for urban development, for the work of the police, or for social inclusion and cohesion.
Who is the IIC for?
The challenges are aimed at IX creators, creative entrepreneurs and innovative companies with knowledge of or experience in immersive experiences who want to contribute to a societal issue. Participants can take part on their own or in a consortium; any missing expertise can be added along the way.
How does a challenge work?
A challenge starts with a preliminary round in which participants submit an Expression of Interest. Two phases then follow: in phase 1 the feasibility is assessed, including finding a testing ground; in phase 2 a prototype is developed and tested. The public values self-assessment is part of the procedure. Per theme, €250,000 is generally available in phase 1 (a maximum of €25,000 per project) and €1,000,000 in phase 2 (a maximum of €200,000 per project); the exact budget varies per challenge.
Taking part and delivery
There are several Innovation Impact Challenges, each aimed at its own domain and audience. The challenges are carried out by RVO, where you will find the full conditions, themes and registration procedure for the current challenge. See the editions below for the current and previous challenges.
Editions of Innovation Impact Challenges
Overview of all rounds and their status.
Solving societal challenges with IX
The IIC Method
The Innovation Impact Challenge (IIC) connects IX creators with large commissioning parties to solve concrete societal challenges. Each theme has multiple phases: from exploration and prototyping to large-scale demonstration.
Consortia of creators, knowledge institutions and adopters work together on innovative solutions. The methodology has been developed with years of experience in challenge-based innovation.
All IIC calls are implemented in collaboration with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). RVO handles the subsidy administration and guides consortia through the application process.
Wil je IX inzetten in jouw organisatie?
Ontdek hoe je als 'launching customer' kunt deelnemen aan IIC-projecten.
Related funding schemes
Learning Communities
This scheme brings together innovation, learning and working, so that professionals can further develop their knowledge and skills in the field of immersive experiences. Four-year projects by consortia from research, education and practice.
Thematic iX Labs
The Thematic iX Labs bring participants together around a specific theme to explore jointly how immersive experiences can be put to use.
ADRIE
Artistic and design research in immersive experiences. For artists, designers and creative professionals exploring the boundaries of IX.
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