With summer in full swing and new periods of extreme heat on the horizon, the importance of translating research into practical solutions for societal challenges is becoming increasingly clear, such as the impact of heat on the health of children in the city. This is exactly what Healthy Start Sprint Projects are designed to do: foster new collaborations, stimulate innovative ideas, and accelerate real-world impact.

An inspiring example is the Sprint Project “Towards Heat-Resilient Pregnancy in Rotterdam-Rijnmond.” The project explores how indoor heat exposure during pregnancy can affect health and brings together researchers, healthcare professionals, residents, housing corporations, and policymakers to develop solutions. By connecting diverse perspectives, the project not only generates new knowledge but also helps create practical interventions that can contribute to healthier living environments for pregnant women and their families.

As part of the project, a cross-sector Policy Lab is being established in which stakeholders collaboratively design and test potential interventions. In addition, the project is developing a multilingual Heat & Pregnancy Resilience Toolkit to help both residents and professionals better prepare for the effects of rising temperatures.

Projects like this highlight how Healthy Start and her Sprint projects can contribute to new knowledge, stronger networks, and tangible steps toward a healthier future for children and families.

Do You Have an Idea with Impact?

The Healthy Start Sprint Projects 2027 Call for Proposals is now open. Healthy Start is looking for innovative projects that bring together different disciplines and societal partners to address challenges related to health, well-being, and inequality of opportunity. Sprint Projects are designed to explore new ideas, accelerate the translation of knowledge into practice, and enable meaningful collaboration.

Apply for the Sprint Call 2027 and turn your idea into societal impact. The submission deadline is 18 September 2026 at 11:00 AM CEST.