DEMPACT helps you achieve more with your research

It is difficult to ensure that new and existing knowledge from your dementia research is put to use where it really makes a difference (for example: amongst healthcare professionals in memory clinics, care homes or case management teams; in vocational education for care and welfare; amongst companies bringing care innovations to market; or amongst people with dementia and their carers at home).

But DEMPACT can support you with this.

In short

🕸️DEMPACT connects researchers with one another and with practice settings, and facilitates implementation.
💡The DEMPACT Academy offers training on implementation, FAIR data management, target group participation, public-private partnerships and communication.
🏋🏽DEMPACT offers support with specific dementia-related data issues and shares experiences and solutions.
🚀In the DEMPACT Dementia Education Think Tank (‘Denktank DementieOnderwijs’), you can share your knowledge with teachers on vocational care and welfare courses and learn what teaching materials are needed and useful.
👩🏼‍🤝‍🧑🏽The DEMPACT Service Point for Experiential Knowledge and Participation is available to provide advice and support on participation in research, organising co-creation and engaging stakeholders.

DEMPACT is able to do this thanks to its extensive network across healthcare and social care, vocational education, research and the business sector. And because we identify needs and gaps relating to dementia knowledge and tools in these practical fields.

Dutch Dementia Researchers Conference

Exchanging scientific knowledge and forging collaborations are essential to making an impact with your dementia research. That is why DEMPACT organises the annual Dutch Dementia Researchers Conference (DDRC), in collaboration with ZonMw, Alzheimer Nederland and Health Holland. The first editions took place on November 15, 2024 and February 12, 2026.

The next edition will take place on February 11, 2027, at the 1931 conference centre in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

DEMPACT Academy

To make an impact both in academia and in society, you need specific skills. DEMPACT helps you to enhance your research skills and your impact, so that you can build a stronger narrative on your CV.

Training courses… and more

• We offer training on stakeholder participation, FAIR data management, communication and implementation;
• we bring together (international) dementia research, social and private organisations;
• we promote the activities of other research consortia and organisations. Examples include the InterAct grant from Alzheimer Nederland, conferences such as ‘Zoek het uit!’ organised by Vilans, ‘Lerende praktijken’ by Movisie, Pharos’ Inspiration Days and implementation grants from ZonMw.

Field visits

To implement research findings, you need knowledge of (and experience with) real-world practice. Only in this way can you align with day-to-day processes, circumstances and needs, and ensure your knowledge is put into practice. This applies to both the care and welfare sectors, as well as to care and welfare training programmes, care technology, drug development, and collaboration with private sector organisations.

DEMPACT therefore organises work visits and other meetings. This enables you to meet stakeholders, learn how processes actually work in practice, and understand what is needed to apply your knowledge. Dementia researchers have already visited day centres, education fairs and Technology Transfer Offices within academic institutions.

Check our events for training sessions and working visits. Or let Project Manager Carmen Ensink know what you need.

Support for FAIR data management

Data that is findable, accessable, interoperable and reusable (i.e. FAIR) improves the quality and speed of dementia research. DEMPACT therefore provides support in making data FAIR and in publishing metadata.

• Are you writing a grant application for follow-up funding for the Dementia Research Programme? DEMPACT can help you set realistic targets and budgets relating to FAIR data.
• We organise targeted knowledge-sharing sessions and training courses for data stewards and researchers from dementia consortia.
• DEMPACT advises researchers on the benefits, necessity and practical implementation of data FAIRification, the implementation of ICT infrastructure and the use of (meta)data.
• We compile and share tips and tricks, FAIR data protocols, guides and templates from dementia consortia.

For example, take a look at the Dutch Dementia Research Community, which DEMPACT has set up on the Open Science platform Zenodo.com. Or get in touch with Data Management Coordinator Didi Lamers with your enquiry.

Strengthening public-private partnerships

DEMPACT helps you identify valorisation opportunities to bring innovations from your consortium into practice. We map out funding and upscaling pathways, connect you with the right private partners, and, in due course, provide advice on turning your innovation into a business case.

In addition, we aim to help you structure the public-private partnership in such a way that it optimally facilitates implementation and commercialisation. DEMPACT will also provide support and advice on setting up new public-private partnerships (PPPs) and acts as a matchmaker between researchers and businesses. Training sessions on effective public-private collaboration will also be organised. We share consortia’s experiences and practical tips via ‘Inspiration‘.

Do you have a question or need advice? Please contact Saartje Burgmans, Impactmanager Business-development.

Dementia Education Think Tank

DEMPACT has set up the online Dementia Education Think Tank (‘Denktank DementieOnderwijs’). More than 30 vocational education teachers and educational developers are already contributing their ideas on how we can strengthen vocational education programmes using new and existing insights from dementia research. This is sorely needed (see also: ‘Let vocational students get involved‘). The majority of healthcare and welfare professionals who work with people with dementia are trained through vocational education. Yet new insights into better care are scarcely reaching the more than 60 healthcare training programmes.

Dementia researchers are welcome to join the online Dementia Education Think Tank. Could your research be relevant to healthcare training programmes? Get in touch, and come along to listen, ask questions and discuss (your) teaching materials.

Advice on communication

Sharing your research findings is worthwhile. However, simply sharing something publicly does not mean that you have reached ‘the public’ or your target audience. Nor does it mean that your message has got through. DEMPACT can advise you and offer practical help to ensure that you do succeed in this.

What kind of communication suits your research?

DEMPACT can help you draw up a pragmatic, concise communication plan that aligns with the objectives of your research project, work package or consortium. The key questions are: to whom are your knowledge and results relevant, what actions will enable you to reach those target group(s), and who can carry out those actions (or arrange for them to be carried out)?

This may involve communication within your consortium (knowledge sharing, process agreements) and beyond. Consider visibility amongst your funders, public awareness or debate, and targeted knowledge transfer or building support amongst stakeholders, healthcare professionals or (potential) participants.

Naturally, we also consider the balance between what you want (or need) to achieve and the investment you can make (in terms of time, money and effort).

Practical support

• DEMPACT can organise workshops – or arrange for them to be delivered – on accessible writing, devising infographics or providing an hour’s hands-on guidance on creating images using canva.com.
• You can also discuss a specific case with DEMPACT: what can you outsource to a copywriter, designer or printer – and what should be included in the brief to ensure you get what you need (without unexpected costs)? What should you (and shouldn’t you) do when a journalist calls, and what conditions can you set? How do you reach relevant media outlets with your publication?

Feel free to ask Karin Postelmans, communications adviser, any questions you may have.

Experiential Knowledge & Participation Desk

Nowadays, almost every call for funding stipulates that the target group must be involved in the research. “Agreed, but how?”, many researchers then ask themselves.

DEMPACT takes a pragmatic approach to target group participation (TGP). Through TGP, you draw on the experiential knowledge of the people for whom you are conducting the research, thereby making your research more relevant and impactful. Together with Pharos, DEMPACT offers advice on issues relating to GPP. We can also draw on our network to reach experts by experience. This enables you to achieve effective GPP: from focus groups or panel consultations to participation committees and co-creation. And it helps you maximise your impact.

Would you like advice on utilising the lived experience of people with dementia, informal carers, members of the public, people with low literacy skills or a migrant background, professionals or teachers? If so, please contact us.

DEMPACT partners

DEMPACT is a consortium comprising four dedicated partners: Alzheimer Nederland (lead applicant), Movisie, Pharos and Vilans.

Coalition partners & advisers

DEMPACT works with many other organisations: dozens of organisations from the healthcare, social care, education and business sectors. They are either coalition partners or support DEMPACT’s work by providing advice.

Funded by ZonMw

In response to the rise in dementia, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport developed the National Dementia Strategy (‘Nationale Dementiestrategie 2021–2030’). This strategy comprises three main themes. One of these is ‘End Dementia Worldwide’; a key component of this is the Dementia Research Programme (‘Onderzoeksprogramma Dementie’, OPD). Within the OPD, ZonMw funds, amongst other things, multidisciplinary research consortia (see Dementia Research) – and the DEMPACT consortium.

The Dutch government aims to achieve more through scientific research: to realise greater societal and scientific impact. DEMPACT (a portmanteau of DEMence and impACT) has been tasked with determining how this can be achieved, specifically within the Dutch dementia sector.