What is the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme

The Innovational Research Incentives Scheme is directed at individual researchers at various stages of their careers. It includes three forms of grant: Veni (for researchers who have recently completed their doctorates), Vidi (for experienced researchers) and Vici (for researchers of professorial quality).

In 2007 the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme received a positive evaluation. This positive evaluation lead to the continuation of the scheme in 2009, with some changes: 

• More grants will be awarded and the amount of the grants will be increased
• More application possibilities for professors
• No guarantee from the institute required in advance
• NWO pays 100% of the grants

Grant amount and deadlines

In 2012, there will be one Veni-round, one Vidi-round and one Vici application round. 

• The Veni grant offers researchers who have recently gained their PhDs the opportunity to further develop their ideas for a period of three years. The grant is for a maximum of 250,000 euro.
  The next deadline is 5 January 2012.


• The Vidi grant is targeted at researchers who have already gained several years of research experience at a postdoc level and whilst doing so have demonstrated that they can generate innovative ideas which they can independently and successfully develop. They may develop an innovative line of research and appoint one or more researchers for this purpose. The grant is for a maximum of 800,000 euro.
  The next deadline is 2 October 2012.


• The Vici grant is targeted at the senior researcher who has successfully demonstrated the ability to develop his or her own innovative line of research and the ability to act as a mentor for young researchers. Vici laureates may build up their own research group, often in anticipation of receiving a tenured professorship. The line of research shall be structurally embedded within the research institute. Experienced researchers may submit a preproposal at least 8 years and no more than 15 years after they have obtained their doctorates. The grant is for a maximum of 1,500,000 euro.
  The deadline for preproposals is 29 March 2012. The deadline for the full proposals based on the preproposals is 28 August 2012.

Limited submission possibilities for Veni and Vidi

With effect from 2011 a new submission condition applies to applicants. For the Veni and Vidi rounds, researchers may only submit a proposal on two occasions. Only applicants who had already submitted a proposal twice before 2011 may make a third submission via a transitional arrangement. For Vici, researchers may submit a proposal on three occasions.

Agreement with the host institute

The researcher does not have to make any arrangements with the host institute until he/she has received the award letter. A format for this agreement between the host institute and the researcher will be available soon at www.nwo.nl/vi.

Aim and target group

The aim of the scheme is to promote innovation in academic research. It gives creative and talented researchers the opportunity to conduct their own research and so gain entry to or promotion within institutions conducting academic research in the Netherlands.

The target group for the scheme consists of outstanding researchers (men and women who rank among the top 10-20% of their peer group).