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 (evaluation report, Dutch version). This positive evaluation lead to the continuation of the scheme in 2009. There will however be some changes made (see also press release of 16 September 2008):

• 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 2009, 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 7 January 2010.
• 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 11 February 2010. 
• 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 30 March 2010.
  The deadline for the full proposals based on the preproposals is 31 August 2010.

Several aspects of the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme have been modified with effect from 2009. Researchers from all scientific disciplines may from now on describe in their proposal the expected impact or the relevance of the research for society and industry. Until recently this was only possible in the technical sciences. If the researcher cannot write a so-called ' knowledge utilisation section' or if the section makes the rating of the proposal worse, then only the known criteria 'quality of the researcher' and ' quality of the proposal' shall count towards the assessment.

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.

Contribution from the host institute

Up till 2008 the host institutes were obligated to contribute 33% of the grant. Since 2008 NWO pays the complete grant. The contributions to the grants from the host institute stopped when the government decided to remove 100 million euro from the universities budget to NWO.

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).

• By the submission deadline for the Veni round held in 2008, 644 applications were submitted. The proportion submitted by women was 40%. Of the 644 applications, 116 were successful (18%). Grants were awarded to 72 men and 44 women.
• By the submission deadline for the one Vidi round held in 2008, 393 applications were submitted. The proportion submitted by women was 30%. Of the 393 applications, 81 were successful (21%). Grants were awarded to 53 men and 28 women.
• By the submission deadline for the one Vici round in 2007, 174 pre-proposals were submitted. The proportion submitted by women was 20%. 85 full-proposals were submitted on 28 August. The proportion submitted by women was 22%. Of the 85 applications 30 were successful. Grants were awarded to 20 men and 10 women.