The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) funds thousands of top researchers at universities and institutes and steers the course of Dutch science by means of subsidies and research programmes

Subsidies closed for application

The NWO subsidies and programmes in this overview, in alphabetical order, are no longer open for application. No new rounds are foreseen. You may browse through current and concluded research projects via these pages.

A B C D E F G H IJKL M N O PQR S T U V WXY Z

A

Accessibility and Knowledge Extraction in the Netherlands (ToKeN2000)

ToKeN is a research programme aimed at increasing user accessibility to knowledge systems and knowledge extraction (deriving implicit information from raw data), both of which are outstanding conditions for optimal use of the electronic superhighway.

Advanced Sustainable Processes by Engaging Catalytic Technologies (ASPECT)

The ASPECT (Advanced Sustainable Processes by Engaging Catalytic Technologies) programme concentrates on commodity chemicals and catalysis with the aim of increasing sustainability. The goals are long-term changes, requiring a concerted effort of industry, academia and other research institutes.

Applied Chemistry

Promoting application-oriented (bio)chemical and chemical-technological research. In the long term it leads to contracts with companies, patents and research results that benefit businesses. To encourage this each project is supervised by a user committee consisting of research from the business world.

Applied Mathematics

Technology Foundation STW and NWO Divison for Physical Sciences have devised the programme Mathematics Applied to strenghten mathematical research that is oriented to social needs.

B

Basic Equipment for Research Themes in Chemical Focus Areas (BAZIS)

BAZIS is the Dutch acronym for Basic Equipment for Research Themes in Chemical Focus Areas (zwaartepunten). The grant is intended for requests for workhorse equipment to strengthen a Research Theme in a Chemical Focus Area (zwaartepunt) as defined in the Sector Plan Physics and Chemistry. The BAZIS grant will enable a rectification to the shortfall in equipment, something that is both very desirable and necessary within chemistry.

Big Grid Computing and Data Facilities

The BiG Grid project is a collaboration between NCF, Nikhef and NBIC, and enables access to grid infrastructures for scientific research in the Netherlands. Through this, the BiG Grid project aims to facilitate e-science in many scientific disciplines.

Preservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of components and fair distribution of profits.

Biomolecular Informatics

Reinforcement of biomolecukar informatics in the Netherlands as part of the modern Life-Science Research.

Brain & Cognition: an Integrated Approach

This programme strives for better insight in cognitive functions from the molecular level all the way up to the interactions between individuals, and aims to promote brain and cognition research using an integrative approach.

C

The Casimir programme will help to achieve these aims by providing financial incentives for companies and knowledge institutions to organise exchanges between talented researchers in the public and private sectors and to offer them enhanced career prospects.

CERC3 Transnational Research Programme in Chemistry

CERC3 stands for Chairmen of the European Research Councils' Chemistry Committees. This organisation promotes transnational research in chemistry through cooperation of the national research organisations in Europe.

Chemical Research Travel Grants

Research trainees and postdoctorals employed by NWO Chemical Sciences (appointed before 1 April 1999) and trainee research assistants and postdoctorals employed by universities and working on the basis of reimbursement at projects financed by Chemical Sciences (appointment after 1 April 1999 and project approval before 1 April 2001) can apply for travel grants for domestic and foreign travel.

Climate Variability

The programme Climate Variability under supervision by the Council for Earth and Life Sciences is the continuation of the programme Clivarnet which is now closed. Aim of the new programme is to enable Dutch scientists to make a contribution to selected international programmes dealing with climate research.

Combinatorial Chemistry

The programme promotes combinatorial chemistry at an academic level resulting in the integration of this technology into the training of (future) researchers.

Computational Science

This programme is designed for the fields of astronomy, physics, information science and mathematics. The intention is to collaborate with other disciplines such as chemistry and biology.

Conflict and Cooperation over Natural Resources in Developing Countries (CoCooN) - Matchmaking

The CoCooN programme aims to contribute to sustainable development, poverty reduction and the realisation of the MDGs by adding to evidence-based policy development, interventions and practices in the field of conflict and cooperation on natural resources, and by contributing to adequately manage, resolve and learn from conflicts.

Cooperation Germany (DFG)

Aim of the cooperation between Graduiertenkollegs and Research Schools is to cooperate in the education and training of doctoral students in both countries, within the framework of a jointly established and implemented research programme.

Cooperation Germany (EMBL)

Closed for applications. EMBL travel grants were awarded for research at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg or at one of the out-stations in Hamburg or Grenoble. Also participation in courses and workshops organised by the EMBL/EMBO was eligible for subsidy.

Cooperation Great-Britain (British Council)

Within the UK-Netherlands Partnership Programme in Science researchers from higher education institutions in the two countries can apply for travel grants for research visits or subsidy for workshops/seminars.

Cooperation India - Europe - Network Subsidy (ANR, DFG, ESRC, ICSSR, NWO)

The objective of the Indian-European Research Networking Programme is to promote the strengthening of the social sciences within and between the five countries, by providing additional funding to allow joint research activities for internationally excellent research in relevant areas.
Researchers from abroad may apply as well

Cooperation Rumania

The fellowship programme is developed as a stimulant for excellent young Bulgarian and Romanian researchers to stay active in science in their home country and to involve them in international circuits.

Cooperation Russia

The Dutch Russian cooperation programme was established in 1992 to give a strong impulse to the scientific collaboration between the two countries.

Cooperation ('bilateral agreement') International

Bilateral agreements are aimed at overcoming barriers to international collaborative research. A bilateral agreement is reached with the United Kingdom: Economic and Social Research Council NWO Social Sciences will facilitate bilateral collaborations between Dutch social scientists and UK social scientists.

Cultural Modernisation and the Foundations of the Humanities

This programme of the Humanities Division aims to help develop terms and insights that may be helpful for discussions about the scientific and cultural task of the humanities at the beginning of the 21st century.

D

The De Mayerne programme aims to increase knowledge of ageing processes in coats of paint and varnish of paintings dating from between the early 15th and the late 19th century.

Dissertation Grants Chemical Sciences

Programme that gives financial support to PhD students working at a project of the Council for Chemical Sciences, to encourage them to succesfully finish their PhD work.

Dutch Multicultural and Pluriform Society, the (MPS)

This programme is part of the Social Cohesion programme, which aims in the long run to anchor social cohesion research into the established research framework. The many questions surrounding the multicultural society are to be viewed from a new perspective that may bring us closer to some of the answers.

Dynamism in Innovation

A cooperation between the Ministry of Economic Affairs and NWO aiming at answering the question: How are different types of knowledge produced and disseminated? And is that being done effectively and efficiently?

This programme promotes longitudinal research into causes and treatments of dyslexia. Dyslexia is a multidisciplinary programme in which researchers from various fields cooperate, such as neurology, psychiatry, pedagogy, genetics and linguistics.

E

Ecology Regarding Genetically Modified Organisms (ERGO)

Ambition and goal is to create high-quality, public, fundamental ecological knowledge that is needed for making a risk analysis of future generations of genetically modified crops.

Endangered Languages

The Endangered Languages Programme intends to encourage research on endangered languages, emphasizing the production of extensive language descriptions in accordance with tried and tested scientific methods.

Energy Research

The NWO/SenterNovem programme Energy Research is aimed at promoting high-quality and innovative academic research, in which the development of theories and methodologies comes first. This programme aims to create a fruitful interaction between the various social disciplines in energy research and between social and scientific energy research.

Environment and Economy

The strategic research programme Environment & Economy is designed to contribute towards developing unified policies, anchoring environmental economy in economic science and the economic faculties, countering fragmentation in environmental economy, and consolidating the relatively strong position of environmental economy in the Netherlands.

ERA-NET Chemistry

The aim of the ERA-Chemistry network is to develop a bottom-up European Research Area (ERA) in science-driven chemical research, unhindered by national, formal or scientific boundaries. The network identifies innovative scientific subjects that are exceptionally suited for being studied in joint, cooperative, transnational, European research projects.

ESFRI Projects National Funding

Deze procedure leidt tot een advies van de Commissie Van Velzen over grootschalige onderzoeksinfrastructuur (nationale road map)

Ethics, Research and Government - Survey

This programme focuses particularly on: questions concerning the desirability and acceptability of scientific research aimed at developing new technologies (biotechnology, informatics, medical technology etc.) and their social implementation, questions concerning the government’s role in developing and implementing new technologies, central societal issues and the government’s role in approaching them.

European Young Investigators (EURYI)

Young and excellent scientists from 19 countries are elected to recieve this super award of 1,250,000 Euro.

Evolution and Behaviour - Interdisciplinary Research Projects

The primary threats to the functioning of modern society arise from human
behaviour. Insight in the evolution of behaviour will surely not solve these
problems, but it may provide the context within which one can search for
explanations and solutions.

F

Family Relationships: The Ties that Bind

The NWO Large investment in ‘The Netherlands Kinship Panel Study’ will result in a data collection that serves to map patterns of and changes in family relationships and family solidarity. This material in its turn will be the subject of scientific research as part of the programme Family Relationships: The Ties That Bind.

Flemish-Dutch Cooperation in Marine Research

The Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO) and NWO's Earth and Life Sciences Division (ALW) call for proposals for research into questions regarding the ecology and environment of the Scheldt basin and the related part of the North Sea coast.

Flemish-Dutch Cooperation in the Humanities

The Flemish-Dutch Committee for Dutch Language and Culture (VNC) subsidises scientific cooperation between Flanders and the Netherlands for the promotion of Dutch language and culture.

Flemish-Dutch Language and Speech-processing Technology Programme (STEVIN) - call for tender

In order to stimulate the technology sector and increase its capacity for innovation, as well as to strengthen or at least maintain the position of Dutch in present-day information and communication society, the Nederlandse Taalunie (Dutch Language Union) is launching the Flemish-Dutch Language and Speech-processing Technology Programme STEVIN.

Free Competition

Free Competition of the NWO Division for the Social Sciences (MaGW)
Subsidy programme Open Competition for the advancement of innovative and high-quality scientific research in the social and behavioural sciences.

From Molecule to Cell

The research programme From Molecule to Cell (MtC) is a joint programme of the NWO Divisions for Earth and Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences and Physical Sciences. The programme From Molecule to Cell aims to develop an understanding of the complex mechanisms of biological processes at the integration level from molecule to cell.

Future of the Religious Past, the

This programme’s objective is to encourage research into the state of religion at the beginning of the 21st century: the renewed participation in traditional religions such as Christianity, Islam and Hinduism and the advent of new forms of fragmented religion and personal spirituality.

G

Global Health Policy and Health Systems Research

The Global Health Policy and Health Systems (GHPHS) research programme will fund high quality health policy and health systems research. It will give priority to research that demonstrates how health systems can be improved, and how improved health systems can contribute to reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

Grants Programme Parallelisation

The NCF Grants Programme aims at the efficient use of parallel facilities, en offers the possibilities to optimize scientific application software for the available (NCF-)systems.

H

Health Research in Developing Countries

This NWO Knowledge Enriches programme focuses on scientific research on local health issues.

With the HEFBOOM scheme, the board of the Division for Physical Sciences enables informatics groups to appoint one extra FTE in middle management (approximately at (senior) lecturer level) for a period of three years. The recipient himself determines this person’s activities

I

Integrated Research in NWO Theme Sustainable Earth and National Programme Knowledge for Climate

This programme is part of the NWO theme Sustainable Earth and is being realised under the auspices of the National Partnership for Sustainable Earth research (NPDA), whose members include NWO, Knowledge for Climate Foundation, Energy research programmes, and several larger and smaller institutes that steer research in the field of sustainability and the Earth.

Integration of Biosynthesis and Organic Synthesis (IBOS) - SME Projects

Using the principles of molecular biology to guide our developments in synthesizing complex molecules, in particular when combined with the demands for higher development speed and efficient, sustainable processes.

Interactive Multimodal Information Extraction (IMIX)

The IMIX programme is aimed at increasing strategic-fundamental knowledge of the Dutch language and its application in multimodal and/or multimedia systems. The programme’s implementation is led by a number of strategic and thematic priorities.

International Polar Year - The Netherlands

The IPY intends to give an impulse to internationally coordinated scientific research of the polar areas. The aims include the exploration of new scientific border areas, deepening of understanding of polar processes and their global interactions, increasing the possibilities for perceiving changes, formation of a new generation of polar researchers and arousing interest among a wider public and decision makers.

ISIS beam time applications (neutrons and muons)

Dutch researchers could submit research proposals to use ISIS, worlds most powerful source of pulsed neutrons and muons.

L

Language Acquisition & Multilingualism

The central aim of the programme is to instigate research on the intersection of the fields of language acquisition and multilingualism. The innovative power of the programme is founded in the integrated approach that combines three major aspects of the study of language acquisition and multilingualism: the role of architecture, processing and context in a multilingual setting.

M

Malta’s Harvest

This programme focuses on conducting synthesising research by means of standard reports, inventories and monographs on archaeological complexes that have been investigated ‘in the spirit of Malta’. The object of this central part is to create expertise in the scientific exploitation of the standard reports produced within the framework of Malta archaeology.

Materials Research (PPM)

The aim of the priority programme Materials Research is to promote research in three subfields of materials science: micromechanics and mesoscopic materials science, coatings and composites, functional materials.

Mathematical Physics

The programme Mathematical Physics aims to stimulate communication between mathematicians and theoretical physicists, especially regarding research that is fundamental and innovative for both disciplines.

Mental Fatigue in Work Situations

This programme has two objectives. The first is to improve scientific knowledge concerning the psychological, biomedical and health care aspects of work-related fatigue. The second is to devise scientific instruments for labour legislation, instruments that may assist employers and workers in their policy to reduce psycho-social, environmental, mental and physical hazards and curtail sick leave and labour disability.

N

NACCAP is a development orientated support and research programme. It contributs to the goal and objectives of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP). NACCAP aims at strengthening 2-5 African research & development centres by encouraging research and development programmes in Africa carried out by existing African-European partnerships.

NACCAP (EDCTP) - Joint Call

NACCAP is a development orientated support and research programme, financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. NACCAP is a Dutch National Programme contributing to the goal and objectives of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP). NACCAP´s activities include open calls, commissioned projects, support activities and co-funding.

National Programme for Investments in Large-scale Research Facilities

A budget of €100 million for investment in large-scale infrastructure can be used to establish a research facility of international standing in the Netherlands.

National Research Cruise Programme - Shiptime Application

The National Research Cruise Programme is a grant form under the supervision of the NWO Division for Earth and Life Sciences (ALW). It covers the additional costs of seagoing research expeditions. The divisional board plans to incorporate the National Research Cruise Programme into a national programme for marine and coastal zone research from 2009 onwards.

National Road Map for Large-scale Research Facilities

The current review of the National Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Facilities has two aims: to update the National Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Facilities and to produce prioritisation and funding decisions for the allocation of NWO’s Roadmap funds for large-scale research facilities.

National Road Map Large-scale Research Infrastructure

Deze procedure leidt tot een advies van de Commissie Van Velzen over grootschalige onderzoeksinfrastructuur (nationale road map)

Netherlands Polar Programme

The aim of this programme is to promote high-quality scientific research at Antarctica and to increase the national coherence of Dutch Arctic research in an international context.

Network of Networks

This multidisciplinary research programme has been set up by NWO at the initiative of the National Action Programme Electronic Highways (NAP). It focuses on scientific, social and policy questions regarding electronic networks.

NWO considers a good balance between mathematical and informatics aspects in the research proposals to be an important advantage. The Networks programme aims to attain this balance.

O

Odyssee is a partnership between the NWO Division for the Humanities, Erfgoed Nederland and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, for the purpose of disclosing archaeological field research carried out in the Netherlands between 1900 and 2000.

Open Competition

Free Competition (upto 2002) of the NWO Division for Chemical Sciences (CW)
The Chemical Sciences Open Competition for project proposals is aimed at original and innovative fundamental chemical research of a high scientific quality. In 2002 this subsidy became part of TOP subsidies.

P

Policy-oriented Research in Primary Education (BOPO) SAPO

Secundaire analyse op de data van COOL-speciaal ten einde een beginmeting vast te leggen ten behoeve van de leerlingeffecten van Passend onderwijs.

Preserving and Developing the Archaeological Archive (BBO)

The programme Preserving and Developing the Archaeological Archive promotes research into the archaeological values in the Netherlands in connection with historico-geographical and (urban-) developmental values.

Programme Subsidies

Free Competition (upto 2002) of the NWO Division for Chemical Sciences (CW)
The Chemical Sciences Division used the programme subsidies to support the research of excellent scientific research groups. These grants were designed for challenging and innovative research programmes. In 2002 this subsidy form became part of the Chemical Sciences TOP Subsidies.

Protein Foods, Environment, Technology and Society (PROFETAS)

The research programme PROFETAS (Protein Foods, Environment, Technology and Society) explores the possibilities for a radical change in food patterns. A multidisciplinary approach is used to examine the consequences of a transition from animal to vegetable protein production.

Publication Subsidies

Closed for applications. NWO provided grants called Publication Subsidies to support financially the publication or translation and/or linguistic revision of academic books, journals and publications in other than printed form

R

ReinFOrcing CompUter Science (FOCUS)

The aim of FOCUS is to search for and train talented informatics researchers. The programme focuses especially on strengthening the middle management.

Replacement Grant

This subsidy form offers professors and senior lecturers in the social and behavioural sciences the opportunity to be discharged of their teaching obligations in order to do scientific research.

Research and Knowledge Transmission Training and the Labour Market

The NWO-programme Training, the Labour Market and Economic Development promotes scientific research into schooling and the labour market. Of great importance is the transmission of research results through publications and participating in scientific panels.

Research into Legal Issues of Information Technology (ITeR)

The stimulation programme Information Technology and Law (IteR) promotes the study of current legal issues in information technology.

Research of Infectious Diseases

Two central subsidies for multidisciplinary research are to result in (virtual) research centres that are designed to prevent, control and/or treat infectious diseases in the Netherlands and/or developing countries.

Revitalisation of Legal Research - Replacement Subsidy

This subsidy offered professors and senior lecturers working in legal research and at a research institute recognised by NWO the opportunity to be relieved of their teaching obligations during the period May 2006-April 2007 in order ot spend extra time on scientific research.

S

Samenwerking Frankrijk - Van Gogh

The Van Gogh Programme encourages the exchange of Dutch and French researchers in all disciplines as part of a common research project that is to be carried out. Since 2005, the programme is linked to IRIS (Vernieuwingsimpuls).

Science4Arts aims to make a substantial contribution to the conservation professions. Additional to its research aspect, the program intends to build an interdisciplinary community of experienced researchers who can collaborate extensively and create a framework for the future demand for well-trained professionals.

Secondary Education Cohort Pupils

In the schedule of the Programme Council for Education Research (PROO) longitudinal research takes a special place. It is indispensable for the evaluative branch of education research. One of the longitudinal researches is Secondary Education Cohort Pupils (VOCL), a representative test among about 20,000 pupils from about 200 schools.

Secondment Grant in the Humanities

The aim of the humanities secondment grant is to give PhD students in the humanities who work outside of a university the opportunity to complete their thesis by temporarily freeing them of their paid responsibilities.

Separation Technology

The research programme Separation Technology is aimed at developing new concepts for industrially applicable separation technologies that are needed to create a breakthrough in the development and application of the advanced synthesising techniques of the future.

Shifts in Governance

The aim of the (NWO) Shifts in Governance research programme is to build bridges across disciplines and promote interdisciplinary research agendas. It is meant to stimulate the comparison of different phenomena and to inspire conceptual and empirical work through cross-fertilization and collaborative learning among related disciplines.

Smart Mix has two related goals: creating economic, social and cultural value (valorisation) and strengthening focus and critical mass in outstanding scientific research.

Social Cohesion Travel Fund

Subsidy form designed to promote international comparative research into the themes of the Social Cohesion programme, by exchange of results and collaboration of researchers.

Societal Component of Genomics Research , The

This programme supervised by the Netherlands Genomics Initiative promotes social-scientific, economic, legal and ethical research into the social component of genomics research.

Society and the Electronic Superhighway (MES)

The stimulation programme Society and the Electronic Superhighway centres on developing scientific knowledge of the interaction between ICT and society.

Softlink: Technology Related Soft Condensed Matter Research

The Softlink programme is aimed at promoting research into soft condensed matter by (para)university researchers. The programme’s three key themes are: nano-structured functional soft materials, complex reology and biomolecular systems.

Supramolecular Chemistry and Technology

This stimulation programme of the Division for Chemical Sciences aims to promote research into and the application of the fundamental principles of supramolecular chemistry.

Sustainable Accessibility of the Randstad

The DBR programme concerns issues in the area of sustainable mobility in relation to spatial development, energy transition and climate change.

Sustainable Use and Conservation of Marine Living Resources (SUSUSE)

This programme focuses on the causes of the problems involved in the exploitation of marine living resources and tries to find solutions for them.

T

The Value of Animal Welfare

Research programme on animal welfare, that requires an integrated, interdisciplinary approach because of the scientific, socio-economic and societal issues involved.

TOP Grants offer top research groups the opportunity to innovate their lines of research in terms of content and collaboration. The goal is to create room for groundbreaking science of superb quality.

NWO has set up a prestigious programme aimed at graduating top talent who have their own creative research ideas. Two subsidy rounds will be held: the first round of subsidies will be awarded in 2008. Successful candidates can start their PhD study as soon as they have graduated.

Towards a New Age of Partnership

This historical programme intends to safeguard the archives of the former Dutch East India Company (VOC, 1602-1795) as the mutual heritage of three continents. To this end it is crucial to improve the archives´ accessability for scientists and the general public with the aid of information technology.TANAP offers a M.A. and a Ph.D. programme tot train and enable young promising (Asian, African and European) scholars to do research in VOC-archives.

Traffic and Transport

The stimulation programme Traffic and Transport is aimed at fundamental, multidisciplinary research into traffic and transport, research that serves a concrete social purpose and results in high-quality applied research for the benefit of government and businesses.

Transformations in Art and Culture

This programme encourages research into current and historical transformations in art and culture. The focus is on three prominent transformation processes: technologisation, commercialisation and globalisation.

For travel grants in 2006. As a result of NWO's strategic plan, it is no longer possible to apply for a travel grant or visiting grant from 2007 onwards.

Closed for applications. With this programme NWO financed short working visits of three months maximum to foreign scientific institutes as well as field and archival research abroad.

U

Urban Innovation Programme (STIP)

STIP is an initiative of the Dutch Urban Expert Centre and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. STIP aims to greatly advance the problem-solving capacities of cities through innovation of current modes of thought, institutions and competences. STIP addresses urban problems and issues and the role played in them by the government.

Urban Regions in the Delta

Urban Regions in the Delta (URD) develops knowledge for sustainable policy for urban networks within the Dutch part of the North-western European metropolis. The aim of URD is to generate national and international knowledge and to integrate this where it can contribute to the formulation and implementation of innovative urban development. The foundation for this should be a new type of knowledge and new forms of guidance.

Urbanization and Urban Culture. Development and Urbanism in the Netherlands

Programme focuses on the changing patterns of both the physical appearance and the socio-economic situation of and in cities.

V

Vulnerability, Adaptation and Mitigation (VAM)

VAM focuses on research into the social and behavioural aspects of climate change, particularly within and in cooperation between public administration, geography, environmental economics, socio-cultural sciences, environmental law, psychology and other disciplines.

W

Within the NWO Theme System Earth, the NWO Research Council for Earth and Life Sciences (ALW) and the Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (WOTRO) together are launching a research programme for fundamental research regarding fresh water. In addition, the Ministry of VROM has allocated funds for fundamental research on climate change and its relation with society.

Wim Nieuwpoort Award

This annual Award is awarded to the research team, located at a Dutch university or scientific institute, which proves to be able to run a serious scientific application efficiently on a significant part of a large HPC-system.

Y

From 1996 to 2002 the Young Chemical Scientists programme was an important personal subsidy programme of the Division for Chemical Sciences. Its objective was to give young researchers with a PhD degree and a (prospective) tenured position at a university the opportunity to make a name for themselves by executing a self-chosen project.

Z

One of the five components of the BioPartner programme is ‘sowing projects life sciences’ or BioPartner First Stage Grant, which is administered by NWO (Division Earth and Life Sciences) and the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw). It offers contributions to new companies in the life sciences which are still in their starting phase.