National Programme Sea and Coastal Research

The ZKO programme focuses on strengthening the understanding and knowledge of coastal development, the role of cycles and particle flows in relation to water quality, capacity for a sustainable yield of the ecosystem, change in the biodiversity, the role of the sea and ocean in climate change and the effects of climate change on the marine system. This understanding must provide the basis for possible predictions. The ZKO wants to facilitate the cooperation between different research institutes in this area.

As part of the ZKO (National Programme Sea and Coastal Research) two programmes have been developed:

• a pilot concerning Changing carrying capacity in the Dutch coastal waters;
• a subprogramme concerning oceans and climate;
• a subprogramme concerning the North Sea;
• ship time.

Who can apply

The main applicant has a tenured position, or at least the guarantee that during the project he or she is employed at Dutch universities and/or research institutes. Eligible institutions are NWO and KNAW institutes, Wageningen IMARES and Deltares. 

What can be applied for

• pilot Changing Carrying Capacity in Dutch Marine Waters 
• subprogramme Oceans
• subprogramme North Sea
• Ship Time Current Research
• Ship Time Open Programme 
• Transnational Wadden Sea Research

Criteria

Different criteria apply to the pilot, the subprogrammes and ship time. See the brochures for details.

Committees

Programme Board ZKO

Financiers

Contributions have been guaranteed by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, NWO and the NAM. Participating institutions have also promised contributions (in kind).