About NWO

NWO, The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, has several core tasks:

  • NWO is the largest financer of scientific innovation in the Netherlands and operates as an intermediary between researchers, (international) science centres and society;
  • NWO finances, coordinates and monitors thousands of research projects and numerous collaborations in all sciences, and mediates for the use of state of the art facilities – such as telescopes and super computers;
  • NWO is the national partner with regard to knowledge exchange and scientific collaboration within and outside Europe;
  • NWO promotes (the use of) scientific breakthroughs by NWO subsidized research in the Dutch society and industry.

NWO sets out to secure the Netherlands' top ranking in science worldwide and to make sure that the current strong position is further strengthened. NWO is also committed to ensure that the results of scientific research quickly gain presence and exposure in society, either as new expertise or practical applications.

NWO's core tasks and ambitions can also be found in the statutory mission of NWO.