Free Competition

With the Free Competition, NWO stimulates high-risk innovative research, and offers opportunities for researchers to develop pioneering ideas. In general, Free Competition entails the possibility to submit original and innovative research proposals without programmatic or thematic restrictions.

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Free Competition
ECHO Project Grants
Free Competition of the NWO Division for Chemical Sciences (CW)
ECHO-project grants offer the opportunity to carry out a high quality science driven chemical research project. In this way a challenging scientific idea can be pursued, a new research area can be opened up or a scientific innovation can be established.
Free Competition continuous application
Free Competition of the NWO Division for Physical Sciences (EW)
This programme offers financial support to research proposals without programmatic preconditions in the physical sciences upto 110.000 euro.
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.
Free Competition continuous application
Free Competition of the NWO Division in the Humanities (GW)
This grant instrument is aimed at research programmes with a substantial humanities component.
H Programmes
Pilot for scientific theme programmes for the humanities, focusing on scientific innovation in humanities disciplines.
Integrated Programmes open for application
Free Competition of WOTRO Science for Global Development
The Integrated Programme scheme is aimed at supporting excellent problem-oriented interdisciplinary research to the benefit of development and societal issues in the South. An IP may address developmental and societal issues: in a broad sense that may lead to new insights, theories and/or breakthroughs in current knowledge and understanding or fitting within one or more of four themes of WOTRO’s framework: (A) Poverty and Hunger; (B) Sustainable Environment (C) Global Relationships.
Open Programme continuous application
Free Competition of the NWO Division for the Earth and Life Sciences (ALW)
The Open Program of the Division for Earth and Life Sciences offers financial support across the full range of Dutch research in the earth and life sciences.
TOP Grants continuous application
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.