NWO sends young researchers abroad
6 July 2010
31 young scientists acquire foreign experience with Rubicon grant
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded 31 young, highly-promising scientists a grant from the Rubicon programme. Dutch scientists who have recently gained a PhD can use Rubicon to gain research experience abroad. Foreign researchers can use this grant to do research in the Netherlands.
Most of the successful candidates have gained a doctorate in the Netherlands and are going abroad. Just as with previous funding rounds, the United States and the United Kingdom are the most popular destinations. Other candidates are leaving for France, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
Experience abroad
Seven researchers are using Rubicon to do research at a Dutch Institute. Three of these researchers gained their doctorate abroad. Over the next few years, NWO hopes to attract more foreign researchers for a research period in the Netherlands. With this, NWO can encourage the international mobility of scientific talent.
A total of 155 young researchers submitted an application and 31 of them have now received a Rubicon grant. The key assessment criteria are the quality of the research proposal, the quality of the researcher and the quality of the host institute. The feasibility of the research and mobility of the researcher also count.
Extra funding from Brussels
Dutch institutes that offer a foreign researcher a position for a year receive 55,000 euro. Dutch researchers who go abroad, receive a grant for which the amount is dependent on the chosen destination. For each Rubicon funding round, NWO makes a budget of 1.7 million euro available. For the rounds in 2010, NWO also receives cofunding via the Marie Curie Cofund Action programme of the European Union. This funding allows NWO to fund more Rubicon grants.
Changes to Rubicon
NWO recently commissioned and evaluation of the Rubicon programme. This positive evaluation revealed, for example, that there is certainly a clear demand within science for such a programme. The evaluation has led to changes in the Rubicon programme. With effect from the next funding round, researchers who go abroad as well as researchers who come to the Netherlands can apply for a grant for a period of 12 to 24 months. With this, the period that can be applied for becomes the same for all applicants.
Rubicon
The name of the grant comes from the Rubicon River. Julius Caesar crossed the river before he started his series of victories that culminated in him saying 'veni, vidi, vici'. Rubicon (www.nwo.nl/rubicon) is a good launch pad for a Veni grant from NWO’s Innovational Research Incentives Scheme.
Go to the alphabetical list of researchers awarded a grant.
About NWO
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is the principal Dutch science funding body and its mission is to facilitate excellent scientific research in the Netherlands by means of national competition. Each year NWO spends more than 700 million euro on grants for top researchers, on innovative instruments and equipment, and on institutes where top research is performed. NWO funds the research of more than 5300 talented researchers at universities and institutes. Independent experts select proposals by means of a peer review system. NWO facilitates the transfer of knowledge to society.
Further information about the evaluation of Rubicon: http://www.nwo.nl/nwohome.nsf/pages/NWOP_86VCZ9 (in Dutch).
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Further information:
- NWO, Information and Communication Department
- t.: +31 70 344 07 13, voorlichting@nwo.nl
- www.nwo.nl/rubicon
