NWO Social Sciences and Humanities reconsiders changes Open Competition and Talent Scheme

NWO is going through major changes, and this means also consequences for the funding instruments of the Domain Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). With a few exceptions, the only funding instruments will be the Talent Programme, the Open Competition, the Dutch National Research Agenda, the programmes for top sectors and instruments for large infrastructure. In recent weeks, the SSH Board has received feedback regarding the reforms and has therefore reconsidered the changes of the instruments.

The SSH Board has received the feedback from many different quarters and noticed that researchers and other stakeholders are closely following the changes and would like to contribute their expertise. At present, the board has noted the many questions and ideas about the new design of the Open Competition and the reforms within the Talent Programme, which the former Innovational Research Incentives Scheme is a part of. 

The domain board has duly noted the criticism of one of the limiting conditions (focus on ‘post Vici’) for the Open Competition. It was decided not to make any further changes to the current call due to the many positive reactions received about the new setup. SSH therefore feels it is wise to wait and see how things develop. Careful attention shall be paid to the number of applications received in this round, but also the extent to which mid-career researchers within the social sciences and humanities participate in calls for the Dutch National Research Agenda and the ‘Crossover Call' in the context of the top sectors. NWO will therefore carefully monitor the Open Competition in the coming months. Before the start of the next open competition funding round (2019-2020), the board will discuss whether the findings from the current round give any reasons to change the limiting conditions.

The introduction of the pre-selection phase for Veni applicants based on a research idea and CV and the embedding guarantee for Vidi applicants are major changes. Therefore much attention will be given to the careful introduction of these measures in the coming period. Other possible changes, such as the ratio between the numbers of Veni and Vici positions and the introduction of team Venis will only be the considered in the longer term and in consultation with researchers from the domain.