NWO announces open competition NWO Science in 2018 - deadline current funding instruments May 1, 2018

NWO announces that as of August 1, 2018 researchers can submit proposals for two new funding instruments in the NWO Domain Science (ENW). Within this open competition there will be two domain-wide instruments for innovative and curiosity-driven fundamental research: one instrument for small-scale projects and investments and one for large-scale projects. Current funding instruments in the open competition close the May 1, 2018.

NWO ENW has made extra funds available to ensure that the transition takes place as easily as possible and has initiated a transition regulation for the current funding instruments. The change fits within the NWO-wide simplification of the package of funding instruments, but only applies to the Science Domain. The calls and the application forms for the new funding instruments will become available at the NWO website in 2018. Grants will be awarded from 2019 onwards.

The current instruments are still open or will open soon for the last time. Applications for the ALW Open Programme and Physics Projectruimte can be submitted continuously until May 1, 2018. The call for CW TOP/ECHO will reopen shortly and the call EW TOP1&2 is open now. Both also with a deadline of May 1, 2018. The call Scientific Infrastructure for astronomy, computer science and mathematics, previously known as the Investment Grant NWO Medium Physical Sciences is also open. Deadline of submissions is January 30, 2018. Next year one more round of the Physics Vrije Programma's will be open. The deadline is not known yet, but the pre-proposal phase will not close before the end of February 2018.

NWO will implement a simplified set of funding instruments in all its domains next year. As of August 1, researchers can submit proposals for the first calls published in accordance with this new model. The NWO Executive Board has the intention to create a higher degree of clarity in the research funding and a better connection between the domains for multidisciplinary research proposals. For the time being, the new funding instruments should cover four categories, namely talent, open project funding, open programme funding, and strategic funding. Each category will contain a limited number of funding instruments and will have a modular structure. The details of the new system will be further elaborated in the coming months.