Both individual researchers and research groups at Dutch universities and research institutes can turn towards the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) or one of its derivatives, such as the Technology Foundation NWO-TTW, ZonMw, and the foundation for Fundamental Research of Matter (FOM).
NWO offers financing for excellent scientific research and research cooperation between universities and companies. In addition, NWO also offers personal funding for excellent researchers. NWO focuses on five areas: free research and talent; thematic research; public-private cooperation; major research facilities; and national research institutes. NWO has several financing instruments, which can either be of a generic nature, or specifically focused on certain themes.
The goal of the Technology Foundation NWO-TTW (formerly STW) is to bring scientists and end users closer together in order to promote knowledge transfer. TTW projects are characterised by their unique combination of scientific excellence and the generation of applied knowledge (utilisation). Within TTW projects, universities work closely together with businesses and other possible users of the research results.
Target Audiences
NWO offers financing for academic research conducted by:
- Dutch universities
- NWO-accredited research institutes (ASTRON, CWI, NIOZ, NSCR, SRON, AMOLF, DIFFER, and Nikhef)
- Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences
Conditions, Characteristics, and Figures
- Financing of (scientific) research at Dutch universities and NWO-accredited research institutes.
- Financing of practical and applied research, often conducted by large consortia with high social relevance.
- Support for temporary research positions, including AIOs, PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers; as well as consumables, equipment, and infrastructure.
- Private parties usually act as co-financiers, launching customers, and end users.
