Gravitation aims to bring together researchers who carry out innovative and influential research within their fields of expertise. Consortia may comprise either a single or multiple scientific disciplines. Moreover, the researchers involved in the consortium must hold a world-leading position or have the potential to achieve such a position in the future.
The research programme for which the grant is requested, should aim at innovation and scientific breakthroughs. In addition, it must make a substantial contribution to innovative research at the global level. Moreover, research programmes should also contribute to the formation of university centres of excellence and the realisation of the National Science Agenda (Nationale Wetenschapsagenda). Finally, NWO applies the Impact Outlook approach to the Gravitation Programme to increase the likelihood of knowledge utilisation and thus the likelihood of societal impact.
The budget for Gravitation 2023 comprises €142.6 million. Gravitation is available for all fields of research (humanities and social sciences; science and technology; and biomedical and life sciences). The seventh round is scheduled for 2025/2026.
Conditions
- Researchers within the consortia are (or have the potential to become) world leaders in their field(s).
- The research envisaged is innovative, ground-breaking, and of the highest level.
- The envisaged research project contributes to the Dutch Research Agenda.
- The project can last for a maximum duration of 10 years (two 5-year terms with mid-term review).
- Researchers included in the consortium must be affiliated with one of the following knowledge institutions:
- Universities located in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
- University medical centres
- KNAW and NWO institutes
- Dutch Cancer Institute
- Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen
- DUtch-Belgium BeamLinE (DUBBLE) at the ESRF in Grenoble
- NCB Naturalis
- Advanced Research Centre for NanoLithography (ARCNL)
- Princess Máxima Centre
Who Can Submit?
- Executive boards of universities located in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
- There is a maximum of four applications per executive board.
- Researchers may not submit more than one application.
- Researchers who contribute or have contributed to an ongoing Gravitation programme may not be part of a new consortium. They may, however, act as external advisors, as long as these costs are not funded by the programme.
Eligible Costs
- Personnel costs for both new and existing staff.
- Costs for material provisions.
- Investments in equipment/infrastructure and other facilities, including operating costs. This may comprise a maximum of 25% of the total amount applied for.
- Management costs (for a maximum duration of ten years).
- Six principal investigators may incur costs to replace their regular tasks (max. 20% of their full salary). This applies to the first applicant + 5 co-applicants. The costs may be divided over the 10-year period at the applicant’s own discretion.
- It is not possible to include costs that are already (partly) financed with grants or co-financing.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on the following evaluation criteria:
- Quality of researchers and consortium (30%)
- Quality scientific research programme (30%)
- Organisational structure and policy of the consortium, including budgetting (30%)
- Connection to the focal points of the submitting university and to (routes of) the National Science Agenda
The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide a quick overview of the objectives, structure, and conditions of this particular grant scheme. No conclusions can be drawn on the basis of this information. Moreover, this document has no legal status.
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