# ZonMw Off Road 2026

**Funder:** ZonMw
**Budget:** Curiosity-driven fundamental research 'off the beaten track'
**Deadline:** 24 March 2026 (Deadline March 24, 2026 at 14:00. Part of ZonMw Open Competition programme.)
**Duration:** 3 years
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** full-proposal
**TRL:** 1-2
**Frequency:** annual
**Next round:** 2027-01
**Official call:** https://www.zonmw.nl/en/subsidies
**Last verified:** 3 June 2026

## Summary

The ZonMw Off Road 2026 call funds curiosity-driven fundamental research projects outside mainstream research areas, with €200,000–€350,000 over three years. Open to researchers in the Netherlands, this call supports early-stage exploration of novel hypotheses with potential for breakthrough discoveries. Part of ZonMw's Open Competition portfolio, it runs annually.

## Who should apply

- Researchers based at Dutch academic, hospital, or research institutions
- Early-career and established investigators pursuing novel, unconventional research directions
- Projects addressing underexplored scientific questions with high-risk, high-reward potential
- Fundamental science projects not aligned with current ZonMw strategic priorities

## Key dates

- Deadline 24 March 2026 at 14:00 (CET)
- Single full-proposal stage
- Three-year project duration

## Tips for applicants

- Frame your research as fundamentally innovative, not incremental — ZonMw Off Road explicitly values curiosity over strategic alignment.
- Articulate the scientific rationale for why your hypothesis is underexplored and why it matters; reviewers expect novelty-driven justification.
- Keep timeline and risk realistic; the budget is modest, so prioritise feasibility and focus over ambition that overreaches the three-year window.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the budget for ZonMw Off Road 2026?

Grants range from €200,000 to €350,000 over a three-year project period.

### Who can apply for ZonMw Off Road 2026?

Researchers based at Dutch academic, hospital, or recognised research institutions. Both early-career and established investigators are eligible.

### What type of research does ZonMw Off Road fund?

Curiosity-driven fundamental research exploring novel, unconventional questions outside mainstream or strategic research areas. High-risk, exploratory projects with breakthrough potential are favoured.

### When is the deadline for ZonMw Off Road 2026?

The deadline is 24 March 2026 at 14:00 CET.

### Is ZonMw Off Road a recurring call?

Yes, ZonMw runs Off Road annually; the next round is expected in early 2027.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/zonmw-off-road-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.