# Rubicon

**Funder:** ZonMw
**Budget:** €3,145,000 (total round budget)
**Deadline:** 1 September 2026 (14:00 CEST)
**Duration:** 12–24 months
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** Single stage
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** NL
**Official call:** https://www.zonmw.nl/en/subsidy/rubicon-2026-2
**Last updated:** 30 Aug 2026

## Eligibility & scope

For researchers who obtained their PhD from a Dutch NWO-recognised research organisation within the 12 months preceding the deadline. Funds a research stay of 12–24 months at an excellent foreign research institute (all disciplines). Individual applicants only; no pairs or teams. Eligible costs: salary, travel, limited research costs. Proposal must be written in English.

## Summary

ZonMw Rubicon awards up to €3.1 million total (distributed across NWO domains) for newly qualified researchers to conduct a 12-24 month research stay at an excellent foreign institute immediately after their PhD. The call targets researchers who completed their doctorate at a Dutch NWO-recognised institution within 12 months of the deadline, with individual applicants only. This is the key postdoctoral mobility scheme for Dutch early-career researchers establishing independence abroad.

## Who should apply

- Researchers who completed their PhD at a Dutch NWO-recognised institution within 12 months of the deadline
- Individual applicants planning a research stay at an excellent foreign institute
- Early-career researchers seeking to establish independence and international research experience
- Applicants with salary, travel, and limited research costs covered within the budget

## Key dates

- Deadline 1 September 2026 at 14:00 CEST
- Single-stage application
- 12-24 month funded research stay

## Tips for applicants

- The 12-month PhD recency window is strict, verify your defence date meets the exact cutoff.
- Host-institute quality is weighted heavily; select a lab with a strong international track record and named supervisor commitment.
- Proposals must be submitted in English via MijnZonMw; incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who can apply for ZonMw Rubicon?

Researchers who completed their PhD at a Dutch NWO-recognised institution within 12 months of the deadline. Only individual applicants are eligible; no pairs or teams.

### How long is the ZonMw Rubicon research stay?

Between 12 and 24 months at an excellent foreign research institute, or in limited cases within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

### What costs does ZonMw Rubicon cover?

Salary, travel, and limited research costs during the funded postdoctoral stay abroad.

### Is the ZonMw Rubicon deadline firm?

Yes, the deadline is 1 September 2026 at 14:00 CEST, and applications must be submitted via MijnZonMw.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/zonmw-rubicon-2026-09) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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