This round closed on 6 October 2026. The details below are from that round.
NWO
Dutch Research Agenda – Research along Routes by Consortia (NWA ORC 2026)
14:00 CEST, submission via ISAAC
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The NWA Open Research Consortia (NWA ORC 2026) funds large, transdisciplinary consortia of up to €7.25 million over 4-8 years to tackle 'wicked problems' along NWA-route themes, combining fundamental, applied, and practice-oriented research with societal and private-sector partners. This call is open to consortia based in the Netherlands that span the full knowledge chain and include citizens or public representatives in problem definition and design. Mandatory collaborative workshops in February, March 2026 are a gating requirement; main applicants must attend both theme-specific sessions before submitting the full proposal.
Details
| Funder | NWO |
| Budget | Up to €7,250,000 |
| Duration | 4-8 years |
| Consortium | Required — inter- and transdisciplinary consortium including fundamental, applied and practice-oriented research representatives plus societal/public/private partners |
| Application | 2-stage: mandatory collaborative workshops (Feb–Mar 2026) → full proposal submission |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Eligible countries | NL |
Eligibility & scope
Open to consortia addressing 'wicked problems' based on NWA-route themes and cluster questions, spanning the full knowledge chain (fundamental to practice-oriented research) with societal partners including citizens. Main applicant must have participated in both collaborative workshops for the relevant theme. Proposals assessed on problem definition, impact, consortium quality, and research quality.
Who Should Apply
- •Consortia with 3+ partners spanning fundamental, applied, and practice-oriented research
- •Lead applicant and team based at Dutch research institutions
- •Groups addressing 'wicked problems' aligned with one of the NWA-route themes and cluster questions
- •Consortia with confirmed private-sector and/or societal partners (citizens, public bodies, NGOs)
- •Main applicant available for both collaborative workshops in February, March 2026
Key Dates
- •Mandatory collaborative workshops: February, March 2026 (main applicant attendance is gating)
- •Full proposal deadline: 6 October 2026, 14:00 CEST, submission via ISAAC
- •Project duration: 4-8 years
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Workshop attendance is mandatory for the main applicant; if you skip or arrive late, the proposal is ineligible, prioritise those dates immediately.
- ✓NWO weights consortium quality and societal integration equally with research novelty; lead with a clear value story for each partner and citizen voice, not only the science.
- ✓Problem definition and impact are scored before research design, spend early space clarifying why the consortium is the right shape to solve this particular problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I apply for in the NWA ORC 2026?
Up to €7.25 million per consortium over a 4-8 year project period.
Do I need to attend the NWA workshops before submitting a proposal?
Yes, attendance at both collaborative workshops for your theme (February, March 2026) is mandatory for the main applicant; non-attendance makes the proposal ineligible.
What kind of consortium does NWA ORC 2026 require?
An inter- and transdisciplinary consortium with at least fundamental, applied, and practice-oriented research representatives, plus mandatory societal partners, private-sector partners, or citizen representatives.
Where must the lead applicant be based?
At a research institution in the Netherlands.
Is the NWA ORC 2026 call recurring?
Yes, NWO runs this call annually.
Related on Grantsby
- NWO writing tips & FAQ
Evaluation criteria, proposal structure, common mistakes.
- How to Write a Winning NWO Veni Proposal
Domain choice, the scored knowledge utilisation paragraph, the preproposal, and the interview.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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