NWO

Open Competition Domain Science – M-1 2025/2026 (ENW-M-1)

Up to €400,000| Deadline: 31 July 2026 (34 days)

Closes when 393 admissible proposals received OR by 31 July 2026 at the latest. Weave (Flemish co-applicant) deadline was 24 February 2026.

Last verified: 18 June 2026

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This is the current call of the NWO Open Competition programme. The programme guide covers eligibility, budget, success rate and FAQ across every round.

NWO's Open Competition Domain Science (ENW-M-1) funds curiosity-driven basic research in earth sciences, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, life sciences, physics, or mathematics, with grants up to €400,000. Applicants must hold a tenured or tenure-track position at a Dutch research organisation and submit in English via the Isaac portal. The call uses continuous rolling assessment, with proposals reviewed in packages and ranked by a cluster committee.

Details

Funder	NWO
Budget	Up to €400,000
Deadline	31 July 2026
Consortium	No
Application	Single stage: continuous submission assessed in packages; referees' reports → written rebuttal → cluster committee ranking → Domain Science Board decision.
Frequency	Annual
Next round	2026-08
Eligible countries	NL

Eligibility & scope

Curiosity-driven basic research in earth sciences, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, life sciences, physics or mathematics. Single main applicant with tenured or tenure-track position at an eligible Dutch research organisation. Proposals must be submitted in English via Isaac. One ENW-M proposal per applicant per 12 months.

Who Should Apply

•Researchers with tenured or tenure-track positions at eligible Dutch research organisations
•Principal investigators in earth sciences, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, life sciences, physics, or mathematics
•Applicants pursuing curiosity-driven, fundamental research questions
•Researchers submitting one proposal per 12-month rolling period

Key Dates

•Deadline 31 July 2026 (closes when 393 admissible proposals received or by 31 July, whichever comes first)
•Single-stage rolling submission with continuous assessment in packages
•Results issued by cluster committee ranking and Domain Science Board decision

Tips for Applicants

✓The call uses rolling assessment in packages, earlier submission may increase visibility before capacity limits are reached.
✓One proposal per applicant per 12 months; plan timing if you have overlapping ideas.
✓If you have a Flemish co-applicant via Weave, note that the co-applicant deadline was 24 February 2026 and has passed; check current co-applicant pathways with NWO.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I request for an NWO ENW-M-1 proposal?

Up to €400,000 per proposal.

Who is eligible to apply for NWO ENW-M-1?

Researchers with tenured or tenure-track positions at eligible Dutch research organisations in disciplines including earth sciences, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, life sciences, physics, and mathematics.

How does the rolling assessment work in ENW-M-1?

Proposals are submitted continuously and assessed in packages; referees' reports feed into a written rebuttal stage, then cluster committee ranking, with final decisions by the Domain Science Board.

Can I submit more than one ENW-M-1 proposal?

You may submit one ENW-M proposal per applicant per 12-month period; further submissions must wait until the rolling window permits.

What language must my proposal be in?

Proposals must be submitted in English via the Isaac portal.

nwoenw-m-1fundamental-researchearth-sciencesastronomychemistrycomputer-sciencelife-sciencesphysicsmathematicsnetherlandstenure-track

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