Dutch Research Council (NWO)
NWO XS
€50,000 for exploratory proof-of-concept research at Dutch knowledge institutions. Pilot studies and early-stage ideas.
Check whether you're eligible for NWO XS, and what else you can apply for. 30s, no email. Check my match →Programme guide in progress
We are still researching the full guide for NWO XS. In the meantime, you will find the live open calls, eligibility basics and related programmes below.
Most recent applicant deadline on file
15 September 2026 (closed)
We do not have a later NWO XS deadline on file. Each call below links through to the funder's own page, which is the authority for the next round.
Key facts
- Budget
- €50,000
- Duration
- Up to 2 years
- Selection
- Excellence threshold + lottery
- Eligibility
- Any career stage
- Success rate
- Effective ~25% via lottery among fundable proposals
Who is eligible?
- •Affiliated with a Dutch knowledge institution
- •Any career stage, PhD, postdoc, or senior researcher
- •Project must be bold, exploratory, and high-risk / high-reward
- •No consortium or co-applicant requirement
Curious who tends to win this grant?
See past NWO XS awardees →Looking for proposal-writing advice?
Read the Dutch Research Council (NWO) writing guide →Related programmes
See your NWO XS matches in 30 seconds.
Check your eligibility and which calls fit your profile. No email needed to preview. Free digest after that.
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