Dutch Research Council (NWO)
NWO XS
€50,000 for exploratory proof-of-concept research at Dutch knowledge institutions. Pilot studies and early-stage ideas.
About the NWO XS
NWO XS funds small-scale, bold, and high-risk exploratory research. It is designed for quick experiments, proof-of-concept work, or pilot studies that would be too risky to fund through the main Open Competition. Funding is a lump sum of €50,000 per project. There is no formal ranking of proposals beyond "fundable" or not — instead, a lottery mechanism is used among all proposals that pass the excellence threshold. This makes XS unusually democratic and reduces the time spent on proposal polish. Eligibility is open to researchers at Dutch knowledge institutions at any career stage. Duration is up to 2 years. XS has become popular for early-stage ideas that need validation before a larger grant application.
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
Frequently asked questions
+How does the NWO XS lottery work?
All proposals that pass the scientific excellence threshold are entered into a lottery, which then randomly selects the funded projects. This removes the bias and time cost of distinguishing between high-quality proposals that would otherwise all be fundable.
+Can I use XS funding to buy equipment?
Yes, though the €50,000 ceiling limits major equipment purchases. It is more commonly used for consumables, small equipment, travel, or short-term personnel.
+Is XS open to PhD students?
Yes. Unlike Veni/Vidi/Vici, XS has no career-stage restriction. PhD students, postdocs, and full professors can all apply, as long as they have an affiliation with a Dutch knowledge institution.
+Can I hold XS alongside a Veni or Vidi?
Yes, provided the XS project addresses a distinct research question not covered by the Talent grant. Double funding for the same research is not allowed.
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