NWO
Dutch Research Council
NWO is the main Dutch funding body. Key personal grant schemes: Veni (postdoc, €280k/3yr), Vidi (mid-career, €800k/5yr), Vici (senior, €1.5M/5yr). Also runs Open Competition and domain-specific calls.
Evaluation Criteria
- 1Quality of the researcher (scientific profile, independence, leadership)
- 2Research quality and academic impact
- 3Knowledge utilisation (societal relevance)
- 4For Veni: potential for independent research career
- 5For Vidi/Vici: demonstrated leadership and vision
Proposal Structure
- •Research proposal (max 5 pages for Veni, 8 for Vidi, 10 for Vici)
- •CV and publication list
- •Budget breakdown
- •Data management plan
- •Knowledge utilisation paragraph (mandatory)
Common Mistakes
- ×Neglecting the knowledge utilisation section — it counts
- ×Not demonstrating independence from your PI for Veni
- ×Being too technical without conveying the big-picture impact
- ×Weak link between track record and proposed research
- ×Ignoring Dutch-language interview preparation (Vidi/Vici)
Success Tips
- ✓Veni: your independence story is crucial — show you have YOUR OWN research line
- ✓Vidi: demonstrate you can build and lead a group
- ✓Vici: show visionary thinking and track record of training successful researchers
- ✓Practice the interview extensively — it often makes or breaks the decision
- ✓Include a clear timeline/Gantt chart for the research plan
Frequently Asked Questions
+What is the difference between NWO Veni, Vidi, and Vici?
Veni is for researchers up to 3 years post-PhD (€320,000 over 4 years), Vidi for 8 years post-PhD (€850,000 over 5 years), and Vici for 15 years post-PhD (€1.5M over 5 years). All target personal independence and leadership at different career stages.
+Who is eligible for an NWO Veni grant?
Researchers who obtained their PhD within the last 3 years (with extensions for career interruptions like parental leave or illness). You must be affiliated with a Dutch knowledge institution for the duration of the project.
+What is the NWO Veni success rate?
NWO Veni success rates average around 16% across domains, though this varies by domain (ENW, ZonMw, SSH) and year. Competition is highest in life sciences and biomedical domains.
+Do I need to apply in Dutch for NWO grants?
No. NWO proposals for Veni, Vidi, and Vici are submitted in English. However, the interview stage for Vidi and Vici may include Dutch-speaking panellists, and some domain-specific calls may have Dutch-language requirements.
+How is knowledge utilisation weighted in NWO proposals?
Knowledge utilisation (societal relevance) is a mandatory section in NWO proposals and is explicitly evaluated. It does not need to be commercial — public outreach, policy impact, or clinical translation all count.
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