The NWO Vidi grant supports talented researchers transitioning to leadership—funding innovative independent research and the establishment or expansion of their research group over up to five years .
Eligibility Criteria:
-
PhD obtained no earlier than 1 October 2016 (eight years before the 2024 benchmark); career-break extensions possible .
-
Researchers may hold tenured positions or be abroad; must demonstrate academic qualities and leadership/mentorship skills “clearly exceeding what is customary.”
-
Applications accepted in all Science panels: Earth Sciences; Life Sciences; Chemistry; Physics & Astronomy; Mathematics; Computer Science.
Funding Details:
-
Budget: Up to 850,000 EURO (direct costs) for a maximum project duration of five years. If shorter, funding is pro rata.
-
Use of Funds: Salaries, consumables, small equipment, travel, and other project-related expenses—all within the lump-sum budget.
Deadlines & Procedure:
-
Pre-proposal: Submit by 5 November, 14:00 CET; assessed on Quality of the Researcher.
-
Full Proposal (invited): Submit by 8 April, 14:00 CEST; assessed on Research Quality & Innovation (75%) and Scientific/Societal Impact (25%).
-
Process: Pre-proposals undergo admissibility check, committee review, and decision; invited full proposals proceed through admissibility checks, external peer review, rebuttal, panel assessment, interviews (clustered by discipline), and final NWO Board decision.
Where to Apply & More Info:
Submit via the NWO ISAAC system.
Full Call details, panel descriptions, and life-event extension rules.