To stimulate the development of a new generation of hightech equipment, 10.6 million euros is available for research. The future-proof hightech equipment is targeting sustainability, digitisation, healthcare and technology sovereignty of The Netherlands. This Call is the second call of the NXTGEN Hightech programme, which is financed in the context of the National Growth Fund.
The purpose of this Call for proposals is to make room for academic research within a number of prioritized key technologies relevant to multiple application domains in the scope of the National Growth Fund programme NXTGEN Hightech. In addition, it offers the opportunity for new parties (both companies and knowledge institutions) to contribute to knowledge development within the NXTGEN Hightech programme.
The NWO Incentives Scheme (Veni, Vidi, Vici) awards are prestige-based—targeting top-tier researchers:
Veni: within 3 years of PhD, in top 10–20% internationally
Vidi: within ~8 years, capacity to lead independent research
Vici: senior researchers (≤15 years post-PhD), proven leadership and new research directions
Excellence across publications, citations, grants, and international engagement is non-negotiable .
Innovative, potentially paradigm-shifting research is favored.
NWO explicitly values curiosity-driven, blue-sky science, with a significant score (40%) based on originality and impact .
Past achievements matter: be in the top-tier of your field, with strong publications, grants, awards, and leadership roles
But 60% of evaluation also rests on the proposal itself—methods, feasibility, impact strategy, and data use .
Each Talent grant has strict eligibility criteria—extensions are allowed for leaves (e.g., parental, clinical) .
Don't apply for Vici if you're still under 15 years post-PhD, etc. Align your stage precisely.
NWO encourages international collaborations; committees often include foreign experts .
Larger consortium and infrastructure programs (e.g. Zwaartekracht, ORC/Perspectief) must include universities, industry, and societal partners .
Overall success rates remain modest—~25–30% across all NWO schemes .
Talent grants (Veni/Vidi/Vici) hover around 14–20%, with hundreds of applicants for each cycle .
Applicants often submit multiple times—and persistence pays off. Pre-screening by universities may help .
Universities are encouraged (and sometimes required) to limit and pre-select Talent applications to reduce oversubmission
University support—both visible and documented—boosts credibility.
Predictor | Why It Matters |
---|---|
Top-tier track record | Demonstrates excellence and global competitiveness |
Bold ideas with impact | Aligns with NWO’s innovation goals |
Stage-appropriate scheme | Avoids ineligibility or misfit |
Strong proposal structure | Research justification, methods, and clarity of use are critical |
International collaboration | Builds scientific and societal relevance |
University endorsement | Signals quality and reduces noise in high-volume rounds |
Persistence & strategic resubmission | Many funded grants follow careful reapplications |
🧭 Tips for Applicants
Choose the right Talent scheme based on post-PhD years and career stage.
Benchmark yourself: Are you in the top 10–20% internationally?
Invest in proposal quality—allocate ~40% for project design, and 60% for your track record.
Seek institutional backing—only compete if your university pre-supported your bid.
Form international collaborations to reinforce excellence and global reach.
Be prepared to persevere—many successful grants come after revision or second/third attempts.
Explore larger consortia like Zwaartekracht or ORC if you're aiming for broader impact.
A proposals can be submitted by a main applicant and one or more co-applicants. A proposal is developed up by a consortium in which other participants, including co-funders, are involved in addition to the applicants. A consortium always consists of researchers from two or more different research organizations (of which at least one is university), supplemented by one or more co-funders and possibly supplemented by one or more collaboration partners.
Eligible Countries:
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Dutch Research Council (NWO)
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indië 300, 2593 CE
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Sep 11, 2025
Sep 11, 2025
$4,690,817
Affiliation: Dutch Research Council (NWO)
Address: Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indië 300, 2593 CE
Website URL: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/ngf-strengthening-the-knowledge-base-for-the-high-tech-equipment-sector
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