ERC Consolidator Grant 2026

Researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience since completion of PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal can apply. Consolidator Grants may be awarded up to € 2 million for a period of 5 years.

Deadline: 13 January 2026

Information: https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/consolidator-grant

NWO SSH Open Competition XS 2026

This programme enables researchers who received their PhD in the social sciences and humanities at least five years ago to carry out innovative projects. This programme is explicitly about curiosity-driven, cutting-edge research and the ability to quickly analyse a promising idea. With a grant of up to €50,000, researchers will have the opportunity to lay the foundations for a new line of research. They can also carry out research to develop methods or set up a collaboration or network. Applications are made anonymously, so the evaluation is based solely on the research idea.

Deadline round 1: 20 January 2026 14:00 hrs

Deadline round 2: 7 April 2026 14:00 hrs

Information:

• https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/ssh-open-competition-xs-2026-round-1
• About the changes compared to the previous CfP: https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/expanded-target-group-for-ssh-open-competition-xs-2026

NWO Transformative practices and processes for climate transitions

This grant invites employees of societal organisations and knowledge institutions to develop, test or scale up transformative practices and processes for just climate transitions. Individuals or consortia can apply for up to €50,000 for projects that will advance systemic change by facilitating transformative, transdisciplinary collaborations.

Deadline: 27 January 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information:

• https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/transformative-practices-and-processes-for-climate-transitions
• Information session: 9 december 2025 10:00-11:00 hrs. via link

KNAW Early Career Partnerships 

Postdoctoral researchers at the beginning of their careers can apply for up to EUR 10,000 to organise an interdisciplinary meeting in the Academy's Trippenhuis complex or another location of their choice. 

Deadline: 2 February 2026

Information: knaw.nl/en/funds-and-prizes/knaw-early-career-partnerships

NWO Hestia - Impulse for Refugees in Science

Through the Hestia programme academics with a refugee status in the Kingdom of the Netherlands can establish or continue their academic careers by joining a NWO/ZonMw funded project. This is the fifth and last round of the programme.

Deadline: 3 March 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/hestia-impulse-for-refugees-in-science

NWO Open Mind 2026

Open Mind funds innovative research proposals that break through conventional thinking frameworks and use technology for sustainable social impact. The call invites researchers from all disciplines to compete for €100,000 to explore their research ideas over the course of one year.

Deadline: 10 March 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information:

• https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/open-mind-2026
• (Online) information session: 22 January 2026 14:00 hrs.

NWO Vici SSH 2026

The Vici target group consists of researchers at the stage of consolidation and further development of their leadership/research group. Vici is aimed at senior researchers with academic qualities that clearly exceed what is customary within the international peer group, as well as established leadership- and mentorship skills.

Deadline:

• Closing date pre-registration: 10 March 2026 14:00 hrs
• Closing date full application: 8 September 2026 14:00 hrs

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/nwo-talent-programme-vici-ssh-2026

NWO Rubicon 2026-1

Rubicon aims to encourage talented researchers who recently received their PhD to spend some time at research institutes outside of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to further their scientific career.

Deadline full application: 24 March 2026 14:00 hrs. (provisionally)

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/rubicon-2026-1

Gerda Henkel Foundation Research Grants

The Gerda Henkel Stiftung (Gerda Henkel Foundation) provides financial support for the historical humanities, including the history of law, through prizes, grants and fellowships. Depending on the type of project, costs are covered for personnel, travel, materials and/or other costs. Project staff on research projects may be covered via PhD or research scholarships. The maximum funding period is 24 months.

Deadline: There are biannual application windows. The first application deadline of 2026 is 28 May 2026.

Information: gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/en/general-research-grants-projects?page_id=32

AUF Europe Institute Fund

The Europe Institute Fund provides financial support to (early-career) researchers working in European Union law or closely related fields, who have an affiliation with the University of Amsterdam.

Deadline: open continuously

Information:

• 2025 Fonds Europa Instituut - Aanvraagtekst
• https://www.auf.nl/en/about-the-fund/funds/europe-institute-fund/europe-institute-fund.html

IHS Humane Studies Fellowship

The Humane Studies Fellowship provides up to $10,000 to support PhD students completing major research projects, presenting their work at top conferences, and publishing their work in major journals.

Deadline: open continuously

Information: https://www.theihs.org/funding-opportunities/humane-studies-fellowship

Leonhard-Woltjer Foundation Small Grants

The Leonhard-Woltjer Foundation (Leonhard-Woltjer Stichting) initiates and supports scientific and cultural activities aimed at developing and disseminating knowledge about the Arab cultural area, Palestinian history and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Deadline: Applications can be submitted continuously

Information: https://leonhardwoltjer-stichting.nl

IHS Humane Studies Fellowship

Funding to support PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in humanities and social sciences disciplines to complete, present and publish their research projects, with a focus on career development.

Deadline: Applications can be submitted continuously

Information: https://www.theihs.org/funding-opportunities/humane-studies-fellowship

Research along Routes by Consortia 2026

In the annual ORC funding round, consortia can submit thematic proposals that provide a joint expression of the breadth and innovative character of the NWA. The funding round is aimed at facilitating research that leads to scientific and/or societal breakthroughs.

Deadline full proposal: 6 October 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/research-along-routes-by-consortia-2026

Webinar about the NWA call Research along Routes by Consortia 2026

On Friday 9 January 2026, NWO will be hosting an informative webinar from 11:00 to 12:15 hrs. on the annual grant instrument of the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA) Research along Routes by Consortia (ORC), focusing on the 2026 round.

When: 9 January 2026, 11:00-12:15 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/meetings/webinar-about-the-nwa-call-research-along-routes-by-consortia-2026

KHMW Stimulus Mens en Organisatie in een veranderende samenleving 2026

Prize of €400,000 for an academic team in collaboration with professionals from the field for research focusing on the impact of artificial intelligence on the work of people in organisations.

Deadline: 15 January 2026

Information: https://khmw.nl/stimulus-mens-en-organisatie

NWO Transformative practices and processes for climate transitions

This grant invites employees of societal organisations and knowledge institutions to develop, test or scale up transformative practices and processes for just climate transitions. Individuals or consortia can apply for up to €50,000 for projects that will advance systemic change by facilitating transformative, transdisciplinary collaborations.

Deadline: 27 January 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/transformative-practices-and-processes-for-climate-transitions

Dutch Research Agenda - Research along Routes by Consortia 2025 (NWA-ORC 2025)

The aim of the NWA ORC 2025 call for proposals is to encourage research that is set up and carried out by interdisciplinary consortia that include representatives from the full breadth of the knowledge chain as well as relevant societal (public and/or private) partners, including citizens. The research will address so called wicked problems, focused on themes that are proposed by NWA-route networks and based on one or more of the 140 cluster questions.

The NWA-ORC 2025 round has three phases:

1. Registration for collaborative workshops (required for main applicants)
2. Participation in collaborative workshops. Between 14 April and 14 May 2025, NWO will organise collaborative workshops with the aim of bringing together interested parties (researchers and public and/or private social parties) around a specific theme, combining research ideas (joining forces) and forming broad innovative consortia. You can register for the workshops via the NWO website.
3. Submitting a proposal. The deadline for submission of proposals via ISAAC is 3 February 2026, at 14:00:00 CET.

Deadline: 3 February 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/dutch-research-agenda-research-along-routes-by-consortia-2025-nwa-orc-2025

KIC Demand-driven Research by Consortia – XL

Cybersecurity, climate, circular economy, housing shortage, ageing population or health: our society faces enormous challenges that require knowledge and groundbreaking innovations. This demands collaboration between researchers, businesses and public social partners to develop innovative solutions and implement them successfully. This programme stimulates this collaboration and funds new and existing public-private consortia.

Deadlines:

• Closing date for pre-proposals: 10 March 2026 14:00 hrs.
• Closing date full application: 12 November 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/kic-demand-driven-research-by-consortia-xl

NIAS Theme Group Fellowships

A NIAS Theme Group is an (international) team of two to four researchers who collaborate on a specific research topic for five consecutive months. While each researcher pursues their own individual project, they also contribute to the team’s collective research efforts. Theme Groups are established either through an application process or may be initiated by the NIAS director.

Deadline: The Fellowship call (for the 2027–2028 academic year) is open from 15 January 2026 until 16 March 2026 12:00 hrs.

Information: https://nias.knaw.nl/fellowships/theme-group-fellowships

NWA Call 'Science for policy'

This NWA programme aims to contribute to improving the interaction between knowledge and policy. Improved interaction increases the likelihood of realising policy objectives, while enhancing both the legitimacy of implemented policies and trust in the government.

Deadline: 24 March 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/science-for-policy

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Choose Europe for Science

This programme aims to tackle academic brain drain and precarity of researchers' careers to make Europe more attractive to the most promising young talents. Academic and non-academic organisations will provide postdoctoral researchers with excellent working conditions and offer longer-term professional perspectives.

Deadline: 6 April 2026

Information: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/choose-europe-for-science

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – COFUND 

Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND) supports new or existing doctoral programmes and postdoctoral fellowship schemes. The aim of the action is to spread the best practices of the MSCA including international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary research training, as well as international and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers at all stages of their career. 

Deadline: 8 April 2026

Information: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/cofund

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Staff Exchanges

The Staff Exchanges action funds short-term international and inter-sectoral exchanges of staff members involved in research and innovation activities of participating organisations. The aim is to develop sustainable collaborative projects between different organisations from the academic and non-academic sectors (in particular SMEs), based in Europe and beyond.

Deadline: 16 April 2026

Information: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/staff-exchanges

Horizon Europe: Research infrastructures

Funding under Horizon Europe for research and innovation to establish and reinforce the research infrastructure to ensure that research communities have the optimum environment to conduct research and deliver innovation. Research Infrastructures include research laboratories, scientific instrumentation and technologies, data resources, computational tools, and communication networks.

Deadline: 16 June 2026

Information: https://rea.ec.europa.eu/funding-and-grants/horizon-europe-research-infrastructures_en

Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures info day

Information event targeted at potential applicants to the 2026 calls of the Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures Work Programme 2026–2027.

When: 18 March 2026 10:00 hrs.

Information: https://research-innovation-community.ec.europa.eu/events/6SQR3HvhMJylzpu5xoL8XV/overview

NWO Impact Explorer 2025

Impact Explorer is a small top-up, for ongoing research-projects in the open competition or talent line, to explore an unforeseen opportunity for impact. In collaboration with an Impact Partner. Each proposal can ask for a minimum of 20,000 and a maximum of 30,000 euro. The grant ceiling of this call is 1 million euro.

Deadlines: Proposals can be submitted continuously, or until the grant ceiling is reached. At different times, proposals will be retrieved for evaluation:

• 7 October 2025 14:00 hrs.
• 12 November 2025 14:00 hrs.
• 20 December 2025 14:00 hrs.
• 3 February 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/impact-explorer-2025

IXA Learning Path Valorisation and Impact Fall/Winter 2025-2026

IXA offers a learning path on valorisation and impact to inspire you and make you aware of the power of creating value and impact through your research, and how you can actually achieve that impact.

When:

Cohort 3:
Module 1 – Thursday 15 January 2026 @ VU Campus
Module 2 – Thursday 5 February 2026 @ VU Campus – first workshop
Module 2 – Thursday 19 February 2026 @ VU Campus – second workshop

Cohort 4
Module 1 – Thursday 12 March 2026 @ UvA Campus
Module 2 – Thursday 26 March 2026 @ UvA Campus – first workshop
Module 2 – Thursday 16 April 2026 @ UvA – second workshop

Cohort 5
Module 1 – Tuesday 12 May 2026 @ VU Campus
Module 2 – Tuesday 26 May 2026 @ VU Campus – first workshop
Module 2 – Tuesday 16 June 2026 @ VU Campus – second workshop

All workshops are from 9:30-12:30

Information and registration: https://www.ixa.nl/events/learning-path-valorisation-and-impact-2

ERC Public Engagement with Research Award 2025

The ERC's Public Engagement with Research Award of €10,000 recognizes and rewards grantees who successfully engage audiences outsides their domain with ERC-funded research in the course of their project or up to two years after its end.

Deadline: Applications for the 2025 round should be submitted between 14 October 2025 and 15 January 2026 17.00 hrs.

Information: https://erc.europa.eu/manage-your-project/public-engagement-research-award

Online NWO workshops on impact

These workshops will help you to define the focus of your proposal and increase the chance that your research will have societal impact. You can decide for yourself when, where, with whom and how often you use them.

When: open continuously

Information: https://impact.nwo.nl/en

NWO Open Access Books

The aim of this funding instrument is to stimulate the Open Access publication of academic books that result from NWO funding by providing funds for the payment of Book Processing Charges. Open access means your book can be read, shared and cited digitally without readers having to buy it. Open access thus increases the chances of your work being widely read and having an impact. Open access publishing does not prevent a possible simultaneous publication of the printed book.

When: open continuously

Information: nwo.nl/en/calls/open-access-books

Horizon Results Booster – steering research towards a strong societal impact

Supported by the European Commission, Horizon Results Booster services are delivered to FP7, H2020, and HE projects at no cost. The free-of-charge services are provided by experts and cover several paths in Dissemination and Exploitation activities, notably Portfolio Dissemination and Exploitation, Business Plan Development, and Go to Market service. Receive expert free of charge support services to boost the exploitation potential of your research results, disseminate effectively, and go to market.

When: open continuously

Information: horizonresultsbooster.eu

IXA Learning Path Valorisation and Impact Fall/Winter 2025-2026

IXA offers a learning path on valorisation and impact to inspire you and make you aware of the power of creating value and impact through your research, and how you can actually achieve that impact.

When:

Cohort 3:
Module 1 – Thursday 15 January 2026 @ VU Campus
Module 2 – Thursday 5 February 2026 @ VU Campus – first workshop
Module 2 – Thursday 19 February 2026 @ VU Campus – second workshop

Cohort 4
Module 1 – Thursday 12 March 2026 @ UvA Campus
Module 2 – Thursday 26 March 2026 @ UvA Campus – first workshop
Module 2 – Thursday 16 April 2026 @ UvA – second workshop

Cohort 5
Module 1 – Tuesday 12 May 2026 @ VU Campus
Module 2 – Tuesday 26 May 2026 @ VU Campus – first workshop
Module 2 – Tuesday 16 June 2026 @ VU Campus – second workshop

All workshops are from 9:30-12:30

Information and registration: https://www.ixa.nl/events/learning-path-valorisation-and-impact-2

'How to form an effective and enduring consortium'

Article on the NWO website: nwo.nl/en/cases/how-to-form-an-effective-and-enduring-consortium.