Within the Dutch Research Agenda – Research along Routes by Consortia (NWA-ORC), interdisciplinary and knowledge chain-wide consortia can submit innovative research proposals. The goal of NWA-ORC: to stimulate research and innovation in order to get closer to social and scientific breakthroughs!

There is a € 81 million budget available in 2025, which is divided among 12 themes. For each theme, € 6.75 million is available. This is therefore the maximum grant amount to be received for an application.

NWA-ORC 2025

A number of themes are selected each year on which consortia can submit research proposals. The themes represent an elaboration of one or more of the cluster questions. For 2025, the themes are:

• Don’t sit still, people are made to move!
• First 1000 days: practically useful research for maternal, newborn and child health in LMIL
• Water system transition for sufficient and clean water for drinking water supply and nature
• Agrivoltaics_NL; Promoting multifunctional solutions for social acceptance and landscape experience
• Transdisciplinary applicable knowledge on the water-biodiversity interface in the Netherlands
• Working together on climate-neutral accessibility
• Innovative measurement methods for maximum value retention of strategic and critical materials
• From gaps to bridges? Polarisation in times of digitalisation
• Collaboration between citizens and artificial intelligence for quantum technology
• New Forms of Symmetry
• Evolution on Earth and beyond
• Safe and circular design for children’s toys: materials and behaviour

Who can apply for NWA-ORC?

Applications can be submitted by Dutch consortia consisting of knowledge institutes, universities and applied and practical institutes. Consortia thus consist of partners from the public, semi-public and private knowledge chain. Applications can be submitted by a consortium in which the various types of research (fundamental, applied and practice-oriented) are represented. A consortium consists of the following categories of participants:

• Main applicant
• Co-applicant(s)
• Co-funder(s)
• Cooperating partner(s) (optional)

The main applicant submits the application on behalf of the consortium.

What will you receive funding for?

In this round, you can apply for research projects with a duration of four to eight years. You can receive a maximum grant of € 6.75 million. You will receive a grant for:

• Personnel and material costs
• Investments
• Knowledge utilisation
• Project management

When can you submit your NWA-ORC application?

The NWA-ORC 2024 application process consists of three stages:

1. Apply for collaborative workshops (mandatory for main applicants)
2. Mandatory collaborative workshops (main applicant or substitute): 14 April – 14 May 2025
3. Submission final application: closes on 3 February 2026, at 14:00 CET

Your initiative consists of a brief explanation of the research question, the NWA pathway to which the research fits, a first indication of the consortium, the lead applicant and contact details. Initiatives are published online so that parties wishing to participate in the research can contact the initiative submitters.

NWA Thematic research

Besides the NWA-ORC calls, there are also regular NWA thematic calls with a specific focus. These calls often have a budget of several million euros and smaller project budgets. In these calls, interdisciplinarity and knowledge-chain-wide consortia are also very important.

More information

Would you like to know more about NWA-ORC or our services? Or are you curious whether your project is eligible for funding? Contact us directly via 088 495 20 00 or leave your details using the form below. Our specialists will be happy to advice and support you and your project!