Research awards and grants
Organisations in the Netherlands and abroad promote scientific research by allocating awards and grants to scientists and academics to enable them to continue their research. Some of the major funding institutions supporting UvA researchers through research grants and awards are the ERC grants, NWO Spinoza Prize, and Veni, Vidi and Vici grants.
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ERC grants
The European Research Council (ERC) stimulates high-quality research in Europe by making funds available and supporting groundbreaking research. The ERC mainly honours applications for research that bridges the boundaries of various disciplines, explores ideas in newly emerging research areas, or seeks solutions using an unconventional and innovative approach.
The ERC distributes grants and scholarships on the basis of an open contest for projects undertaken by new and experienced researchers, regardless of their nationality or age. Only one criterion applies: research excellence.
A number of UvA researchers have in recent years been awarded ERC grants worth up to €2.5 million. See a list ERC grants awarded to UvA researchers in recent years.
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NWO Spinoza Prize
The NWO Spinoza Prize is the most prestigious academic award in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) awards the prize to Dutch researchers who are among the world‘s most eminent scholars and scientists.
The prize of €2.5 million is awarded to scholars and scientists for outstanding, groundbreaking and inspiring research who can spend it on a research topic of their choice.
Laureates
- Joyeeta Gupta, professor of Environment and Development in the Global South (2023)
- Annemarie Mol, professor of Anthropology of the Body (2012)
- Patti Valkenburg, professor of Youth and Media (2011)
- Erik Verlinde, professor of Theoretical Physics (2011)
- Joep Leersen, professor of European Studies (2008)
- Lex Schrijver,professor of Mathematics and Optimalisation (2005)
- Michiel van der Klis, professor of Astronomy (2004)
- Robbert Dijkgraaf, professor of Mathematical Physics (2003)
- Ad Lagendijk, professor of Experimental Physics (2002)
- Ronald Plasterk, professor of Molecular Biology (1999)
- Johan van Benthem, professor of Pure and Applied Logic (1996)
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Veni, Vidi and Vici grants
The NWO Talent Programme provides three grants for talented, creative researchers who engage in innovative research. The grants are targeted towards different stages in a researcher’s scientific career:
- Veni Grants: researchers who have recently obtained their PhD
- Vidi Grants: researchers who have gained several years of research experience after their PhD
- Vici Grants: senior researchers who have demonstrated an ability to develop their own line of research