advertentieThe NWA Call Science for Policy is open for applications. This Call aims to promote the use of research knowledge by government organizations and to improve the interaction and collaboration between researchers and policymakers.
Research knowledge is an important building block for effective and reliable policy. However, practice shows that the systematic utilization of existing research knowledge by policy and the generation of new knowledge for policy is not a given. This NWA program aims to contribute to improved interaction between knowledge and policy. The following ministries are co-financing this Call: Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Ministry of Justice and Security, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning.
Goal of the Call
The goal of this NWA program is to investigate how research knowledge can be optimally utilized by the government. This helps to better understand complex societal challenges, tackle them more effectively and efficiently, and learn from this utilization. For this purpose, current and possible new forms of interaction between the worlds of knowledge and policy are examined. Additionally, it is investigated how these forms of collaboration can be strengthened and what this should yield: more usable knowledge and better knowledge utilization.
The insights and action perspectives needed to achieve these goals are developed and tested in co-creation in the departmental policy labs. In this physical research environment, various parties (knowledge institutions, governments, and societal organizations) collaborate on a current departmental policy dossier.
The themes of the policy labs are:
- Ministry of Defence: The limits of integral cooperation on security: a wicked multi-headed problem
- Ministry of Justice and Security: Intermediary between knowledge and sanction policy
- Ministry of Education, Culture and Science: Knowledge brokers for higher education policy
- Ministry of Education, Culture and Science: Expanding the oil spot: developing policy in co-creation with the field and from (youth) participation
- Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning / Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management: Connecting knowledge in the area-oriented approach.
In addition to the policy labs, the program consists of four supporting cases. The supporting cases can fall within or outside the policy labs, but are focused on short-term policy trajectories and testing smaller interventions. Research in these cases also takes place through experiments at the departmental level. Finally, an application must include a connecting interdepartmental research that brings together the insights gained from the various policy labs and the supporting cases.
Workshops
Prior to submitting an application, three collaborative workshops will take place. The three workshops will be held on September 16, September 30, and October 14.
To act as the main applicant in this Call for proposals, a proposed main applicant (or their replacement) must have participated in all three collaborative workshops. If a participant is replaced, they must inform NWO of this via email (NWAscienceforpolicy@nwo.nl), preferably one working day before the respective workshop.
Budget and deadline
The maximum budget that can be applied for is € 4,630,000 million. Within this Call for proposals, a maximum of one application will be awarded. The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 14:00:00 CET.
Program National Science Agenda
The basis for the establishment and renewal of the National Science Agenda lies with citizens. In the NWA program, the connection between society and science is essential. Governments, researchers, societal organizations, and citizens develop and utilize knowledge together to achieve scientific and societal impact. Through science communication, knowledge is shared in society to increase involvement and trust in science.