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NWO acceptance rates

data publication
Science in Figures
16 August 2021
nwo Grants
Within the scientific system, NWO is an important funder of research programs and research projects, which are awarded in competition. On this page we look at the acceptance rate for a number of groups of NWO programs and for all programs together. The acceptance rate is the share of applications that is granted.

In short

  • In 2020 NWO received 7,098 research proposals, of which 1,778 were granted.
  • The acceptance rates differ substantially between the various programmes.
  • In recent years, the award percentage has varied between 25% and 30%.

What are the acceptance rates of the different groups of NWO programmes?

Source: NWO Annual reports
Notes: NWO is the Dutch Research Council. Within the research system in the Netherlands, NWO is an important funder of research programmes and projects, which are awarded in competition. The acceptance rate is calculated as the number of approved bursary applications as a percentage of the total number of bursary applications.  The Talent advancement programmes include among others the 'Vernieuwingsimpuls' (Innovational Research Incentives Scheme), Rubicon and the PhD bursary for teachers.

Analysis
In 2020 NWO received 7,098 research proposals. 1,778 were granted. 38% of all proposals received are in the categories 'Talent'. The acceptance rates differ substantially between the various programmes. The acceptance rate for the category 'Research infrastructure' is about four times higher than the acceptance rates for 'Talent advancement programmes'. 
 

How have the acceptance rates of NWO programmes developed?

Source: NWO Annual reports
Notes: The graph shows the trend in the overall acceptance rates of NWO programmes. The acceptance rate is calculated as the number of approved bursary applications as a percentage of the total number of bursary applications for all NWO programmes. Het overall NWO acceptance rate presented here includes the NWO-programmes concerning research facilities and infrastructure as well as the category 'Other programmes' (primarily focused on internationalisation and knowledge dissemination). These programmes have acceptance rates which are above average, pushing up the overall NWO acceptance rate.

Analysis
Between 2006 and 2011, the overall acceptance rates strongly declined, from 37 to 22 percent. Thereafter the acceptance rate stabilizes at about a quarter of the proposals. In recent years, the award percentage has varied between 25% and 30%.

facts and figures

37% Award percentage in 2006

22% Award percentage in 2011

27,5% The award percentage in the last couple of years is around 25% to 30%

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