Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research

Innovational Research Incentives Scheme

‘Vernieuwingsimpuls’

Maaike Romijn

Programme manager

VU, 2 September 2009

Vernieuwingsimpulswhy?

Programme in place since 2000/2002, to be continued

- Prospect of university posts falling vacant as their presentholders retire in future years

- Difficult circumstances for young researchers at various stages of their careers

- Review in 2007- continued

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 3

TALENT SCHEMES NWO

Spinoza 4 prizes per year € 2,5 M

Vici (open for researchers from abroad) 8-15y post PhD30 grants

€ 1,5 M(5y)

Vidi (open for researchers from abroad) 3-8y post PhD80 grants

€ 800 K(5y)

Veni (open for researchers from abroad)

Rubicon (open for researchers from abroad)

0-3y post PhD150 grantsmax. 1y post PhD

€ 250 K(3y)€ variable(max 2y)

ToptalentGraduate Schools

45 PhD grants € 180 K

MSC Dutch (research) universities

Innovational Research Incentives SchemeVernieuwingsimpuls

To provide the scope for adventurous, talented and pioneering researchers to conduct creative research of their own choice and to encourage them to make a permanent career in academic research.

– All fields of science and scholarship are eligible

– Excellence is the only valid criterion (quality of applicant, research and non scientific impact- utility)

– 150 Million euro annually

VernieuwingsimpulsVeni, Vidi, Vici

Veni-stage: ‘fresh’ doctors and young post docs– 0-3 years after doctorate– € 250.000 (3 years); ca. 140 grants (2009)– deadline: 7 January 2010

Vidi-stage: experienced post docs + group– 3-8 years after doctorate– € 800.000 (5 years); ca. 85 grants (2009)– deadline: 11 February 2010

Vici-stage: senior post docs/professors + group– 8-15 years after doctorate– € 1.500.000 (5 years); ca. 30 grants (2009)– deadline: 30 March 2010

Vernieuwingsimpulscriteria

– Quality of the researchertrack-record, academic achievements, CV, publications

- Quality of the proposed researchInnovative character, exploring new ways, creating new knowledge, academic impact, structure, methodology

– Cultural, social, technological or economic impact of the proposed research

Criteria Cultural, social, technological or economic impact of

the proposed research

The results of this assessment will only be taken into account in the overall rating of the application if you fill in your form and the effect of doing so will be in the candidate’s favour!

– potential for the results and/or new understandings flowing from the proposed research to help solve a problem;

– potential for practical application of results of the proposed research in

the medium to long term;

– expected cultural, social, technological or economic impact of the results of the proposed research;

– effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach.

Peer review Vernieuwingsimpuls

– Short listing/ pre- proposals

– Consulting external referees

– Response of candidates (rebuttal)

– Interview (selection)

– Domain panel

– Final decision General Board NWO

Peer review Vernieuwingsimpuls Shortlisting/ pre proposal

- Shortlisting (extreme large numbers of applications)- Pre proposals (Vici- short application)

No referees are consulted:- Difficult to find so many referees

- Broad based selection committees per Division (code of conduct)- Applicants are informed after the deadline

Peer review Vernieuwingsimpuls Consulting external referees

– International experts (code of conduct)

– Veni (2), Vidi (3), Vici (4)

– Non referees

– rebuttal: response candidate to referees

Peer review Vernieuwingsimpuls Interview

– Selection

– 10 minutes presentation, 15/20 minutes interview

Peer review Vernieuwingsimpuls Domainpanels

– Interdivisional (alfa/ gamma, life sciences and exact)

– Comparison of quality between NWO Divisions

– Final decision General Board NWO

– Appeal is possible

Vernieuwingsimpulsdont’s

– don’t exceed the word count / page limit– don’t exceed the budget (unless covered by institute)– don’t be too modest, but remain realistic (high competition)– don’t send publications or letters of recommendation

Vernieuwingsimpulsdo’s

– write clearly and structured (‘architecture’ of your proposal)– remember the role of reviewers/panel members: proposal neither

too specialistic, nor too global– take note of the criteria, esp. innovative character– keep your CV clear and to-the-point, add foreign experience and

(academic) leadership experience (esp. Vidi, Vici)– describe your own work apart from the work of the additional

postdoc/aio part (Vidi/Vici)– show your concept-proposal to senior researchers; gather critical

comments; contact successful applicants

Vernieuwingsimpuls statistics NWO

2002-2008 applications grants %Veni: 4108 863 21%Vidi: 2459 560 23%Vici: 1150 199 17%Total: 7717 1622 21%

Vernieuwingsimpuls: women

Vernieuwingsimpuls 2002-2007

TOTAL

M PI F PI

applications 4470,5(68,5%)

2055,5(31,5%)

awards 921,5(66,1%)

473,5(33,9%)

Succes % 20,6 23,0

Vernieuwingsimpuls: women

– no age limitations

– extension clauses (relating to pregnancy, parenting, part time care leave)

– systematic monitoring M/F in applicants and laureates

– gender balance in committees

– programmes specifically targeted at women

– policy making in Veni/Vidi/Vici

Vernieuwingsimpuls: women

– Aspasia: linked to Vidi and Vici

– Athena (CW): linked to Veni to create more female UD’s

– Meervoud (ALW/ EW): seperate programme to create more female UD’s

– Fom/v; gender policy for women in Physics

– VIV (equal success rates in Vernieuwingsimpuls)

Vernieuwingsimpuls

Thank you for your attention

Questions?vi@nwo.nl

www.nwo.nl/vi