The Tulip Fund from the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) enables research organizations to recruit top researchers and top talents from abroad who wish to continue their research in the Netherlands due to growing threats to academic freedom. The research may be fundamental, applied or practice-oriented, with no restrictions on content.
Applications are open to Dutch research organizations, including public and private universities, university medical centres, NWO and KNAW institutes, and selected other institutes, which nominate candidates through their boards. Each organization may nominate a maximum of two candidates per position, or one for the Netherlands Cancer Institute and Naturalis.
Up to 1,000,000 EUR is available to the research organization for each researcher, and up to 500,000 EUR for researchers nominated by the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences. The funding must be spent within five years and may be used for personnel, equipment, investments, travel and knowledge utilization.
Nominations close on November 17, 2026.