Pilot ZonMw Open Competition – M for mid-career researchers starts in 2027
In 2027, ZonMw will launch a pilot for a new grant variant within the Open Competition line, the OC-M. With the launch of this pilot, ZonMw is responding to a clear need within the (bio)medical research field and promoting equal submission opportunities for researchers at different stages of their careers.
The ZonMw Open Competition offers scope for curiosity-driven and creative collaborations that lead to groundbreaking, fundamental health research of high scientific quality. The competition is thematically open and focuses on potentially groundbreaking research within all disciplines, if there is a clear focus on fundamental (bio)medical research.
New opportunity for mid-career researchers
Within the current range of instruments – with the ZonMw Open Competition for research teams with a senior principal applicant (OC-L), Off Road and Clinical Fellows for young researchers – there has been no funding opportunity for mid-career researchers who want to conduct independent research. Signals from the medical field, as well as the internal process evaluation of the NWO Open Competition (2024), show that there is a strong need for this.
To fill this gap, ZonMw is introducing the OC-M variant. In 2027 and 2029, pilot subsidy rounds will be organized for mid-career researchers. Following the ZonMw OC-L round with a deadline of 2 April 2026, the first OC-M round will open in the spring of 2027. An evaluation will be conducted at the end of 2030, after which ZonMw will decide whether the OC-M will be permanently incorporated into the ZonMw Open Competition instrumentation.
Alternating rhythm and broader submission opportunities
In line with the programming of the Open Competition instruments in the other NWO domains, the OC-M and OC-L will be offered in an alternating rhythm so that both mid-career and senior researchers can submit an Open Competition application to ZonMw once every two years. This significantly increases the range of submission opportunities for the field.
Simpler assessment procedure
The procedure for applying for OC-M is currently being developed and designed to be as efficient and proportionate as possible. ZonMw is striving for a simplified procedure to reduce the workload for both applicants and assessors. A maximum budget of €400,000 per project applies to these funding rounds.
Further communication about the pilot, including the announcement of the call for proposals and the conditions, is expected to follow in early 2027 via the ZonMw website and other regular channels.