Dutch science funding organisation NWO awards Vici grants to 39 leading researchers. Ten percent of all applications are approved. Delft, like VU University Amsterdam and Wageningen University, has been awarded four grants.
The Vici grant of up to 1.5 million euros is intended for “highly experienced” scientists. The money will enable them to further expand their research groups and conduct innovative research.
The winners are conducting research into a wide variety of topics. These include hidden viruses in insects, prostate cancer and the so-called “welfare wall”: people with little money who do not make use of government services such as benefits, even though they are entitled to them.
10 per cent awarded
Of the 384 preliminary applications received by NWO for the Vici round 2025, 10 per cent will be awarded – 2 percentage points less than last year. Eighteen grants will go to women and 21 to men.
In Delft, there are three projects aimed at making the invisible visible and one into ultimately creating large quantum networks:
- Experimental astronomer Akira Endo (EEMCS) is working on a new instrument for a telescope in Chile to unravel how matter clumped together and how the first stars were formed.
- Arjen Jakobi (Bionanoscience) is developing new imaging techniques to follow, step by step, how our cells protect themselves against dangerous bacteria.
- How do cells form a human organ? David Maresca (Imaging Physics) will investigate this using ultrasonic waves.
- Tim Taminiau (QuTech) wants to build a new type of quantum bit based on silicon carbide to create everlasting entangled nodes and ultimately build large quantum networks.
The Vici grants, together with the Veni and Vidi grants, are part of the NWO Talent Programme. They are intended for scientists at different stages of their careers.
HOP, Hein Cuppen
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