Energy Transitions

The programme Energy Transitions has been developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and SenterNovem. The programme focuses on multidisciplinary research relating to the transition towards a sustainable energy supply in the Netherlands. Although the emphasis is on research in the social sciences, cooperation with the natural sciences is encouraged. The programme's scientific remit is defined in the following programme lines: understanding transitions to sustainable energy and governing energy transitions. Moreover, the programme pays considerable attention to policy, with the Energy Innovation Agenda defining the policy aspects of the programme.

The programme falls under NWO's theme Sustainable Earth and is an elaboration of the focus area ‘Energy and raw materials’.

Who can apply

A grant application can be submitted by a professor or senior university lecturer (from the Social Sciences) who is employed at a Dutch University, university research institute or a NWO/KNAW institute. An application must be multidisciplinary in nature, consist of at least two projects and be submitted by at least two university organisations in the Netherlands.

What can be applied for

A grant can be requested for programmes consisting of postdoc and PhD projects and the associated material credit (total size max. € 675,000 per application). Direct government funding is expected to cover the costs associated with supervising researchers working in the programmes and it is assumed that the usual overheads associated with carrying out research are covered. Research into subjects not listed in the two programme lines and the Energy Innovation Agenda shall not be eligible for funding.

When can be applied

• The closing date for the submission of preproposals was 20 May 2009, 12.00 hours
• The closing date for the submission of full proposals was 2 November 2009, 12.00 hours

Preproposals must be submitted as part of the grant application process. If you failed to submit a preproposal then you may not submit a full proposal.

Extra Information

The application should lead to one or more high-quality scientific publications. Besides scientific publications, publications in professional magazines, contributions to popular science and documents containing policy recommendations shall clearly count as research output. Furthermore, it is important that the results also benefit the cofinancing government department (Economic Affairs), decentralised government authorities and other possible users via, for example, study days, workshops or congresses.

Criteria

The application must clearly state to which programme lines and which problem area from the Energy Innovation Agenda the proposal wishes to make a contribution. The applications shall be evaluated using the assessment criteria for scientific quality, scientific objective, relevance for policy and society, and organisation and funding. All four sets of criteria will be weighed up in the evaluation.

Procedure

Preproposals shall be assessed by the programme committee and the steering group will effect the committee's recommendations. Full proposals shall be assessed by a panel of national and international referees and the applicant will have the opportunity to respond to their advice. An international ad hoc committee shall assess whether or not the applications can be funded. The programme committee shall prioritise the applications based on the recommendations of the evaluation committee. The steering group shall award the grants.

Budget

The programme has a budget of 3 million euro for a period of four years. About 2.65 million euro has been made available for research in the first call.

Financiers

Ministry of Economic Affairs and NWO

Contacts

• Mw. drs. F.J. Duijndam
  phone: +31 (0)70 349 43 12, e-mail: f.duijndam@nwo.nl
• Mw. J. de Graaff
  phone: +31 (0)70 344 09 47, fax: +31 (0)70 383 28 41, e-mail: j.degraaff@nwo.nl