WILLEMSTAD – Graduates from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who wish to pursue a PhD on topics relevant to the islands will soon have another opportunity to apply for funding. The Dutch Research Council (NWO) is set to launch a new grant round at the end of May 2025 under its Caribbean Research Programme: a multidisciplinary approach. 

The grant is aimed at PhD candidates conducting research with both scientific and social impact on one or more of the six Dutch Caribbean islands: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, or Sint Maarten. A key condition is that the majority of the research must be carried out in the region itself, to stimulate local knowledge development, infrastructure, and the strengthening of research institutions on the islands. 

Up to €350,000 Per Project 

Each selected project will be eligible for a maximum of €350,000, with a duration of up to four years. Candidates may pursue their doctorate at a university in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, such as the University of Aruba, the University of Curaçao, or the University of St. Martin, or at a university in the Netherlands. In the latter case, applicants must be born in or currently residing in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. 

Application Process in Four Phases 

The application process consists of four stages: 

Declaration of intent (mandatory) – deadline: June 24, 2025 

Pre-proposal – deadline: September 16, 2025 

Full proposal – deadline: February 24, 2026 

Interview phase 

The declaration of intent is a required first step, but will not be part of the official evaluation. Its purpose is to provide NWO with an estimate of the number of expected applications. Candidates must already include information about their intended supervisor(s) and potential research guidance at this early stage. 

This initiative reflects NWO’s continued commitment to fostering high-quality academic research and building sustainable research capacity across the Dutch Caribbean.