THE HAGUE – Researchers and scientific teams from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands can be nominated for four new awards launched by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The awards aim to highlight exceptional initiatives and achievements that strengthen science and its connection with society.
The new prizes focus on four themes: open science, collaboration, societal impact and the development of a healthy research culture.
According to NWO, the awards are intended for researchers and initiatives that make science more accessible, relevant and impactful. Anyone can nominate a researcher or team for consideration. Nominations can be submitted until September 10, 2026, through the NWO website.
Recognizing excellence in research
The Arete Award for a Healthy Research Culture recognizes individuals or initiatives that contribute to a positive and responsible research environment or serve as an example for others.
The Agora Award for Collaboration focuses on innovative and distinctive partnerships that have produced demonstrable results through creative forms of cooperation.
The Atlas Award for Societal Impact highlights research initiatives that have made an exceptional contribution to society through the use of knowledge, practical applications or science communication.
The fourth award, the NWO UKB Leo Waaijers Open Award, focuses on open science and recognizes efforts to make scientific knowledge more accessible. The nomination deadline for this award has already passed.
NWO encourages researchers, institutions and members of the public to recognize scientists whose work contributes to a stronger, more open and socially relevant research community. The inclusion of researchers from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom provides an opportunity to highlight scientific contributions from Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands.