Call for proposals: CWI Research Semester Programmes 2028-2029

Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) invites colleagues from Dutch universities to jointly develop proposals for CWI Research Semester Programmes in 2028 and 2029.

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Aim of the CWI Research Semester Programmes

CWI facilitates and strengthens joint research activities of the Dutch mathematics and computer science communities by offering a meeting place for research and collaboration. CWI Research Semester Programmes aim to establish a common base for further scientific contributions, build and strengthen national research communities on specific topics, and allow researchers – junior and senior ­– to expand their network for further collaborative initiatives. CWI has been running Research Semester Programmes since 2022. General information and information on past and future programmes can be found here.

What can you apply for?

We solicit proposals for CWI Research Semester Programmes (RSP) for the period 2028-2029. CWI can accommodate up to four programmes per year in 2028 and 2029. A CWI Research Semester Programme consists of a coherent set of meetings and activities in which researchers come together to collaborate on important or emerging research topics over a longer period, typically for the duration of a semester. The format of a programme is flexible. It may, for example, consist of a series of workshops, a school or masterclass for PhD students, a bootcamp, weekly or monthly seminars or a reading group.

We encourage mathematics and computer science researchers to develop an RSP in collaboration with a CWI researcher together with representatives of at least two Dutch universities.

As an organizing team, you develop the content of the programme and invite speakers and participants. CWI provides:

  • budget for travel and accommodation, the meeting facilities and the catering (up to 30.000 euros);
  • the marketing and communication activities; and
  • the organising support staff
  • the possibility make use of the CWI visiting programme.

Changes in RSP policy

As of 2026, a number of changes have been made to the RSP policy. First, a Scientific Advisory Board has been established. Its aim is to help the applicant improve the scientific programme and ultimately to approve it. Another change is that the RSP is to be concluded with a summary report (a so-called ‘scientific report’).
Finally — as a result of the new CWI policy — all catering will, in principle, be vegetarian.

More information

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You can apply for a CWI Research Semester Programme if you:

  • are a diverse team of researcher(s) from at least two Dutch universities;
  • with at least one CWI researcher as co-applicant;
  • are enthusiastic about a new research topic that relates to one of CWI’s research focus areas: 1) Algorithms, 2) Data and Intelligent Systems, 3) Cryptography and Security, and 4) Quantum Computing; and
  • know colleagues, both in the Netherlands and abroad, who are interested to contribute and significantly advance joint research on your topic

Proposals should:

  • describe the applicants and their complementarities;
  • describe the recent scientific developments of the chosen topic;
  • be scientifically relevant, topical and novel to a broad Dutch community;
  • have a highly interactive programme structure, presented in a series of events;
  • connect to one (or more) of the CWI research focus areas;
  • describe the foreseen output and/or long-term gain for the Dutch research community
  • describe diversity in both the organising team of researchers, foreseen speakers and participants, e.g., in research background, affiliation, level of seniority and gender.

A small committee ­– including representatives from CWI’s management team, previous organisers of Research Semester Programmes and CWI’s research foci – will evaluate and select proposals (based on the mentioned criteria).

Please fill out the proposal template. The call for proposals closes on 15 December 2026. By the end of January 2027, the proposals and budgets will be evaluated.

For more information on the CWI focus areas, you can contact:

Questions?

For general questions concerning the Research Semester Programmes and about this call procedure, or to get in touch with a relevant CWI-researcher for your topic, please send an e-mail. You can also use this e-mail address to submit your proposal.