Working on leading research

The ten national research institutes of NWO conduct world-leading top-level research.

Our institutes Our research

A woman in a laboratory is looking at a glass containing red light

Lab at HFML-FELIX. Credits Dick van Aalst

The three NIOZ vessels are sailing side by side in formation

Three NIOZ ships. Credits Flying Focus

Lab ARCNL. Credits Ivar Pel

Radiotelescope at ASTRON. Credits ASTRON

A number of people are standing or sitting in a classroom

Credits CWI

A large sphere from KM3NeT is suspended from a crane on a ship at sea

KM3NeT detector. Credit Nikhef

Sentinel 5P SRON. Credits ESA-ATG medialab

An AMOLF employee works in a laboratory using a piece of equipment fitted with a glove box

AMOLF, Sarah Gillespie. Credits Floris Krelage

Research infrastructures

Research facilities and collaborations

The NWO institutes have state-of-the-art research facilities available. They are also part of large (inter)national collaborations with renowned facilities.

Overview of facilities

Oranje rond onderdeel van de HFML-FELIX faciliteit

HFML-FELIX facilities

HFML-FELIX stands for High Field Magnet Laboratory and Free Electron Lasers for Infrared eXperiments

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Man with white helmets walks near blue pipe at CERN

CERN Particle Accelerator

Nikhef represents the Netherlands at CERN, home to the world’s largest particle accelerator

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PLD4Energy: a thin-film deposition and characterisation facility

Magnum-PSI, Ion Beam & PLD4Energy

Research into materials for the energy transition

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Aerial photo of radiotelescopes in South Africa

SKAO

The Square Kilometre Array Observatory will be the most powerful radiotelescope in the world

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News

Maaike Romijn is standing on a row of stones jutting out into the water

27 May 2026

New director of NIOZ as of 1 September 2026: Maaike van de Kamp-Romijn

The NWO-I foundation board has appointed Maaike van de Kamp-Romijn as the new director of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research as of 1 September.

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This is a rendering of a new extension to the existing ETPathfinder building in Maastricht

27 April 2026

Dutch government supports expansion of ETPathfinder facility in Maastricht

With the award of 25 million euros, ETPathfinder will undergo an expansion that will allow components and systems of the future Einstein Telescope to be tested at full scale and above ground.

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Prof. Geoffrey Bower, to become the new director of the NWO institute ASTRON on 1 September 2026

20 April 2026

Geoffrey Bower appointed as new director of ASTRON

The Board of NWO-I has appointed Prof. Dr. Geoffrey C. Bower as the new director of ASTRON, Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy. Effective 1st of September 2026, Prof. Dr. Bower will succeed Prof. Dr. Jessica Dempsey.

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Princess Amalia visits the AMOLF research institute. The photo shows her with Mayor Femke Halsema and research director Albert Polman in the SolarNL lab at AMOLF.

17 April 2026

Princess of Orange visits AMOLF

On Thursday, 16 April, the Princess of Orange visited Amsterdam Science Park, including AMOLF. The theme was Amsterdam Tech City, with a special focus on AI and sustainable solar energy.

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Working at NWO-I

It is people who make science

Our research thrives on people’s curiosity and expertise – from researchers to technicians and support staff. At NWO-I, we have a wide range of roles available.

View our job vacancies

Read about the people of NWO-I