Soorten grants

Bekijk de infographic onderzoekstrajecten en financiering (pdf) voor een vergelijking van alle soorten grants van Netspar, inclusief bedragen en het moment waarop de grants worden toegekend.

De Topicality Grant is voor onderzoek dat oplossingen formuleert voor actuele, afgebakende vraagstukken binnen de kennisagenda van Netspar. Het onderzoek is erop gericht om actuele vragen uit de praktijk te beantwoorden, liefst in samenwerking tussen wetenschappers en specialisten uit de praktijk.

Onderwerpen en procedure

Jaarlijks stelt de directie een longlist (november) en een shortlist (februari) op van relevante onderwerpen. Dat gebeurt in samenwerking met de Partner Research Council. De directie benadert onderzoekers om de geselecteerde projecten uit te voeren.

Het staat onderzoekers vrij om zelf onderzoekvoorstellen in te dienen. Meer informatie over eerder toegewezen projecten is te vinden op de pagina Onderzoek.

Output

De output van een topicality project bestaat uit drie elementen:

• Één Netspar industry paper.
• Een of meerdere After Lunch Webinars waarin onderzoekers en specialisten uit de sector meedenken bij de totstandkoming van de papers.
• Presentatie van afgeronde papers op een bijeenkomst van Netspar.

Budget en matching

Netspar stelt per project maximaal € 25.000 beschikbaar. Het streven is om jaarlijks circa zeven projecten toe te kennen binnen de vijf thema’s.

Tijdlijn 2025

Je kunt hieronder een voorstel indien voor een topicality project, de deadline is elk jaar in oktober.

17 oktober 2025

Deadline indienen onderwerp voor longlist.

9 januari 2026

Deadline indienen uitgewerkt projectvoorstel shortlist.

April 2026

Start project.

Maart 2027

Deadline project.

Aanmeldformulier

Klik hier voor het aanmeldformulier.

Meer weten?

Neem voor vragen over de procedure contact op met de onderzoeksleiding via [email protected].

2026 – NETSPAR THEME GRANTS

Call for proposals

DEADLINE FOR ONE-PAGE PROJECT PROPOSAL JANUARY 14, 2026 12 CET (NOON)

DEADLINE FOR DRAFT PROPOSAL MARCH 18, 2026 12 CET (NOON)

DEADLINE FOR FINAL PROPOSAL MAY 11, 2026 12 CET (NOON)

Netspar (Network for Studies on Pensions, Aging and Retirement) supports innovative academic research on all aspects of pensions, aging and retirement. Netspar encompasses a large variety of academic disciplines ranging from economics (including finance, business, marketing) to law, sociology, psychology, communication, epidemiology and applied data science. We invite applications for Theme Grants for research projects with a duration of three years, for a maximum of €350k per project. This year, Netspar, together with co-funding partner Instituut Gak intend to fund three Theme Grants (for a total amount of €1.05 million).

Topics

We invite research proposals from all relevant disciplines that can contribute to the Netspar Knowledge Agenda 2023-2027. Relevant topics include but are not limited to:

• Pension reform and optimal pension system design.
• Transition of the pension and insurance industry to the new Dutch pension system.
• Choice architecture and activation in pension decisions and financial planning by individuals.
• Communication about pensions.
• Pension investments: life-cycle planning, risk measurement & management (e.g., interest rate, inflation, and climate risk), sustainable investments.
• Digitalization: e.g., data science developments, AI, data quality, automated financial advice, legal and privacy issues.
• Vulnerable groups (e.g., freelancers, migrants, women, financially illiterate people, people incapacitated for work) / diversity in pension outcomes, poverty, livelihood security.
• Measurement of risk and sustainability preferences.
• Labor market developments: e.g., flexible contracts, working longer, vitality, productivity.
• Relation of pension decisions to housing and healthcare.
• Trust in the pension system.
• Supervision and regulation (including European developments).
• Governance of pension institutions.

Main characteristics of the grant

• Funding for three years with a maximum of €350k. The project duration can be extended in case a PhD student with a longer contract is involved, but a significant part of the output is expected in the first three years.
• The project team consists of several academics, plus representatives (‘pension professionals’) from several organizations (e.g., pension funds, insurance companies, asset managers, employer and labor associations, Dutch government ministries, supervisors, consultancies) related to the Dutch pension and insurance industry (including at least one of the Netspar partners). The project team should reflect compelling academic quality as well as strong interest from the industry.
• The goal of the project is to contribute to the academic literature as well as to have impact on practices and policies in the pension and insurance industry.
• The project leader is responsible for the project in terms of project management, contents, and finances. The project leader also serves as the first point of contact for project monitoring.
• The project team members are expected to be available for knowledge dissemination activities over the course of the project; these include presenting research results at Netspar events or at events organized by Netspar partners, to present industry-oriented Netspar publications resulting from the project during short after-lunch webinars, and to contribute to short summaries of such papers (one-pagers), podcasts and/or short videos.

Application requirements

Initial Requirements

Before submitting a full application, researchers must submit a One-page project proposal by January 14, 2026, 12:00 CET (NOON). This proposal is mandatory. If it is not submitted by the deadline, you will not be eligible to submit a draft or final application later.

Full Application Requirements

Proposals for a Theme Grant must contain the following documents:

• Completed Application Form [link].
• Annex I [link]: Detailed Description of the Proposal
• Annex II [link]: Budget Plan, in accordance with the prescribed format. Please contact us in case you apply from a University Medical Centre regarding the rate setting in salary costs.
• Annex III [link]: Output Commitments, in accordance with the prescribed format.
• Annex IV: CVs of the applicant and all project members
• Annex V: Support letter of (at least) one Netspar partner endorsing the application.

Co-funding by Instituut Gak

This call is co-funded by Instituut Gak. Instituut Gak aims to contribute to the quality of the social security and labor market in the Netherlands and plays a role in the selection process of the Netspar Theme Grants (more information will be provided during the Match Making Event). Instituut Gak does not have a pre-specified research agenda, but lists its ongoing and completed research projects on its website. To be eligible for funding by Instituut Gak, please indicate your consent by ticking the appropriate box on the application form.

Selection process

There is one selection round each year, consisting of a number of phases.

• In the first phase, researchers interested in submitting a Theme Grant proposal are invited to submit a one-page ‘project proposal’, including a description of the proposed research topic, its academic innovation, its relevance for the Dutch pension and insurance industry, and – if possible – information about the academics and practitioners on the project team. If Netspar receives a large number of project proposals, it may decide to pre-select project proposals on the basis of academic quality of the proposed research and the researchers involved, relevance to the Netspar Knowledge Agenda, and appeal to the pension and insurance industry.
• In the second phase, researchers that have passed the potential pre-selection phase are invited to the Match Making Event and subsequently submit a full draft application that forms the basis for a feedback meeting with a senior Netspar scholar.
• In the third phase, researchers are invited to submit their final application, which will be evaluated on academic quality and practical relevance on three steps.
  • In step 1, applications will be evaluated on academic quality by the Netspar Scientific Council. At least three members of the Scientific Council or additional reviewers will evaluate the academic quality of the proposals. In some cases, additional reviewers will be approached by the chair of the Scientific Council if specific expertise is needed. Proposals must receive an average of 3.5 points (out of 5) in order to proceed to the next evaluation round. There is no opportunity to appeal to the outcome of the Scientific Council evaluation. Applicants with proposals that pass the 3.5 hurdle get the opportunity to briefly respond to the reviewers’ comments.
  • In step 2, applications with sufficient academic quality will be submitted to the Netspar Partner Research Council, which will make recommendations to the Netspar Board of Directors.
  • In step 3, grants are awarded by the Netspar Board of Directors in consultation with Instituut Gak.

Selection criteria

• Proposals must be related to the Netspar Knowledge Agenda 2023-2027 and must make clear what they add to prior Netspar research.
• The application must be submitted by a Dutch university or knowledge institute, which will be responsible for the administration if the grant is awarded. The proposed project leader must be employed by this university or knowledge institute.
• At least €25k of the budget provided by Netspar must be spent on one or more forms of international cooperation with academic researchers affiliated with a foreign university within the context of the grant (e.g., compensation for these researchers’ time spent on joint research projects, longer outbound or inbound visits to/by academic researchers abroad, longer research visit abroad by PhD student or post doc).
• In-kind matching by universities or knowledge institutes strengthens the research projects and is strongly encouraged.
• Active participation in the Match Making Event is highly recommended when submitting a proposal (see details below).
• The formal assessment criteria used in the selection procedure are the academic quality of the researchers in the project team as well as the proposal in the evaluation by the Netspar Scientific Council and societal relevance, practical applicability, as well as innovation by the Netspar Partner Research Council. More generally, it is key that the proposal is sufficiently appealing to the Netspar partners from the pension and insurance industry, based on, among other things, the pension professionals in the project team, possible co-creation / joint research with pension professionals, and description of practical applications and knowledge dissemination plans.

Match Making Event

On February 10, 2026, Netspar will organize a Match Making Event to connect researchers interested in submitting a Theme Grant application to representatives from Netspar industry partners from the Dutch pension and insurance industry who may supply feedback and/or be interested in joining the project. At this event, Netspar will also provide detailed information on the grant application process. It is not strictly compulsory, but highly recommended for potential applicants to join this event.

Timetable for 2026

January 14
Deadline for submitting a one-page project proposal [link]

February 10
Match Making Event

March 18
Deadline for submitting draft version of application (completed Application Form [link] and Annexes I, II, III and IV)

March 24 – April 2
Feedback meeting with a senior Netspar scholar.

May 11
Deadline for submitting final application (including all documents, completed Application Form [link] and Annexes I, II, III, IV, and V)

May 26 – June 29
Evaluation by Netspar Scientific Council

August  17
Deadline for applicant responses to comments made by Netspar Scientific Council

September 23
Recommendation by Netspar Partner Research Council

November
Formal decision by Netspar Board

December
Administrative kick-off meeting

January 2027
Start of project

Submission

• Please submit your one-page project proposal to [email protected]. Deadline: January 14, 2026, 12:00 CET (noon). At a later stage, submit the draft and final application (including the application form and all annexes combined into one document) to the same email address.
• Deadline for Draft Proposal: March 18, 2026, 12:00 CET (noon)
• Deadline for Final Proposal: May 11, 2026, 12:00 CET (noon)

Contact

For questions, please contact Netspar: Silvie van Halder, Policy Officer, +31 (0)13 466 3793, [email protected]

Netspar supports innovative academic research on all aspects of pensions, aging and retirement. Netspar encompasses a large variety of academic disciplines, ranging from economics to law, sociology, psychology, communication, epidemiology and applied data science.

Netspar invites the submission of proposals for a Talent Grant that aims to introduce promising junior (or medior) researchers into the Netspar network and pension practice. By providing part-time research funding, Netspar supports young scholars in gaining experience and knowledge of the Dutch pension practice and in contributing to the current discussions on pensions, aging and retirement in The Netherlands. The Talent Grant targets promising academic scholars with an interest in the (Dutch) pension practice and an aptitude for communicating about research to a broad audience.

For young scholars, the Netspar Talent Grant provides an excellent opportunity to work on translating scientific research into insights that can be used for real-life financial decision-making and policy debates in the pension, retirement and insurance industry. This translation is supported through cooperation with senior Netspar researchers and active participation in the large and diverse Netspar network of researchers and pension professionals. This opportunity is especially relevant in light of the increased focus on impact and engagement as a third pillar of university activities next to academic research and education.

Main Characteristics

The Talent Grant offers part-time funding for a period from two to five years for a maximum amount of €100K. The researcher commits to:

• Writing at least one academic paper relevant to the Knowledge Agenda.
• Writing at least two Netspar (applied) Industry Papers in cooperation with Netspar senior researchers and/or pension professionals in de Netspar network.
• Presenting research results during at least 3 Netspar meetings.
• Regular presence in Tilburg (say at least once a month) for contact with Netspar researchers and staff, progress meetings and/or presentation of research results.
• Writing a brief annual progress report.

Evaluation Criteria

• PhD degree in a field relevant to Netspar obtained roughly three to eight years ago.
• Applicant must have strong motivation to be involved with Netspar over the long term.
• Evidence of academic potential, combined with an interest in applied research for the pension, retirement and insurance industry and proven communication skills to bridge academia and practice.
• High-quality and relevant research proposal that describes (in broad terms) planned research activities that are related to the Knowledge Agenda.
• Applicant must be employed by a Dutch university or knowledge institute.

Relation to Dutch Starting Grants

The recent introduction of the “starting grants” for tenured assistant professors at Dutch universities has changed the (financial) setting for young scholars in various ways. Netspar is open to discussing how the Talent Grant could complement or substitute for such a starting grant, for example through the co-funding of a PhD student or through a Talent Grant for young scholars within three years after the completion of their PhD who may not be eligible for a starting grant.

Application Requirements

Proposals for a Talent Grant must contain the following documents:

• Completed Application Form.
• Annex I: Endorsement by professor or senior researcher at a Dutch university or knowledge institute.
• Annex II: CV of the researcher.

Application Process

Applications are assessed based on the evaluation criteria listed above by a committee of three people who jointly represent a combination of a strong academic track record with an intimate familiarity with the Dutch pension, retirement and insurance industry. Grants are awarded by the Netspar Board. 20% of the grant will be paid after completion of all output commitments. The other 80% of the grant will be distributed evenly over the years.

Timetable for the next Talent Grant is to be decided.

Netspar International Comparative Research Grant 2025

Call for Proposals

Deadline October 15, 2025

Netspar (Network for Studies on Pensions, Aging and Retirement; based in the Netherlands) invites applications for its International Comparative Research Grant. In 2025, Netspar will offer three International Comparative Research Grants of €20,000 each.

Goal of the Grant

The goal of the Netspar International Comparative Research Grant is to support studies that compare regulatory, policy, and/or product choices surrounding pensions, aging and retirement made in different countries (including the Netherlands) and relate these to the academic literature.

Topics

The pension and retirement systems in different countries differ substantially in their institutional setting. Nevertheless, the over-arching issues are very similar across countries. We invite research proposals from all relevant disciplines that can contribute to the Netspar Knowledge Agenda 2023-2027. Examples of relevant questions include, but are not limited to:

• What is an adequate level of pension income during retirement?
• Which benefits could be means-tested and what are the implications for the system?
• How much choice is preferable within the system?
• How should we design choices (choice architecture) and support decision-making by individuals (including communication)?
• What are the preferences of individuals regarding risk-taking and sustainable investments?
• How should pension capital be invested during accumulation and decumulation?
• Should pension capital be invested in a sustainable manner and, if so, how?
• How can trust in the pension system be enhanced?
• How should policies targeted at the labor market for older workers be designed?
• What are the implications of developments in data science and AI for regulatory, policy, and product choices surrounding pensions, aging, and retirement?
• How can lifelong learning, and/or employability and productivity among older workers be enhanced?
• How are choices surrounding pensions related to the labor market, housing and healthcare?
• What is the impact of developments in European regulation and economic policies?
• What is an adequate balance between PAYG and funded systems?
• Which groups are not or insufficiently covered by the supplementary pension systems (e.g., self-employed, migrants, women, people with low financial literacy) and what are potential instruments to address this issue?

Main Characteristics of the Grant

• The project is expected to result in a Netspar paper aimed at an audience of professionals from the pension and insurance industry nine months to one year from the start of the grant.
• The aim of the paper should be to compare, e.g., the regulatory, policy, product choices, and/or actual behaviour surrounding pensions, aging and retirement in two or more countries. The Netherlands must be included in the comparison.
• The project is expected to explore and outline the links with the academic literature.
• The paper should contribute to existing literature and add value to the Netspar Knowledge Agenda.
• The authors are expected to present (a preliminary version of) the paper at the Netspar International Pension Workshop in 2026.
• The authors may be invited to present the paper at other Netspar events.
• Budget maximum of €20,000 (no budget specification is required).

Selection Criteria

• The proposal must be related to the Netspar Knowledge Agenda 2023-2027.
• The application has to be submitted by a university or knowledge institute, Dutch or non-Dutch.
• The applicant(s) have adequate institutional knowledge of the countries and of the relevant regulatory, policy and product aspects they want to compare across countries. In particular, at least one of the applicants should have proven familiarity with the Dutch pension system.
• The project is well-grounded in academic research and has a clear link to the pension practice.
• The track record and expertise of the applicant(s) play an important role in the selection process.

Application Process

• Interested researchers can apply for a Netspar International Comparative Research Grant by submitting the application form [link] by October 15, 2025 at the latest. For examples of previous projects, please visit our website.
• Please submit your application to [email protected] and mention ‘Application for Netspar International Comparative Research Grant’ in the subject line.

Contact

For questions, please contact Netspar: Silvie van Halder, Policy Officer, +31 (0)13 466 3793, [email protected].