2026 Award: nominations closed
From 21 April 2026 to 23 June 2026, you were able to nominate open science initiatives for this award. The winner of the award will be announced during the National Open Science Festival on 14 October 2026.
More information
Recognising and rewarding open science
With this award, UKB, NWO, and Open Science NL recognize and reward initiatives that make an important, inspiring, and sustainable contribution to the open science movement with the Leo Waaijers Open Science Award. These are pioneers who have worked against the tide and have truly set change in motion.
Thanks to the collaboration between UKB and NWO, the winner will also receive €50,000 in prize money. This fund can be used to further reinforce existing initiatives, expand them, or launch new ones. As in previous years, the award will be presented during the annual Open Science Festival.
Leo Waaijers (1938–2023) was a tireless advocate for open access and for restoring the balance of power between public and private actors in the scientific domain. For 35 years, Leo was highly active in the world of scientific information, issuing many innovative ideas, proposals, and action plans.
