To facilitate the management of developments in Dutch physics, FOM's Executive Board has divided FOM's sphere of activities into seven research fields. A research field is sometimes referred to as a subfield. The seven research fields are:

  • Subatomic physics
  • Nanophysics/technology
  • Condensed matter and optical physics
  • Processes in living systems
  • Fusion physics
  • Phenomenological physics
  • Other physics
In addition to these, fundamental energy research is a new research field that will be further expanded.

Four advisory committees have compiled a focus memorandum or future perspectives document for their subfield. Within these subfields FOM mainly wants to invest in the research lines described in these documents. The subfields concerned are Phenomenological physics, Fusion physics, Physics of life processes, Nanophysics/technology and Condensed matter & optical physics. A focus memorandum will also be produced for the research field of Subatomic physics.

FOM runs several programmes in each research field.

Further information about each of these research fields can be found on the pages of the relevant research field. Further information about the programmes can be found under Research programmes.