NIMAR facilitates and stimulates research and cooperation between the Netherlands, Morocco and third countries on the basis of equal partnership.

Five areas receive special attention: Migration; African Studies, with a focus on Morocco between Africa and Europe; Museum and Heritage Studies; Urban Studies and Infrastructure, in particular port cities; and Ecology and Sustainable Food Production. The strong rooting in Dutch higher education, combined with exchanges with Moroccan and other partners, results in international networks that produce and disseminate high-quality knowledge.

NIMAR is primarily active in the humanities and social sciences and actively seeks collaboration with other disciplines, such as engineering and agriculture. The partnership between Leiden, Delft and Erasmus University Rotterdam (LDE) facilitates this expansion.

NIMAR welcomes researchers, scholars and staff from all Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences. Researchers from other countries are also eligible for a workspace. At the institute they find a springboard for further research and cooperation on Moroccan soil, supported by the network that the institute can offer