20 million euro for brain research

21 September 2009

The Dutch Cabinet has allocated 20 million euro for research into the brain and cognition. This amount, taken from the Economic Structure Enhancing Fund (FES), will go to the National Initiative on Brain and Cognition that is currently being set up. The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) will operate the secretariat for this agency.

The mission of the National Initiative on Brain and Cognition (NIHC) is to direct national efforts in the area of brain and cognition research. This will require an optimal integration of fundamental and applied neurosciences research and cognition research.

The National Initiative on Brain and Cognition shall coordinate research into areas such as the improvement of learning motivation and school/study performances, prevention and management of antisocial behaviour, improved decision making in stressful situations and the recovery process of patients following brain damage. The NIHC will be accommodated at the NWO's Division for the Social Sciences.

Cooperation

The FES application was a joint initiative of the following Dutch ministries: Education Culture and Science; Health, Welfare and Sport; Justice; Defence; Interior and Kingdom Relations; Youth and Family. The application detailed three themes that NIHC shall focus on: the 'Healthy brain', the 'Learning brain' and the 'Safe brain'. These themes will be implemented in close corporation with social partners such as educational organisations, penal institutions and the healthcare sector.

The NIHC shall receive a budget of about 65 million euro over a period of 5 years. In addition to this, NIHC shall make efforts to expand its activities and the associated financial resources.

..............................

For further information please contact:

last modified on 19 October 2009