Secretariats at NWO
At the moment, NWO houses the secretariats of institutions which are of great importance to science and society:
- European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) (since 4 February 2004)
With its budget of 600 million euro, 200 of which are provided by the European Commission, the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is the largest ever programme within the European Union’s research budget. In EDCPT 13 member states and Norway cooperate in combating HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis. This Article 169 programme is the first effort at cooperating on a European level that aims to merge the often fragmented research efforts at national levels. Together with Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence, Article 169 programmes are new support schemes of the Sixth Framework Programme.
From 7 May 2009 onwards, NWO houses the South Africa Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANDPAD)
SANDPAD aims at stimulating and promoting quality research, especially for development purposes, and promoting co-operation between Netherlands and South African researchers, and between institutions within South Africa.
Also, since 2002 NWO houses a foundation that aims to increase insight and understanding in the field of the biosciences:
“To widely promote understanding of the present and future development and application of the biosciences, particularly with regard to their meaning and consequences for man and society.” That is the goal of the independent foundation for Biosciences and Society (BWM). Its main instrument is the series of booklets (‘cahiers’) in which a topical theme is considered from all possible angles. Four of such booklets are published every year. They differ from many popular-science publications in that they are written by prominent scientists who study those themes in our country. The editorial board too consists of experts. Thus a high degree of reliability is reached.
