NWO's strategy 2007-2010

The Netherlands must value its science

NWO wants an additional 433 million euro per year for top research

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) wants an additional 433 million euro per year for top scientific research. The organisation announced this on 22 May 2006 at the launch of its strategy for 2007-2010. The money is intended for excellent researchers, consolidation of strengths and an improved feedback to society.

If the Netherlands, as agreed upon within the European Union, wants to contribute to the Lisbon objectives then a number of bottlenecks in our knowledge system need to be energetically tackled. Or as the chair of NWO, Peter Nijkamp, put it in his foreword: 'It is time that the Netherlands invests in the best that our country has. It is time that the Netherlands values its science.'

Nijkamp refers to the additional 433 million euro per year requested as a considerable sum. 'Yet it is an indispensable investment if we are of the opinion that our future is linked to the success of Netherlands Knowledge Land.'

In close consultation with science, government and society

The memorandum 'Science valued! NWO strategy 2007-2010' was developed in close consultation with all parties with a stake in science. In 2005, NWO consulted scientists, government, the private sector and other sectors of society. As the outcome of a joint thinking process the strategy can count on broad support.

On 22 May 2006, NWO's chair Peter Nijkamp handed the strategy to the then Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Maria van der Hoeven. That happened during a commemorative launch in the Grote Kerk in The Hague. Top scientists, politicians and social partners were present.

Three lines of action

NWO has asked the government for an extra 433 million euro on top of the current basic budget of 423 million euro per year. The money is earmarked for three lines of action. First of all opportunities need to be created for researchers. Examples are good facilities, special subsidies for top talent and more possibilities for researchers in the so-called open competition. Secondly there needs to be a consolidation of strengths. Examples are large subsidy programmes and international cooperation. Thirdly, NWO wants to put a greater emphasis on knowledge transfer and cooperation with social partners.

Line of action 1: Opportunities for researchers
Excellent researchers in the Netherlands often lack the space they need to perform at their best and to profile themselves in the international arena. NWO wants to improve the career prospects via so-called person-specific talent programmes. NWO also wants to increase the opportunities for risky research. Additionally state-of-the-art research facilities must be realised and NWO wants to attract talent from abroad.

Line of action 2: Consolidation of strengths
The strengthening of scientific research in the Netherlands requires a consolidation of strengths at a national level. NWO wants to develop 'National Research Initiatives'. These are programmes of about 30 to 50 million euro in scientific areas where the Netherlands is the world leader. Additionally NWO hopes, together with SenterNovem, to realise a follow-up to the one-off successful BIG programme for investments in large research facilities. Further NWO wants to stimulate European cooperation and incorporate the smaller subsidy programmes into larger ones.

Line of action 3: Science for society
Societal questions and the call for a strengthening of societal and technological innovation are providing an increasingly strong demand for rapidly applicable knowledge. As an intermediary organisation, NWO brings knowledge requesters and scientists together. NWO is concentrating on societally-inspired programmes by working together with the government, private sector and other social partners. In addition to this, NWO is also strengthening its ties with TNO and SenterNovem. Furthermore, NWO will set up academic practice workshops and will implement the Smart Mix scheme. Further NWO will select the Societal TOP Institutes (STIs, Dutch acronym: MTIs) as instruments for innovative research focused on society. NWO will also heighten the awareness of researchers in the area of knowledge utilisation.

Lisbon objectives and background

Three successive cabinets have expressed the political aim that the Dutch knowledge economy must be one of the top in Europe by 2010. This ambition is an extension of the so-called Lisbon strategy to which the European heads of government commit ted themselves in 2000. That was after the alarm had been sounded about the poor level of scientific and technological performance in Europe and the mass departure of top European talent. By 2010 the EU must have developed into the most dynamic and competitive knowledge economy in the world. The second Balkenende Cabinet fully committed itself to this course in 2004, following an intermediate report about the Lisbon strategy by a committee under the leadership of Wim Kok. The Innovation Platform was requested to realise the ambitions in a practical strategy.

NWO

Innovation and quality: these are the spearheads of NWO's approach to the Future of Dutch Science. Together with scientists, national and international scientific organisations and companies, NWO develops and funds research programmes of top quality. NWO funds the work of more than 4500 researchers at universities and (NWO) institutes. The basic budget is 423 million euro per year.

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More information:

  • David Redeker (NWO, Communications Department), phone +31 (0)70 344 0714, redeker@nwo.nl  
  • Dominique de Vet (NWO, Communications Department), phone +31 (0)70 344 0545, devet@nwo.nl  

 

More on the launch (in Dutch)