ICTRegie hands over its activities
20 December 2010
ICTRegie will cease to exist as from 31 December 2010. Its ongoing projects will be handed over to NWO, STW and NL Agency. These parties will initiate new activities where necessary. The decision was taken by the contracting partners: the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (EL&I), the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
ICTRegie, the national taskforce for ICT research and innovation, was set up in 2004 to provide temporary guidance in developing and implementing a national strategy for ICT research and innovation. Its creation resulted from the Dutch government’s desire for greater uniformity and consistency within the ICT landscape.
Its achievements have included the strategic agenda ‘ICT2030.nl’, the ICTDelta congress, the setting up of around fifteen ICT innovation platforms for collaboration between researchers, producers and users, and recommendations on the ICT infrastructure for scientific research.
The future
The end of ICTRegie’s mandate does not mean that its achievements will be lost. The partnership between NWO, STW and NL Agency will manage and support the ongoing research programmes and projects, including the ICT innovation platforms (IIPs). They will also main contacts with the ICT world. The central coordination of these activities lies with NWO.
The information society platform ECP-EPN has been asked to coordinate the ICTDelta congress. ICTRegie’s recommendations on ICT infrastructure are currently being developed further by NWO and SURF. One of their specific activities is the launch of the e-Science Research Centre in January 2011.
This, and other ICT activities, are still of vital importance for the future of research and innovation and hence for strengthening the Dutch economy and science. Consequently, the partnership between NWO, STW and NL Agency will continue to devote itself to this cause. It has been agreed that NWO will be the point of contact.
About NWO
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is the principal Dutch science funding body and its mission is to facilitate excellent scientific research in the Netherlands by means of national competition. Each year NWO spends more than 700 million euro on grants for top researchers, on innovative instruments and equipment, and on institutes where top research is performed. NWO funds the research of more than 5300 talented researchers at universities and institutes. Independent experts select proposals by means of a peer review system. NWO facilitates the transfer of knowledge to society.
About STW
The aim of Technology Foundation STW is to realise knowledge transfer between technical sciences and users. To achieve this, STW brings users and researchers together on every project and promotes excellent technical and scientific research. STW is a networking organisation par excellence. Its network comprises more than 1000 businesses, around 40% of which are small and medium-sized technology companies.
About NL Agency
When it comes to sustainability, innovation, international entrepreneurship and collaboration, NL Agency is the point of contact for businesses, knowledge institutes and public authorities. A single point of contact for information, advice, funding, networking and the implementation of laws and regulations. A single point of contact for faster and better services.
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Further information:
- NWO Chemical and Physical Sciences, Information and Communication Department
- Daphne Roelands, t: +31 70 349 4215, voorlichting-ew@nwo.nl
