Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) of science

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1 The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is the national research council in the Netherlands and has a budget of more than 500 million euros per year. NWO promotes quality and innovation in science. Knowledge of science Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research

2 January 2013 Design: WIM Ontwerpers Images: NWO, Shutterstock, Arie Wapenaar Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) Visiting address: Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indië 300, The Hague, the Netherlands Postal address: PO Box AC The Hague, the Netherlands Telephone: Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research

3 NWO s role in research funding Ministry of Education, Culture and Science Direct government funding Indirect government funding Universities Ministry of Economic Affairs NWO NWO institutes Other ministries* (*e.g. Health, Foreign Affairs, Infrastructure & Environment) Private sector and public organisations Other knowledge institutes NWO organisation Amsterdam AMOLF FOM Institute AMOLF CWI Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica NLeSC Netherlands escience Center in cooperation with SURF Nikhef FOM Institute for Subatomic Physics NSCR Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement The Hague NWO Governing Board/ General Management Earth and Life Sciences (ALW) Chemical Sciences (CW) Physical Sciences (EW) Humanities (GW) Social Sciences (MaGW) Medical Sciences managed by ZonMw Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development Physics (N) managed by FOM Foundation Technical Sciences managed by Technology Foundation STW WOTRO Science for Global Development DANS Data Archiving and Networked Services in cooperation with KNAW NGI Netherlands Genomics Initiative NRO Netherlands Initiative for Education Research NIHC National Initiative Brain and Cognition Texel NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Groningen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research Dwingeloo ASTRON Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy Utrecht FOM Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research STW Technology Foundation STW Nieuwegein DIFFER FOM Institute DIFFER (Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research) Yerseke NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

4 What does NWO do? NWO invests in science Each year the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) invests more than 500 million euros in scientists, research and equipment. Most of that money comes from the Dutch government, mainly from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. However, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, other ministries and the private sector also work together with NWO in drawing up research programmes and funding research. Annual investment more than 500 million NWO advances quality NWO s mission is to advance the quality of Dutch science. With the help of independent scientists, NWO selects the best research and the best researchers and subsequently awards research budgets on a competitive basis. Research budgets distributed on a competitive basis and with the support of independent scientists NWO thinks internationally Science is a global activity and the Netherlands ranks among the top in European and global research. In cooperation with other European research councils, NWO draws up research programmes and brings researchers together. Furthermore, NWO collaborates with emerging science nations such as China, India and Brazil. Leading European & world science nations as well as emerging science nations like China, India and Brazil NWO connects NWO connects science and society by encouraging researchers to share their knowledge. NWO initiates public-private partnerships. Furthermore, NWO communicates the importance of research and works hard to ensure that research results benefit society. One aspect of this is the encouragement of Open Access publishing. Knowledge dissemination, publicprivate partnerships & Open Access NWO works in a transparent manner NWO programmes, assesses, selects and funds scientific research. NWO does this in a transparent and independent manner according to international quality standards. NWO selects scientists on the basis of independence and objectivity. Moreover, NWO gives applicants the opportunity to respond to comments from reviewers. Programming, assessment, selection and funding according to international quality standards NWO covers the entire of science NWO works across the entire spectrum of science and is organised in various units: science divisions, foundations, national research institutes and temporary taskforces. Each of these units operates in a specific area and has its own board. Across the entire spectrum of science

5 NWO Spinoza Prize Spinoza laureates 2012 Highlights For scientists NWO confers the highest award in Dutch science each year: the NWO Spinoza Prize NWO provides funding for talented and creative scientists in the various phases of their scientific career: the NWO Talent Scheme (Veni, Vidi, Vici) For the general public NWO publishes a general interest book (Experiment NL) each year about some of the fascinating research it funds NWO and Dutch broadcaster VPRO have produced for over 20 years a renowned National Science Quiz for Dutch television (including a junior version for schoolchildren) NWO brings together scientists and journalists during the annual event Bessensap, at which young researchers can present themselves to the press NWO regularly organises debates between the general public and Spinoza laureates: Spinoza te Paard

6 NWO strategy Nwo funds research Strengthening talent and curiositydriven research NWO encourages the development of groundbreaking ideas. Talented researchers and curiosity-driven research form the basis of innovation. Investing in themes inspired by society s needs NWO, together with the government, world class scientific research groups, national knowledge institutions and the private sector, provides a boost to solving the problems society faces in the areas of prosperity and well-being. Encouraging and facilitating knowledge utilisation NWO encourages the use of research results and makes researchers and society aware of the economic and societal value of research. Strengthening international cooperation NWO increases the international collaboration between researchers and organisations and strengthens the role played by the Netherlands in solving global problems. Promoting access to high-quality research facilities NWO provides Dutch researchers with access to world class national and international research facilities and invests in a strong infrastructure for research. Strengthening NWO institutes NWO strengthens the national and international role of its research institutes and encourages these to collaborate more with university groups and private companies. The Dutch government wants to bring the Netherlands to the world top of knowledge economies. Therefore in partnership with entrepreneurs and researchers it will specifically strengthen nine important top sectors within the Dutch economy. NWO will ensure that its policy is in line with this ambition. Individual researchers NWO encourages talented researchers. With the NWO Talent Scheme, i.e. the Veni, Vidi and Vici grants, NWO funds researchers at different stages of their career. The NWO Spinoza Prize is the highest award in Dutch science. NWO awards this prize each year to researchers working in the Netherlands who belong to the absolute top of science. The prize is worth 2.5 million euros. Open competition for independent ideas Curiosity-driven research yields surprising and innovative results. After all, the results from scientific research cannot be predicted. Therefore, on the basis of quality and innovative potential, NWO funds research that does not fall within one of its programmes or themes. Programmes and themes Society faces major challenges such as the ageing population, dwindling supplies of raw materials and climate change. NWO funds research that seeks to find solutions to these and other problems. NWO s themes and programmes are also in line with the top sectors of the Dutch economy. Current NWO themes are: Healthy Living; Water and Climate; Cultural and Societal Dynamics; Sustainable Energy; Connecting Sustainable Cities; Materials: Solutions for Scarcity; Agro, Food and Horticulture; High Tech Systems and Materials; Creative Industry. Research institutes The NWO institutes develop and manage research facilities of national importance, for example research vessels, telescopes, specialised equipment and sensitive data. National research infrastructure NWO strengthens one of the key pillars for good research: a solid infrastructure. For example, NWO funds advanced microscopes and the construction of large databases. NWO also provides researchers with access to facilities such as supercomputers and particle accelerators.