Priorities

For the next strategy period (2011-2014) NWO, with its divisions, institutes and temporary taskforces, will continue to realise established lines of interest with an emphasis on the following priorities:

• Strengthening investment in talent and in response-mode research
  Supporting talented researchers in their scientific career is a vital condition for scientific innovation. Encouraging the development of groundbreaking ideas is a key aspect of NWO policy. This objective can only be realised if the breeding ground for innovation –
  talent and response-mode research – is strengthened.
  
  
• Investing with partners in themes inspired by society’s needs
  Together with relevant partners, NWO wants to give an extra boost to solving urgent problems in society via the choice of themes. This requires new knowledge, knowledge utilisation and a multidisciplinary approach. NWO shall commit itself to six themes for this strategy period. These have been chosen to realise strong ties between the agendas of world-class scientific research groups and the priorities of the government and national knowledge institutes.
  
  
• Encouraging and facilitating knowledge utilisation
  Scientific research feeds the knowledge economy. By a variety of means, and in partnership with other parties in the knowledge chain, NWO advances the transfer of knowledge to increase the benefit society gains from research. In particular, NWO is dedicated to advancing access to research results and raising awareness of the potential utility of the research it funds.
  
  
• Strengthening international cooperation within and outside of Europe
  World-class research must not be hindered by borders. It is therefore vital that the Netherlands can continue to play a prominent role in international scientific research. NWO will step up its efforts to provide possibilities for international cooperation and to strengthen the role that Dutch research plays in challenges at a global scale.
  
  
• Promoting access to high-quality research facilities
  In many scientific fields, high-quality research facilities combined with excellent researchers serve as a basis and booster for innovative research. NWO wants to provide Dutch researchers with optimum access to high-quality research facilities, including large international facilities.
  
  
• Strengthening the national role of NWO institutes
  The NWO institutes provide a strategic contribution to Dutch research. They develop and manage large-scale and specialised national research facilities and house international research facilities. They provide critical mass to consolidate research of international repute at Dutch knowledge institutes. NWO wants to further strengthen the national role of the institutes and to introduce a greater degree of flexibility in its policy regarding these. Particular attention will be given to how the institutes can cooperate with university groups and industry.