This week, the Senate discusses the cuts in higher education and research. The NWO has again expressed concerns about the impact on the Netherlands position as a knowledge nation. Innovations in health, safety, and climate could stall, and talent may be lost. Marcel Levi, chairman of the NWO, emphasizes that these cuts could harm the Dutch economy and our strategic autonomy.
The cuts mean that the budget for scientific infrastructure will shrink by 30 million euros annually, affecting future projects. This could lead to less innovation and fewer solutions for major scientific and societal issues. An example of important infrastructure is the powerful MRI scanner being built in the Netherlands.
Teacher scholarships are also being cut, negatively impacting the quality of education. The cuts to Open Science halve the budget, which is a significant setback for this field where the Netherlands has always been a leader.
Finally, the NWO is considering how to implement the cuts on their budget for 2026 and beyond. The expectation is that the Senate will approve the cuts.