TU Delft professor Ena Voûte takes key role in Dutch research funding for applied sciences
Professor Ena Voûte has been appointed to the Executive Board of the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and will lead its Applied and Technical Sciences domain. Her role focuses on bridging research and real-world innovation, impacting scientists, students, and industries across the Netherlands.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Prof. ir. Ena Voûte |
| New Role | Member of NWO Executive Board & Chair of Applied and Technical Sciences |
| Affiliation | TU Delft (Professor & Pro Vice Rector International Affairs) |
| Effective Date | 16 March 2026 |
| Predecessor | Margot Weijnen (retired 1 March 2026) |
| Term Length | 3 years (domain chairs) |
| Focus Areas | Innovation, sustainability, international academic policy |
| Previous Experience | Dean of Industrial Design Engineering (2012–2022), roles at Unilever & Philips |
| European Involvement | Contributor to CESAER (European technical universities network) |
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) is the national funding agency for scientific research, shaping priorities in applied and fundamental research. The Minister of Education, Culture and Science appoints its Executive Board, which steers policy and allocates resources to advance innovation and societal impact.
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Read the full translated article below
Ena Voûte appointed to NWO Executive Board and Domain Chair of Applied and Technical Sciences
The Minister of Education, Culture and Science has appointed Prof. ir. Ena Voûte, Professor and Pro Vice Rector International Affairs at TU Delft, as a member of the Executive Board of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). Voûte will also serve as the new Chair of the NWO domain Applied and Technical Sciences (TTW), effective today, 16 March 2026.
Ena Voûte is a Professor at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). From 2012 to 2022, she served as Dean of the same faculty, and since 2022 she has been Pro Vice Rector International Affairs. In this role, she supports the Executive Board of TU Delft with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and international academic policy. Voûte is particularly involved in TU Delft’s international strategy and its international relations. Since 2026, she has also been contributing to CESAER, the European network of technical universities. Voûte holds a degree in Industrial Design Engineering and has previously held various marketing and management positions at multinational companies such as Unilever and Philips. The role of Domain Chair at NWO is a part-time position, which she will combine with her current role at TU Delft.
The Executive Board of NWO is the highest governing body of the Dutch Research Council. It consists of the Chair, the Vice-Chair (who also oversees Operations and Finance), and the four Chairs of the NWO domains. They are appointed by the Minister of Education, Culture and Science on the recommendation of the Supervisory Board. The Chair and Vice-Chair serve five-year terms, while the other members, who also chair a domain board, are appointed for three years. Ena Voûte will represent the TTW domain on the Executive Board as Chair of this domain board. She succeeds Margot Weijnen, who retired on 1 March after two terms.
The Executive Board of NWO welcomes this appointment. Chair Marcel Levi: “With Ena Voûte, NWO – and the TTW domain in particular – gains a colleague who brings a wealth of experience in both the national and international academic world. She is known for her commitment to strengthening the role of technical universities in Europe and promoting change in academic culture, including a shift in how we assess scientists. As an Executive Board, we look forward to working with her.”
As Chair of the TTW domain board, Ena Voûte will advocate for the importance of practically applied research alongside fundamental research in the policies set by the NWO Executive Board. She says: “I am greatly looking forward to contributing, from the TTW domain, to the innovation and societal impact we urgently need in these times. Connecting knowledge and application is a passion in my life that I will happily dedicate to NWO.”