Dutch research funder NWO sets new goals to foster inclusive and diverse science
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has introduced new policy goals to promote a healthier research culture. These changes aim to ensure fair opportunities, diverse perspectives, and better societal impact in science, directly affecting researchers and students nationwide.
| Key Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) |
| Policy Focus | Healthy research culture, diversity, inclusion, and equality |
| Core Pillars | Recognition and appreciation; Diversity, inclusion, and equality |
| Implementation Tracks | Collaboration with institutions, funding access, assessment processes |
| Geographical Scope | National (Netherlands) with international collaboration |
| Strategic Period | Incorporated into NWO’s next strategic phase |
| Source Link | Een gezonde onderzoekscultuur |
NWO is the primary Dutch funding body for scientific research, shaping the national research agenda and allocating resources. Its policies influence how research is conducted, evaluated, and valued, impacting universities, researchers, and societal knowledge development.
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With new policy goals, NWO aims to facilitate and promote a healthy research culture
NWO has established new policy goals for a healthy research culture. In doing so, NWO is giving concrete form to the ambitions outlined in its current strategy ‘Science works!’, in which a healthy research culture is one of the four cornerstones of a strong and resilient science and innovation system. With these goals, NWO underscores that working towards a healthy research culture is not a one-time task, but an ongoing responsibility.
NWO considers a healthy research culture – including the broader recognition and appreciation of science, as well as diversity, inclusion, and equality – essential for advancing science. It is important that people from diverse backgrounds come together so that societal issues can be examined from multiple perspectives. This not only fosters new ideas and creative thinking but also leads to a deeper and better understanding of topics and problems. High-quality research requires a diverse academic world.
More room for scientific talent and scientific tasks
NWO therefore aims to continue building a research culture that provides more room for a variety of tasks, people, insights, and talent. After all, those who participate in science also shape the questions that are asked, the perspectives from which they are examined, and the solutions found for today’s and tomorrow’s societal challenges. This means not only valuing and respecting researchers and ensuring their safety but also equally recognising and appreciating diverse contributions to science – from collaboration and leadership to societal engagement. This makes science fairer and better equipped to address broad, complex questions in a way that reflects the diversity of our society.
This also requires critically examining existing structures and practices in science. Traditional notions of quality, career paths, and evaluation can (unintentionally) reinforce exclusionary mechanisms and structurally disadvantage certain groups. By actively addressing barriers and setting goals for itself, NWO contributes to a research environment in which everyone can meaningfully contribute to knowledge that matters, both for science and for society.
New policy goals for a healthy research culture
NWO has therefore formulated new goals to work towards this. These can be found at: Een gezonde onderzoekscultuur | NWO. The goals focus on two pillars within a healthy research culture: recognition and appreciation, and diversity, inclusion, and equality. Together, they form the foundation for sustainable scientific quality and broad societal impact.
In implementing these policy goals, NWO is focusing on three interconnected tracks. First, it is examining its role as a connector within the science system by actively collaborating with knowledge institutions and (inter)national partners. This allows us to jointly address issues surrounding research culture and structural inequality. Second, NWO is critically assessing who has access to funding, as existing structures and practices often lead to unequal opportunities for researchers from different backgrounds and career paths. Finally, NWO is looking at how it provides funding, aiming to design assessment processes and instruments in a way that does justice to the diversity of scientific contributions and talents. In this way, NWO seeks to help break down existing exclusionary mechanisms.
Core principles
- NWO views inclusion, equality, and fairness as fundamental conditions for a healthy research culture, and thus for good science.
- NWO sees diversity in backgrounds, career paths, experiences, and identities as a driving force for scientific progress.
- NWO uses its capabilities as a funder, employer, and connector to proactively address inequality and structural barriers within science wherever it can.
Working together towards change
The policy goals demonstrate NWO’s commitment to continuing its work towards a healthy research culture. In the coming period, NWO will translate these goals into action plans. Many of the current goals will also be incorporated into the next strategic period of NWO. The implementation presented is not static. NWO will continue to engage in dialogue with the broader scientific community and adapt its policies, where possible, based on new insights and experiences. By learning from practical experiences and continuously improving its policies, NWO is gradually working towards a science in which everyone can contribute to knowledge that advances society.
Source:
NWO