NWO has allocated 25 million euros to facilitate the transition of international top researchers to the Netherlands. Later this summer, the call for the Tulp Fund, as the new fund will be called, will open. With this fund, renowned international scientists from outside the EU can continue their research at a Dutch research institution. Knowledge institutions can nominate top researchers or talents who wish to continue their work here in the Netherlands due to growing threats to academic freedom for funding eligibility.
Science exists by virtue of international cooperation and academic freedom and independence
The freedom of science is under pressure in multiple places around the world, and researchers are increasingly unable to operate independently. We are passionately committed to academic freedom, in the Netherlands and elsewhere in the world - as far as our influence reaches. Science exists by virtue of international cooperation and academic freedom and independence, explains Marcel Levi, chairman of the NWO, about the plans.
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) had asked NWO to set up a program for international top researchers who prefer to work in the Netherlands and has made 25 million euros available for this purpose. NWO has doubled that amount, making fifty million euros available now. Minister Bruins of OCW informed the House of Representatives today about the progress of the fund.
Top position of Dutch science
We have many good scientists in our country and therefore know that one top scientist with their own research line can significantly advance an entire field. Fifty such top scientists can help advance the entire country. Science provides solutions for major societal problems in areas such as healthcare, energy transition, agriculture, water management, or housing. It contributes to our independence from other countries, now and in the future. This is why I find it important to be able to do this, even in times when we are broadly cutting research and science funding. This is an opportunity we must not let slip away, says Minister Bruins.
Marcel Levi: One of the most important pillars for keeping the Netherlands economically and socially sustainable rests on knowledge, scientific research, and innovation. Research is a human endeavor, and the Netherlands can be fortunate to have a continuous stream of very talented and highly educated young people with creative ideas and great research ambitions. However, there has been a brain drain from Europe to other countries for years, while talent that wants to work here is desperately needed. Especially in light of future predictions about the labor market and productivity. Therefore, high-level researchers who want to come here are more than welcome. This way, we maintain and strengthen the top position of Dutch science.
Scientific and societal strengthening of the Netherlands and Europe
The call for proposals for the Tulp Fund will open this summer. Aimed at strengthening both Dutch and European competitiveness, the Tulp Fund is intended for researchers outside the EU, the EEA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), and Switzerland. Top researchers or talents with their own research line can be nominated by Dutch research organizations to continue their research with them. For both the top researcher and the top talent, the qualities of the researcher significantly exceed what is customary within the international peer group. Each researcher receives a maximum of 1,000,000 euros in subsidies, which must be spent over the next few years. It can involve both fundamental, applied, or practice-oriented research; there are no substantive restrictions. The research conducted by these scientists will lead to scientific and societal strengthening of the Netherlands and Europe.
The Fund is named after the tulip. The tulip originally comes from abroad but is now a national icon of our country.
Dutch research organizations that can nominate
Nominations for top researchers/talents to come to the Netherlands can be made by the boards of the following research organizations. Each of the following research organizations in the Netherlands can nominate for a maximum of two positions:
- Universities, a total of fourteen: RUG, UT, RUN, UM, TUE, UVT, WUR, UU, EUR, TUD, UL, UvA, VU, OU
- UMCs, a total of seven: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Rotterdam, Nijmegen, Maastricht, Groningen
- NWO-I, on behalf of NWO institutes (jointly)
- KNAW, on behalf of KNAW institutes (jointly)
Each of the following research organizations can nominate for a maximum of one position:
- the Netherlands Cancer Institute
- NCB Naturalis
The Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (VH) can nominate on behalf of affiliated universities of applied sciences (jointly) for a maximum of four positions in total.