The Dutch Research Council (NWO) currently spends twice as much money on strategic research than on independent research. These two types of scientific research are equally important and therefore the relationship between them must be balanced, writes the KNAW in its report, Evenwicht in het wetenschapssysteem. For this, the budget for independent research at NWO must be increased. The report Evenwicht in het wetenschapssysteem. De verhouding tussen ongebonden en strategisch onderzoek has been drawn up by a KNAW committee chaired by Bert Weckhuysen upon the request of Ingrid van Engelshoven, Minister of Education, Culture and Science to examine how the research resources, in particular, those from NWO, can best be divided between thematic and free research.

Bert Weckhuysen explains the report in this video (Vimeo).

In the media

Summary of the report by the Dutch Research Council (NWO)

Interview with u today

Reaction on the report in nrc

Summary of the report in de Volkskrant

Reaction on the report in Trouw

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The official announcement of the report on the website of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)

The report on the website of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)