Cabinet investments to promote higher education and science

Great security from NFU. Bertin Lahes, President of the NFU: “The Minister of Education, Culture and Science is investing a lot in higher education and science. With this package of investments, we can address important bottlenecks in education and the scientific field. In this way, we strengthen the foundation to continue to offer internationally leading scientific medical education and research into the future. This is important for the social mission in care and health and for all of our workers in this sector.”

The government also provides 300 million euros annually for start-ups and grants incentives for (young) researchers. The incentive grants are funded by the Temporary Research and Science Fund, and have a term of ten years. In order to give impetus to the transition to open science, the government is providing 20 million euros annually over the next ten years. Minister Djgraf also wants to use a regulation to encourage knowledge institutions to participate in Horizon Europe, the European program for research and innovation. The Minister is providing 75 million euros annually for this purpose over the next seven years.

The Minister appoints a committee to evaluate the sectoral plans. Earlier, it became clear that the government is providing an additional 6 billion euros to the National Growth Fund for the research and innovation knowledge pillar.

Making a difference to society
The unique way in which UMCs are organized makes it possible to go through the entire research cycle: from basic exploration – for example properties of a new virus – to research and population applications in the clinic and society. In all, 40% of science production in the Netherlands comes from unaccompanied children.

“With our position as a knowledge institution, we also have a social responsibility. We face significant challenges in prevention and better use of health data and we also want to better translate basic research into practice. UMCs now want to invest and innovate further in these topics. Not alone, but with partners in The knowledge sector, the business community and the region. This accelerates the medical innovation engine and increases the positive impact of research in UMCs on society and the economy,” said Bertin Lahuis.

NFU is very pleased with this broad package of additional investments in higher education, research and innovation. This is also made possible thanks to UNL. In recent years, we have worked with universities, the Knowledge Coalition, and administrators to demonstrate the importance of these investments. The NFU wants to discuss the announced future outlook with Minister Dejgraf.