The Dutch Research Agenda (NWA) brings science and society together to address pressing issues facing the Netherlands. The programme brings together government bodies, researchers, civil society organisations and members of the public to develop and apply knowledge. In this way, NWA contributes both to scientific progress and to solutions for societal challenges.
On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), the Dutch Research Council (NWO) is responsible for carrying out NWA's research programme.
From societal questions to pathways and research
The NWA is founded on input from citizens and scientists. At the start of the agenda, nearly 12,000 questions were collected from society. These have been bundled into 140 cluster questions, representing urgent issues for research and innovation.
Based on this, 25 NWA routes have been formed. These are self-organising networks of researchers and societal partners that identify and investigate key scientific, societal and economic issues. The routes play a connecting role within the NWA and bring together parties and disciplines across the entire knowledge chain.
The NWA programme connects
The NWA programme focuses on both scientific breakthroughs and societal impact. Within the programme, governments, researchers, civil society organisations and citizens collaborate on knowledge development and application.
In doing so, NWO funds consortia in which the entire knowledge chain is represented: from fundamental to applied research. A hallmark of the programme is interdisciplinary collaboration and the active involvement of societal partners in formulating, setting up and carrying out research.
Four programme lines
The Dutch Research Agenda comprises multiple activities that complement and reinforce one another. NWO’s research programme consists of four programme lines:
- Research along Routes by Consortia (ORC) | Funding for research and innovation relating to the cluster questions and the 25 NWA routes;
- Thematic programming | Specific thematic programming in collaboration with government bodies on socially urgent themes;
- Innovation and Networks | Funding for the renewal of agendas and the strengthening of networks within the NWA routes;
- Science Communication and Outreach | Organisation of public events and funding for science communication initiatives.
The public events within Line 4 aim to introduce society to science in an accessible way.
Insight into the impact of the NWA: from questions to projects and results.
This website illustrates how the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA) has been implemented since 2018. Here you can see which projects have been carried out within the NWA, which pathways they follow, and which cluster questions they aim to help answer.
The interactive environment illustrates how societal questions have been translated into research and collaboration. You can explore projects by pathway and by cluster question, and click through to find out more about their content, results and the partners involved.
In this way, the website provides insight into the scientific and societal outcomes of the NWA, supports accountability to stakeholders and highlights where knowledge has been developed and where new collaboration is possible.