NWA

The Dutch Research Agenda

Cluster questions

The NWA is based on questions raised by the public. Almost 12,000 questions were grouped into 140 research and innovation themes. See which cluster questions each pathway is linked to.

How can we keep our densely populated country liveable?
How can we learn more about molecular properties, functions, and interactions in living systems, so that we can develop life-inspired systems ourselves, for example?
How can we limit poverty and increase wellbeing worldwide?
How can we make agricultural production systems more sustainable as the worldwide demand for healthy, safe food continues to grow?
How can we make better use of the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous cycles?
How can we make chemical and biochemical production processes more sustainable, more efficient, and cleaner?
How can we manage the unpredictability of complex networks and chaotic systems?
How can we measure and model the interaction between ice, atmosphere, and ocean so that we can reliably forecast a rise in the sea level?
How can we optimise our use of geothermal energy?
How can we personalise health care, for example by using biomarkers?
How can we predict, prevent, and treat cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis, heart failure, heart arrhythmia, and thrombosis) in individuals at an early stage?
How can we promote and utilise creativity and innovation?
How can we promote innovativeness, quality, and accessibility in institutionalised and informal forms of care?
How can we promote peace, security, and cooperation – and address threats and violations – within and between constitutional states and within and between groups and societies?
How can we promote social cohesion in a society that is culturally and religiously diverse?
How can we protect and preserve the quality of the substrate for humans and the environment while leaving room for social and economic development?
How can we quickly make our energy supply greener while keeping it affordable and reliable?
How can we remove fine particles, harmful gases, and pathogens from the air and keep it clean?
How can we store, convert, and transport energy efficiently?
How can we understand and assess the potential and limitations of medical progress?
How can we use biomass as a feedstock and to generate energy in a bio-based economy?
How can we use breakthroughs in basic biomedical research to develop new medicines?
How can we use cells, stem cells, and biomaterials to engineer and regenerate tissues and organs?
How can we use new materials, technologies, and processes to lower the cost of buildings and infrastructure and make them safer and more sustainable?