Research agenda for materials science in the Netherlands published
In 2016 NWO is opening four research programmes
FOM, NWO Chemical Sciences and Technology Foundation STW have published the joint foresight report entitled 'Dutch Materials, Challenges for Materials Science in the Netherlands'. The report describes the strengths of Dutch materials science and the international trends in this field. It concludes with a research agenda that contains six multidisciplinary themes for materials science and engineering. With this it forms the basis for new research programming and serves as input for the Dutch National Research Agenda. NWO will open four calls for materials science in 2016.
Dutch Materials - Challenges for Materials Science
Dutch materials science belongs to the world top. The Dutch research world is in an outstanding position to realise far-reaching multidisciplinary collaborations between academic researchers and between academia, technology institutes and industry in areas where materials play a key role in major societal challenges, such as food security, healthcare, energy and the sustainable use of transport and raw materials. This collaboration is good for science, the Dutch economy and society in general. A national research agenda for materials science is needed if the Netherlands is to maintain and strengthen its leading position.
This report presents that research agenda for the next ten years based on six research themes that the Netherlands excels in and how these themes tie in with major societal challenges. The report makes three recommendations for strengthening the scientific infrastructure needed for the materials sciences. The research agenda therefore forms the basis for new research programming and serves as input for the Dutch National Research Agenda.
The following research programmes in the field of materials research will be open for proposals in 2016:
• NWO/GDST (China) Chemistry of Advanced Materials; opens about 1 March;
• High Tech Materials Call 2016; opens about 1 April;
• M-ERA.net Call 2016; opens about 1 April. Dutch partners in this ERA-NET programme are NWO Chemical Sciences and M2i;
• Materials for Sustainability Call; expected to open in autumn 2016. The scope for this programme will be further elaborated based on this report.
For questions about further development of research programmes in materials science please contact Marjolein Robijn (FOM/NWO Physics), Paul Schuddeboom (Technology Foundation STW) or Ivo Ridder (NWO Chemical Sciences).