Millions for research, Dutch universities still concerned

Millions for research, Dutch universities still concerned

As promised, the Dutch cabinet has allocated hundreds of millions of euros for higher education and research. Next year, the cabinet will give universities 300 million euros for start-up and incentive grants: working capital for researchers. Half of the amount is earmarked for new university lecturers who will be given a permanent contract, the other half the universities may distribute as they see fit.

^{Minister of Education, Culture and Science Robbert Dijkgraaf during the ‘troonrede’. (Photo: screenshot NOS)}

Also in the budget are the so-called ‘sector plans’. Programs and researchers from different institutions will make plans together to strengthen teaching and research. More permanent contracts is one of the conditions for getting the money. There is no exact amount, but earlier Minister of Science Robbert Dijkgraaf announced that he will reserve 200 million euros for this.

Concerns

Pieter Duisenberg, president of Universities of the Netherlands (UNL in Dutch), is pleased with the announced investments. “These contribute to restoring the foundation and solving the major challenges of our time, such as energy transition, digitalization and inequality of opportunity,” he said in a press release.

The universities also have concerns, about the effects of high energy prices and inflation on the financial position of universities. “In order to really put the basics in order now, it is necessary that the government adequately support universities in the face of rising prices and wages.” (HOP, BB/Delta, SB)