About Science to Impact

The movement Science to Impact aims to increase the impact of scientific knowledge from an overall perspective of opportunities and challenges in the knowledge ecosystem. From knowledge institutions and companies to investors – all parties that contribute to science and/or the practical use of scientific knowledge are invited to take part in the movement and commit to the nine priorities.

A viable and resilient future for the Netherlands

Our world faces major societal challenges, from counteracting rising sea levels to controlling cyber criminality. The Dutch possess the scientific knowledge and creativity needed to develop solutions for tackling these. Much of the knowledge comes from our universities, medical centres and other knowledge institutions.

The use of that knowledge in practice is made possible, for example, through education, collaboration between knowledge institutions and industry, and via entrepreneurship. In recent years, the Netherlands has made significant progress regarding this valorising of scientific knowledge.

However, recent reports from, among others, the Rathenau Institute and management consultancy Roland Berger, reveal that we now need a different approach, one with which Dutch top science can have even more impact. The initiators of the movement believe that taking steps to realise such an approach does not just engender opportunities but is also vital to create a viable and resilient future for the Netherlands.

An effective knowledge ecosystem

Only networks on the basis of shared missions and a far-reaching integration of research and entrepreneurship can ensure that knowledge will have a genuine impact. Creating an optimum Dutch environment for this requires all parties from the knowledge field to participate in a national discussion about numerous interrelated priorities.

These priorities concern the development of scientific insights into broadly applicable innovations with impact. The starting point is the continuous strengthening of both fundamental and applied science. Other priorities concern, for example, the complete integration of valorisation as a third core task of universities in their culture and organisation as well as in the funding of knowledge institutions. Regional knowledge ecosystems, with co-creation at campuses and in labs, are important prerequisites for successful collaboration in which plenty of room must be made available for the talents of, and diversity among, researchers and entrepreneurs.

Watch the video for an explanation of the priorities.

Video Science to Impact speerpunten

Join us!

Knowledge institutions, companies, investors, policymakers and interest groups – all parties are cordially invited to join us, make a contribution and work towards an improved route from scientific knowledge to the use of that knowledge in practice.Visit this page to find out how you can contribute.

Contact

The Science to Impact team - Jaron Weishut, Anneke Verkerk en Quirine van der Klooster - look forward to hearing from you! You can reach us via info[at]science-to-impact.nl