News item | 10-07-2025 | 16:30
The previously announced fund for international top scientists will open this summer. With this, the Netherlands wants top scientists who are now working outside of Europe and are looking for a different workplace, here. The cabinet and science financier NWO together allocate € 50 million for this. The name of the fund is also known: the Tulp Fund. Minister Bruins (Education, Culture and Science) writes this to the Lower House today. The research that these scientists will do in our country contributes to a stronger and more resilient Netherlands and Europe.
Top research in the Netherlands
Freedom of science is under pressure in several places in the world. Scientists are spread around the world in search of the best place to conduct their research. Minister Bruins and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) previously announced that they would facilitate a few dozen of these top scientists to continue their research in the Netherlands. From this summer, knowledge institutions, such as universities and a number of research institutes, can nominate top scientists with their own line of research at NWO. In view of the strengthening of both Dutch and European competitiveness, the Tulp Fund is intended for top scientists who are now working outside the European Union. Nationality does not matter, even Dutch people who are now working outside the EU are eligible.
For the researcher, his or her qualities are clearly high internationally. The knowledge institution receives a maximum of € 1,000,000 in subsidies per researcher, which must be spent in the coming years. It can concern both fundamentally, applied or practice -oriented research. Top -science such as skilled by these researchers provides solutions for major social problems in, for example, healthcare, energy transition, agriculture, water management or public housing.
Tulp Fund Step Vooruit
Minister Bruins is positive that the Tulp Fund is now actually starting. Bruins: “We have a lot of good scientists in our country and therefore know that 1 top scientist with his own line of research can help an entire field a gigantic step forward. 50 of such top scientists extra can help your entire country a step forward. Science provides solutions for major social problems in, for example, the care. And in the future I think it is important. The width of research and science is an opportunity that we should not leave. “
Talent needed
Marcel Levi, chairman of NWO underlines why the Tulip Fund is really needed. He says: “”The greatest economic good is knowledge. Research is human work and the Netherlands can happily praise itself with a continuous stream of very talented and highly educated young people with creative ideas and major research ambitions. However, there has been one for years brain drain Going from Europe to other countries, while talent that wants to work here is really needed. Certainly in view of the future predictions about the labor market and productivity. So researchers of a high level who want to come here are more than welcome. As a result, we retain and strengthen the top position of Dutch science. ”
NWO Tulp Fund
The fund is named after the tulip. The tulip originally came from abroad, but now a national icon of our country. The fund will open this summer for requests. Research institutions have six months to nominate researchers. NWO then does the selection, after which the scientists can actually start.