News item | 20-03-2025 | 15:15
International top scientists who want to continue their work in the Netherlands are welcome in our country. That is the message that Minister Bruins (Education, Culture and Science) wants to give up worldwide. He asked science financier NWO to set up a program as quickly as possible with which the best scientists can be pulled to our country. Minister Bruins writes that to the Chamber today.
Top scientists
Minister Bruins: “The world is changing. Tensions are increasing. We see that more and more scientists are looking for another place to do their work. I want more international top scientists to do that here. After all, top scientists are worth gold for our country and for Europe.”
Fund at NWO
Bruins has asked the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) to set up a fund as quickly as possible with which excellent researchers scientific talent can be recruited to come and work here. For example in the form of a exhibition. This should ensure that scientists have money to live here and continue their research in the Netherlands to a Dutch knowledge institution.
The details of the fund are not yet known, but Bruins wants to announce the fund because at the moment scientists think where they want to continue their career. It is important that they also think of the Netherlands. In other European countries such as France, Germany, Spain and Belgium, the initiative is also taken to bring in international scientific talent.
Not just for Dutch people
A few principles of the fund are already clear. In this way, not only Dutch people who work abroad are eligible. Bruins wants to open the scheme for top -level international talent, regardless of nationality. Bruins also wants the fund to open as quickly as possible so that a strong signal is given that top scientists are welcome in the Netherlands. The ambition is to bring a few dozen top scientists to the Netherlands with this fund. In the coming weeks, Bruins expects to be able to provide clarity about the financial interpretation, the start date of the fund and the precise conditions that scientists must meet.