ABSTRACT
In 2014, a new science policy framework was launched by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (2025 Vision for Science), heralding the development of a unifying agenda for research in the Netherlands. The agenda was to set out priorities and establish interrelationships between the research programmes of universities, research institutes, private sector companies, and other knowledge organisations. Ambitious guidelines and expectations were formulated. To mention only a few:
The National Science Agenda is to be a ‘co-creation’ of researchers, scientists, the private sector, civil society, the government and other stakeholders. […] The agenda will include a limited number of themes, selected on the basis of existing scientific strengths, societal challenges and economic opportunities. The research field as a whole will combine its strengths to achieve the greatest possible impact. […] The National Science Agenda will appeal to the imagination; it will inspire and challenge both the research field and society itself to achieve momentous breakthroughs. It will create a better match between research on the one hand, and social and economic needs and opportunities on the other. It will clearly set out those areas in which the Netherlands is to stand out through truly excellent research. (ibid., p. 24)
