NWO doubles Tulip Fund for threatened scientists

In President Donald Trump's United States, universities are under heavy fire: there is censorship and some funding is being cut with the stroke of a pen. Even Dutch science is feeling the consequences.

This anti-science attitude of the Trump administration prompted the House of Representatives to propose a special fund (in Dutch) to enable researchers from the US to continue their work here. The governement was receptive to this idea, but did not want to focus explicitly on the US.
 

Geopolitical tensions
Now there is a fund for scientists from outside Europe who want to come to the Netherlands because of the ‘geopolitical tensions’ in the world. Fifty million euros has been found for this, outgoing Minister Eppo Bruins writes to the House of Representatives. Half comes from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the other half from research funder NWO.

‘Science provides solutions to major social problems in areas such as healthcare. It also contributes to our independence from other countries, now and in the future,’ Bruins said in a press release. ‘That is why I believe it is important to be able to do this, even in times when we are making across-the-board cuts to research and science. This is an opportunity we should not miss.’

NWO manages the fund. Dutch research institutions have six months to nominate researchers. The selection process will follow. Dutch nationals are also eligible if they are currently working outside Europe.

Obvious importance
The aim is to attract top international scientists ‘in fields that are of obvious importance to the Netherlands,’ writes Bruins. This could involve fundamental or practical research in ‘areas such as healthcare, energy transition, agriculture, water management or public housing.’

Since Trump took office, many American scientists seem to be considering emigrating to Canada or Europe. A French university was the first to respond to this by opening a “safe space” for American scientists. te overwegen. Een Franse universiteit speelde daar 

NWO chairman Marcel Levi is a strong supporter of the fund. According to him, there has been ‘a brain drain from Europe to other countries for years, while talent that wants to work here is desperately needed’.