Our newest cohort of 17 fellows has only just started, but the ambitions are already clear. From earlier diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and heart disease in women to detecting liver disease before it becomes irreversible and developing new medicines for currently untreatable diseases, these fellows are tackling some of society’s most pressing health challenges.

At Faculty of Impact, we believe that groundbreaking science deserves a real place in society. Our fellows don’t just publish papers, they build ventures that solve urgent global challenges.

Faculty of Impact’s program director Frans Nauta shares his views on the new cabinet’s innovation policy, along with his unsolicited advice. His message is clear: we need to create much more space to take valorisation seriously, in whatever form it takes.

This April, three remarkable researcher-entrepreneurs joined the Faculty of Impact with bold visions to transform their scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact. From next-generation cancer therapies to sustainable flame retardant materials, these fellows are tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges, and they are doing so with ambition, creativity, and a strong entrepreneurial drive. Meet Amber, Alsya and Ali.

This April, three remarkable researcher-entrepreneurs joined the Faculty of Impact with bold visions to transform their scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact. From next-generation cancer therapies to sustainable flame retardant materials, these fellows are tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges, and they are doing so with ambition, creativity, and a strong entrepreneurial drive. Meet Amber, Alsya and Ali.

We’re delighted to share that this month NWO has announced the seventeen fellows selected for our fourth cohort. They will start their Faculty of Impact journey in March.

Upcoming events (Oct 2024–Feb 2025) include major AI, tech, and startup conferences like World Summit AI, DPW, Web Summit, Slush, and sector-focused investor summits in Amsterdam, Lisbon, Helsinki, Utrecht, and beyond—plus monthly online webinars on EU funding, IP, and startup support.

Faculty of Impact has welcomed new fellows who are turning science into real-world solutions: a mood-boosting fermented food bar, sustainable battery electrolytes, and affordable tactile displays for the (deaf)blind.

Margrethe Jonkman, Chair of VU Amsterdam, stresses that innovation needs stronger investment and scaling, warning that without a well-stocked pipeline of ideas and talent, the Netherlands risks falling behind. She champions the Faculty of Impact as a vital instrument but argues it must grow far beyond its current scale to truly deliver societal and economic returns.

Rebecca Saive, Professor of Applied Physics at the University of Twente and successful entrepreneur, argues that scientists shouldn’t have to choose between research and entrepreneurship—both can and should go hand in hand. She highlights the Faculty of Impact program as a vital step in bridging funding gaps and enabling researchers to translate innovations into real societal impact.