Let’s take valorisation of scientific research to the next level

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.

In a thorough analysis of the coalition agreement, Nauta points out why he thinks that, when it comes to innovation, talent and valorisation, Jetten-I has come up with the most well-thought-out and ambitious government plan in the past twenty years: ‘Yes, the budget is too small, a number of elements are missing, and there are all sorts of practical issues to be resolved before grand words can be turned into grand deeds. But the launch is excellent and a breath of fresh air following the disgraceful performance of the Wilders/Schoof cabinet’, he writes.

Appropriate budget
However, such grand and significant ambitions also require an appropriate budget and a governance model which, he argues, is currently still ‘promising but too limited’.

Whilst the Ministries of Education and Economic Affairs are (significantly) short of budgetary scope, Nauta sees ‘breathing space’ and promising opportunities within Defence, Agriculture and perhaps Climate. He argues that the Ministries of Education and Economic Affairs can assist those departments in accelerating progress. ‘With the extra funding from those three departments, OCW and EZ can achieve structural breakthroughs in the way we have organised valorisation in the Netherlands. Because there is real work to be done there. What could be a major advantage here is that we have never before had a minister at OCW who understands this subject better than Minister Letscher, not least as a former chair of the National Growth Fund committee.’

Utilise existing instruments
Nauta advises MPs to urge the Ministers for Economic Affairs and Education, Culture and Science to draw up a joint policy paper aimed at taking the valorisation of scientific research to the next level, thereby contributing to solutions for major societal challenges in the areas of defence, nitrogen, water management and housing.

The aforementioned National Growth Fund, which was scrapped under Schoof, could also play a key role in this: ‘If the government really wants to pick up the pace, the most logical approach is to utilise an existing instrument. The National Growth Fund already exists, and money can be injected into it to launch two more calls. Secure the funding for 2027, announce the call in May 2026 so that parties can get started, with an initial deadline in October. Award the grants on 1 January – bang, momentum – and, just as importantly, restore confidence that this government really means business.’

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Read the full analysis (in Dutch) here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/innovatie-het-regeerakkoord-deel-1-van-papier-naar-politieke-nauta-83iee/