Opmaak 1

chemistry and strategy
Chemical
Sciences
Sixty years of
Sixty years ago, the Scheikundig Onderzoek
Nederland (SON) foundation was established.
It evolved from that distinct foundation into
the current NWO division of Chemical
Sciences, whose primary mission is to
stimulate excellent and innovative chemical
research in the Netherlands. In the last
60 years it has also played an important role in
the development of strategic plans for the
chemical field, in strengthening the chemical
community, in the development of public-
private partnerships and in stimulating
interdisciplinary cooperation, among other
activities. Four former and current board
members comment on some of the highlights
of the last 60 years, and look to the future.
24
Cr
Chromium
elements
atomic mass: 51,996 / discovered by: Louis Nicolas Vauquelin
Jan Reedijk
(Prof. em. UL), board member
1993 (SON)-2001 (NWO CW)
‘The transition of SON into a division of
NWO was a challenging one. It was
not at all self-evident that NWO would
allow the chemical community to act
as its own separate division.
During the SON era, the study groups
had the task of reviewing and
prioritising research proposals in their
own respective fields, before the SON
board made a final decision. Currently,
perhaps one of the most important
tasks of the study groups is the
training of PhD students. Their
experience in presenting research to
their national peers offers Dutch PhD
students a clear advantage over many
of their European colleagues, for
example, in obtaining grants.’
Colette Alma-Zeestraten
(VNCI), board member
2001-2006
Bert Meijer
(TU/e), board member
2001-2008
Titia Sixma
(NKI-AvL), board
member 2012-present
‘In the early 2000s, the involvement of
industry in scientific research was not
obvious. We had intense discussions
about the positioning of ACTS, the
large-scale public-private partnership,
in relation to NWO. During this period,
chemical science and industry
organised themselves into a joint
platform: the Regiegroep Chemie. This
was the basis for the choice of
chemistry as one of the key national
areas by the former Innovation
Platform and for the current Top
Sector Chemistry.
‘During the celebrations of the fiftieth
birthday of the Chemical Sciences, a
high government official asked why he
should invest money in chemistry, as
the number of chemistry students was
so low. That question was one of the
triggers for the realisation of the
Sectorplan Natuur- en Scheikunde.
‘These are turbulent times for chemical
research in the Netherlands. Funds are
scarce, especially for fundamental
research and basic infrastructure.
Furthermore, we are in the middle of
the transition of NWO into four
scientific domains.
The chemical industry and academia
are still well connected. In the future,
we should focus on creating continuity
in R&D activities all the way from
fundamental science to applications.’
The plan resulted in the current strong
coupling of research and education in
both chemistry and physics. We were
able to strengthen the different
disciplines, focus expertise and expand
it, as well as attract both new research
talent and more students.
My main concern now is how we
make sure these talented new people
stay in the Netherlands. It is essential
that we create more financial
opportunities for mid-career
researchers.’
NWO Chemical Sciences has always
invested in stimulating new talent and
establishing a well-equipped research
infrastructure. Our contact with
researchers is good: they know who to
turn to. And we have an efficient
palette of grants to fund the entire
chain from fundamental research to
public-private partnerships. Our main
task as a board is to conserve these
achievements in the new NWO
structure, and take every opportunity
to enlarge the research budgets.’
atomic mass: 54,938 / discovered by: Johann Gottlieb Gahn
elements
25
Mn
Manganese