Rathenau report lauds success of Technology Pact

Decade of investment has spurred Dutch growth in natural sciences and engineering, think tank says

Researcher numbers and spending have both increased significantly in the natural sciences and engineering over the past 10 years in the Netherlands, a report has shown.

The Dutch government unveiled its Technology Pact in 2013, an initiative intended to improve the nation’s performance in the natural sciences and engineering. Last week, the Rathenau Institute, a science policy think tank, published a report on the effects of the pact, showing that the resulting changes in funding arrangements have led to substantial increases in public spending in those disciplines and a sharp rise in staff numbers and publications.