Impacts of science are poorly evaluated, academy says

Dutch public agencies urged to change how they measure science spending and impact

The way science spending is classed in macroeconomic models of the Netherlands does not encourage smart policy choices, the KNAW science academy has said.

In an advisory report on the value of science, the KNAW argued that Dutch planning agencies, including the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, must change the way they measure science spending and its impact. According to the academy, if science spending is not properly assessed, this could lead to problems with evaluating the effectiveness and impact of policy and party programmes and initiatives.