Introduction to NWO & Astronomy at NWO Physical Sciences Ronald Stark, Head of Astronomy Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek FAPESP-NWO, 16 March 2015
About NWO National Research Council of the Netherlands Mission to facilitate scientific talent by means of national competition to raise society s awareness of the importance of world-class research to enable the results of such research to benefit society By Funding curiosity-driven and demand-driven research
NWO s role in research funding Ministry of Education, Culture and Science direct government funding Universities (incl. medical centres) Ministry of Economic Affairs indirect government funding Other ministries (e.g. Health, Foreign Affairs, Infrastructure & Environment) NWO & KNAW institutes Private sector and public organisations Other knowledge institutes
NWO & research in the Netherlands Total R&D expenditure: 9 bln euro Percentage of GNP: 2 % R&D personnel: 90,500 fte of which funded by NWO: 6,439 fte = >5,000 researchers with an annual budget of: 700 M Scientific publications: 2.6 % of world total Times Higher Education ranking: NL #6 of global leaders 5 universities in top 100 Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research
NWO institutes
NWO Physical Sciences - Agenda Three disciplines: Astronomy, Computer Science, and Mathematics Focus: - Talent and curiosity-driven research - Thematic research, incl. interdisciplinary research programmes - Demand-driven research: Dutch Topsector policy
NWO Physical Sciences - Programmes - Talent and Curiosity Driven research - Veni Vidi - Vici - Top Grants (Top-1 senior, and Top-2 early career) - Investment Grants NWO medium (NWO-m) - Thematic programmes - incl. interdisciplinary research - Public-private partnerships (innovation / topsector policy) - ICT Roadmap / Big Data - High Tech Systems and Materials / Advanced Instrumentation -
International cooperation Advancing research cooperation with BRICS countries: Brazil, India, China, South Africa Strategic (focused) bilateral research cooperation on the basis of mutual interest and mutual strength Strengthening innovation by bilateral public private partnerships Jointly investing in large research facilities Joint research programmes
Astronomy in the Netherlands Tradition of excellence Reviews of top research schools: NL astronomy is exemplary Key players: NWO, Ministries NOVA: Top research school of the 4 NL Universities working on Astronomy (Amsterdam, Leiden, Nijmegen, Groningen) NWO Research institutes: ASTRON and SRON Coordination: National Committee for Astronomy (NCA)
Astronomy at NWO Physical Sciences Policy framework Synergy in science policy and strong links with NOVA, ASTRON, SRON, Ministries, EU partners and international funding agencies - Strategic plan for Astronomy in the Netherlands 2011 2020 - ASTRONET Science Vision and Infrastructure Roadmap
A coherent approach Science: clear focus on 3 areas (choices depending on NL leadership, expertise, international context) Formation and evolution of galaxies; Formation and evolution of stars and planetary systems; Astrophysics of black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs; Instrumentation essential, priority follows from research questions NOVA: support for ESO/La Palma, embedded in research; ASTRON: support for radio astronomy; SRON: homebase for Space research; Choices are also technology driven!!!
High-Tech facilities in NL - International LOFAR Telescope - JIV-ERIC - Allegro: ALMA expertise center - Labs at NOVA, ASTRON, SRON
Interdisciplinary programmes - Astrochemistry - PEPSci: Planetary and Exoplanetary Science - WARP: Astroparticle Physics
International Cooperation for Astronomy - Europe: Strategic planning - South Africa: Astronomy and Enabling Technologies, DOME-SA - India: X-ray Astronomy - US: Astrochemistry (NASA-Ames) - Brasil: New - Advanced Instrumentation with FAPESP
Our Ambitions for Astronomy - Continuing the programmes for talent, curiosity driven research, and investments - International cooperation on Big Science projects - Innovation: increased participation and visibility of Astronomy in the NL topsector programmes (ICT, High-Tech, Big Data, ) - Continue interdisciplinary research programmes and networks