Dutch funders move away from journal impact factor

Revised evaluation protocol puts emphasis on quality of individual publications

From 2021 onwards, Dutch researchers will no longer be assessed using the journal impact factor, according to the country’s revised Strategy Evaluation Protocol.

Instead, evaluators will focus on the intrinsic quality of publications and the coherence of researchers’ strategic thinking. The change is solidified in the latest edition of the protocol, which covers the period 2021-27 and was presented last week by the VSNU association of Dutch universities, the KNAW academy of sciences and the NWO research council.