A price worth paying

If the Netherlands wants a knowledge economy then it must invest, says university association president

For the past three months, the Netherlands has been waiting for its next government to take shape. While coalition talks are continuing, academics are holding their breath to see whether the people in power will make good on election promises and substantially increase investment in knowledge and R&D.

Pieter Duisenberg, president of the VSNU association of Dutch universities, says the omens are favourable. Many political parties are in favour of higher public spending on R&D and included this in their election campaigns.