Links in the digital society

The Netherlands is to become a leader in the field of digitisation in society. This ambition was voiced by the fourteen Dutch research universities during the opening of the academic year in September 2016. The Dutch universities will join forces in the coming years to attain this goal. In ten years' time, this should make the Netherlands a global pioneer in people-oriented information technology.

The digitisation of society has advanced rapidly over the past years, offering opportunities and averting threats with which we are faced. The Dutch universities intend to use digitisation to seize these opportunities and realise tailor-made education, personalised health care and innovations in the fields of climate, energy and sustainability. Although security will increase, digitisation may also fuel a feeling of insecurity, which calls for better protection of digital information.

This is just a small sample of the complex issues surrounding digitisation that researcher from a range of disciplines are exploring. Together with them, we are establishing links between the various research areas and universities in the Netherlands. With the aid of the National Science Agenda and other instruments, these researcher will answer new questions.

Examples of themes set to be transformed by (research into) digitisation include the labour market, ethics, agriculture, and transport and mobility. These themes occupy the minds of many researchers at our universities, some of whom will introduce themselves to you in this e-magazine. They will explain how their research works and how it contributes to the digital society. In this manner they present the first steps toward making the Netherlands a leader in the development of the digital society.

It is now paramount to strengthen the bonds between researcher and university administrators. In addition to internal bonds, which will enhance research into the digital society within the scientific community, there is also a need for external bonds with partners in the field to ensure that the Netherlands will remain one of the world's top players in this development. This is why the digital society extends beyond the boundaries of science! Do you yourself have any ideas on how the Netherlands can continue to develop in this field? Please let us know! You can find more information on the digital society on our website. Together with you, we are eager to further our ambition of positioning the Netherlands as a leader in the field of digitisation in society.

Josephine ScholtenExecutive director VSNUKarl Dittrich

President VSNU