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The Dutch science system is characterized as a plateau with peaks. One instrument for financing research in the peaks is the Gravity Programme. The Gravity Programme funds consortia for fundamental research. The program is intended for consortia of scientists who conduct innovative and influential scientific research within their field.
Since 2012, six funding rounds have been completed (2012, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023). During these rounds, 38 consortia have been funded with a total of €850 million. NWO has commissioned Dialogic to evaluate the Gravity Programme on (1) effectiveness, (2) efficiency, and (3) relevance. For this evaluation, we have conducted desk research, interviews, and a survey among applicants.
We conclude that Gravity is a unique instrument as it funds large-scale, fundamental, curiosity-driven research in consortia over a longer period. Gravity is widely recognized as a prestigious instrument focused on excellent research with appeal for (international) talent. The program therefore remains relevant for the future. There are no alternative programmes (within NWO or elsewhere) to allocate the resources and achieve the same objectives.
We observe the emergence of new consortia, making efforts in talent development. The scientific quality of the research conducted by the consortia is positively evaluated, with achievements such as international awards, keynotes at international conferences, and increased international collaboration. There is a concentration of excellence at universities, with universities organizing themselves both internally and externally to establish strong consortia. The expectations of consortia could be clearer, including the possibility of setting target values, and the learning capacity of consortia can be enhanced if NWO provides more support.
For further insights into our conclusions and recommendations, the report has now been made public. The evaluation report and the response from the board of directors of NWO have been published by NWO (Untranslated).
