About Regieorgaan SIA
The mandate of the Taskforce for Applied Research SIA, or Regieorgaan SIA for short, is to improve the quality and widen the impact of the applied research done by universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. We do this by funding research and facilitating collaboration between universities of applied sciences, industry and public bodies.
Funding applied research
Regieorgaan SIA encourages the professionalisation and strengthens the quality of applied research in universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. We support the universities of applied sciences through various funding mechanisms.
We fund the research itself, as well as the creation of networks and platforms. Our subsidies support the development phase and the direction that the universities of applied sciences, research groups and professors are taking.
Strong position for applied research
Regieorgaan SIA believes that the applied research at universities of applied sciences can be further developed to become more independent high value forms of research. Research that has a strong societal relevance and takes a clear position in the innovation network. Our activities are designed to support this.
Strategy and policy
Applied research helps solve societal and economic issues and against this backdrop our goal is to interconnect these issues and universities of applied sciences more strongly. We do this by connecting people, organisations and policy-making. As a network organisation, we operate at regional, national and European level.
4 strategic pathways
Our work with universities of applied sciences and their lectorates and professors is based on 4 strategic directions which create the space to further build on and strengthen applied research. The 4 strategic pathways are:
- to offer opportunities to university of applied sciences researchers
- to encourage high quality research that impacts education and practice
- to strengthen the position of applied research in society by identifying priority areas and linking these to the knowledge chain and
- to rethink the research, education and innovation systems
Collaboration and contributing to national policy
We play an active role in shaping the Netherlands’ innovation and research policy. We work closely with a wide range of entities such as Government agencies, leading sectors and knowledge institutes. And we collaborate in programmes such as the Dutch Research Agenda and the Knowledge and Innovation Convenant.
Internationalisation
Regieorgaan SIA stimulates the internationalisation of applied research. This both improves the quality of the research and helps it have a greater impact. It also facilitates the sharing of knowledge, offers new opportunities for talent development and can lead to the funding of applied research internationally.
Issues arising from the field that call for collaboration with international entities are usually the trigger for the internationalisation of research. Equally, an international issue may call for a regional or national contribution from the Netherlands.
There are already several good examples of successful international collaborations in applied research. Universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands, and particularly those along the borders, work closely with German or Belgian partners. Outside Europe there have been successful projects with Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia.
About Regieorgaan SIA
Regieorgaan SIA is part of the Dutch Research Council. We are funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and other government agencies. Regieorgaan SIA has its own Board of Trustees and Advisory Council and has about 60 staff members.
Contact information
If you would like to know more about Regieorgaan SIA or want more information about our international applied research activities, please contact us.