Universities fear that 1,100 jobs are at risk if the cabinet goes ahead with plans to cut direct funding of scientific research by €100m.

In a letter sent to education minister Ronald Plasterk, the universities’ association VSNU claims the move to restructure the allocation of research funds is an attempt by the government to close financial gaps in other areas and could cost hundreds of young researchers their jobs.
VSNU chairman Sijbolt Noorda told ANP the cabinet’s proposals are not in line with earlier promises to increase the government’s support for scientific research. ‘The universities are finding it difficult to see the cabinet’s proposals as a sign of additional support for top scientists,’ the letter said.
A spokesman for the education ministry said the government is not cutting expenditure but moving the budget to the Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) which will be responsible for determining which research proposals should receive funding.
‘In this way, the money will go directly to the best scientists. Jobs may disappear at one university but new one swill be created at others,’ the ministry spokesman told ANP.
He denied that the ministry is trying to plug holes in other budgets by shifting the budget for scientific research to the NWO.