WOTRO conference 'Incentives Matter!’ Research Pioneers for Global Development

4 augustus 2011

What is needed to encourage talented researchers in the field of global development studies? Which specific incentives can Dutch policymakers and research funding agencies implement to achieve this? These questions are central to the conference Incentives Matter!

Innovative research is needed to address the complexity of global development. Issues such as climate change, migration and population growth, spread of infectious diseases, scarcity of natural resources, and instability of the financial system, are increasingly felt on a global scale. Yet, despite the worldwide effects, this research is not sufficiently prioritized in the Netherlands. Something that should be addressed, as was also recently put forward by the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) and the Advisory Council for Science and Technology Policy (AWT).

To find out which incentives are needed to encourage research into global development issues, the conference takes a two-sided approach. Firstly, talented research pioneers will present relevant research into global development issues. They will also tell what motivated them to carry out their research. Secondly, researchers and research funding organizations will discuss which disincentives need to be overcome and which incentives can be successfully implemented to encourage research into global development issues. At the end of the day Mr. Ben Knapen, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will join the discussion.

For more information visit the website of the conference: www.wotro.nl/Incentivesmatter