NWA Synergy Theme: Vulnerability and Resilience in an Online Society
The importance of the online society has increased enormously, partly due to the coronavirus pandemic. The focus in the NWA synergy theme Vulnerability and Resilience in an Online Society is on dealing with the long-term effects of the digitalization of society.
Background
This thematic program of the National Research Agenda (NWA) focuses on vulnerability and resilience in an online society. Accelerated digitalization has intensified existing inequalities and disparities in opportunity and has introduced new forms of vulnerability. The design and functionality of the online world, as well as the interaction between the physical and offline world, influence the vulnerability and resilience of citizens.
The synergy program addresses societal challenges that require interdepartmental and interdisciplinary collaboration. The participating ministries attach great value to synergy between policy and science: these are societal challenges for which the national government aims to develop effective, scientifically evidence-based policy.
Objective
The objective of the program is to develop knowledge and policy that enable governments to appropriately address the long-term effects of the digitalization in society. Digitalization has accelerated dramatically due to the coronavirus pandemic and raises questions about the relationship between the online and offline society. It also raises questions about its impact on (in)equality, (in)equal treatment, the extent to which citizens feel connected to one another and to society, (in)security, the quality of public and democratic debate, and the physical, mental, and social health of people. These knowledge questions arise from the Government-wide Knowledge Agenda (in Dutch).
Collaboration
We implement this program of the National Research Agenda in collaboration with NWO.
The initiators of this program are the ministries of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW), Social Affairs and Employment (SZW), Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), Justice and Security (JenV), the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), and Finance (Fin)/Tax and Customs Administration.
Budget
A budget of over €1.4 million is available for the overarching and synthesizing project (phase III). In this new research project, ‘Vulnerability and Resilience in an Online Society: Bridging Science and Policy (VaROS)’, the 4 projects from phase II join forces. Within VaROS, the knowledge gained in the individual studies (in phase II) is brought together and translated into shared insights and policy recommendations.
Committee members
An independent committee assesses the pre-proposals and proposals. In line with the NWA approach, the assessment committee is broadly composed. This means that not only scientists, but also representatives from across the entire knowledge chain and societal stakeholders may be part of the committee. The involved governments are not members of the assessment committee but may attend meetings as observers.
The members of this committee are not disclosed, due to privacy regulations.